Paralympics: Companies as active supporters

The Paralympic Games are much more than a sporting event. They are a symbol of inclusion, innovation and the power of human will. Behind the scenes, companies play a key role in ensuring that athletes with disabilities can compete at the highest level.

One of these companies is Ottobock. The German medical technology company has been an integral part of the Paralympics for over 30 years. Ottobock is known worldwide for its high-quality prostheses and orthopaedic products. Its workshops will once again be on site at the 2024 Games to provide technical support for the athletes. Ottobock is relying on digital technologies more than ever before.

Peter Franzel, Head of Events, Exhibitions & Sports at Ottobock, explains how important the workshops are for the athletes: "Imagine this: As an athlete, you have trained hard for years. You have given your all in training and at qualifying competitions. Now you are in enchanting Paris to finally fulfill your dream of the Paralympics, a new world record or a medal. Suddenly, something is wrong with your technical aid, which is absolutely essential for taking part in the competition – an absolute nightmare for any Paralympian."

A team of 164 experts from 41 nations, who can communicate in 31 languages, is on hand to prevent such situations. They work in a 650 square meter main workshop as well as 14 smaller workshops directly at the competition venues to ensure that technical problems are solved quickly. This service is available to every athlete free of charge and is independent of the manufacturer or type of aid.

The new digital possibilities that Ottobock uses are revolutionizing the processes considerably. For example, the residual limb of an athlete with a below-knee amputation is no longer painstakingly measured using a plaster cast, but digitally scanned in just 15 minutes. This scan can then be processed on the computer within 15 to 20 minutes and a test socket can be produced within 24 hours using 3D printing. "The new digital possibilities help us to help athletes more quickly. And time is a key factor for both the athletes and us technicians at the Paralympics," explains Julian Napp, Technical Director of the workshop in Paris and master orthopaedic technician at Ottobock.

But as advanced as the technology is, the key to success remains the team's expertise and experience. "Creativity, solution orientation and experience paired with the latest technology - that is our support for the athletes," continues Napp. This combination of human expertise and digital innovations shows how companies like Ottobock are making a decisive contribution to ensuring that the Paralympic Games are a success for all participants.

Sunrise Medical, a global leader in mobility solutions, is also playing a central role in the Paralympic Games. The company is the official equipment sponsor of the German and Canadian men's and women's national wheelchair basketball teams.

Customized RGK high-performance basketball wheelchairs make an important contribution. A product line that is known for its high adaptability and performance and is used by numerous athletes. However, Sunrise Medical is not only involved by providing equipment for teams, but also by supporting individual athletes as part of its "Team Sunrise".

This team also includes 35 athletes who have qualified for the 2024 Paralympics and who are attracting worldwide attention with their impressive performance and personal stories. These include tennis players Alfie Hewett and Niels Vink, fencer Jovane Guissone and swimmer Teresa Perales.

This commitment demonstrates how Sunrise Medical is actively helping to create the conditions for sporting excellence at the Paralympics while raising awareness of the importance of mobility and independence.

Medical supply retailer and healthcare provider rahm has a very personal connection to the Paralympic Games. This is because rahm employee and master orthopaedic technician Markus Rehm is a prosthesis wearer, multiple German champion and world champion as well as multiple Paralympic champion in the Para long jump. He is considered an exceptional athlete and, according to media such as Sportschau, no other German has shaped para-sport like the 36-year-old. In 2023, he improved his own world record in the long jump to 8.72 meters. Three months ago, he won the World Championship title.

At rahm, Markus Rehm's sporting career has been followed with enthusiasm for years - both by his colleagues and by customers. The entire company cheers on the Paralympics, and the atmosphere is particularly electric during the games. The support is huge and rahm is proud of its exceptional employee.

But Markus Rehm has even bigger goals: To be the first person to jump nine meters and to compete against non-disabled athletes at the Olympic Games. But the top athlete is also looking forward to having more time for other things after the 2024 Paralympics and the 2025 World Championships. "Prosthetics is also a great passion. I still have a lot of ideas that I would like to tackle," says Markus Rehm. "As enjoyable as sport is, prosthetics has also become a hobby. And I'd like to have more time to work on a few more solutions that make life with a prosthesis a little easier."

Jennifer Meyer
REHACARE.com