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Paralympics GB stunned after Yokohama hotels demand payment for accessibility
Source: The Guardian
Paralympics GB stunned after Yokohama hotels demand payment for accessibility
• Paralympics GB team hit with ‘huge headache’ for training camp
• Senior figure says hotels have shown a ‘total lack of interest’
Exclusive by Sean Ingle
Wed 24 Apr 2019 13.05 BST Last modified on Wed 24 Apr 2019 13.52 BST
British Paralympic officials say they were left stunned when hotels near their training camp for the 2020 Games demanded they pay to make rooms accessible for wheelchair athletes – and then pay again to convert them back afterwards.
One senior figure said there had been a “total lack of interest” from hotels they had contacted in Yokohama when it came to helping the British Paralympic team, who will make their final preparations in the city ahead of Tokyo 2020. Another source said the issue had been a “huge headache” for more than 18 months.
What has made the issue harder to solve is that it is beyond the remit of the Tokyo 2020 organising committee, which runs the Games. Rather it is down to individual hotels – many of whom do not see the social or economic benefits of providing more accessible rooms.
Much to the relief of British officials there has been a recent breakthrough, with the Yokohama City authorities agreeing to create a fund to pay for modifications for the rooms that Paralympics GB will be using as part of its preparation camp plans.
Nevertheless, there remains a broader concern in the Paralympic movement that there will too few accessible hotel rooms in Tokyo for disabled spectators, journalists and officials when the Games take place next year.
-snip-
• Paralympics GB team hit with ‘huge headache’ for training camp
• Senior figure says hotels have shown a ‘total lack of interest’
Exclusive by Sean Ingle
Wed 24 Apr 2019 13.05 BST Last modified on Wed 24 Apr 2019 13.52 BST
British Paralympic officials say they were left stunned when hotels near their training camp for the 2020 Games demanded they pay to make rooms accessible for wheelchair athletes – and then pay again to convert them back afterwards.
One senior figure said there had been a “total lack of interest” from hotels they had contacted in Yokohama when it came to helping the British Paralympic team, who will make their final preparations in the city ahead of Tokyo 2020. Another source said the issue had been a “huge headache” for more than 18 months.
What has made the issue harder to solve is that it is beyond the remit of the Tokyo 2020 organising committee, which runs the Games. Rather it is down to individual hotels – many of whom do not see the social or economic benefits of providing more accessible rooms.
Much to the relief of British officials there has been a recent breakthrough, with the Yokohama City authorities agreeing to create a fund to pay for modifications for the rooms that Paralympics GB will be using as part of its preparation camp plans.
Nevertheless, there remains a broader concern in the Paralympic movement that there will too few accessible hotel rooms in Tokyo for disabled spectators, journalists and officials when the Games take place next year.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/apr/24/paralympics-gb-stunned-after-yokohama-hotels-demand-payment-for-accessibility
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