Angie Ballard calls for those with experience to be involved with organising Games

Angie Ballard has slammed Paralympic organisers for their treatment of athletes and urges those with first hand experience to get involved with Games planning to better the athlete experience.

Australian veteran Angie Ballard has hit out at Paralympic organisers saying more needs to be done in the lead up to help athletes not just after the Olympics.

Competing at her seventh Games in Paris, Ballard said now was the time for more people with “first-hand experience” including former athletes and coaches to be involved in the decision making process.

“You don’t have to add on afterwards. You don’t have to make exceptions,” she said in a passionate interview at the Stade de France.

“I don’t have to do 57 right hand turns through here, which is not good for me.

“I don’t have to go over crappy surfaces with my very expensive tires that could pop at any moment.

Angela Ballard has slammed Paralympic organisers. Picture: Tom Weller/VOIGT/GettyImages

“There’s all these things that, if you are designed for all of it in mind from the get go, then everyone’s welcome, everyone’s included, and everyone’s able to perform at their best, and that’s what it needs to be.

“We’re here to perform out there, not show you how we can survive that challenge.”

Ballard’s frustration stemmed from the warm-up to her 400m T53 final in the early hours of Friday morning, where she finished sixth.

Competing in lane nine, Ballard and her fellow competitors were given just three lanes on the practice track outside the athletics stadium to prepare.

“I’m just pointing out there’s a lot of decisions made around international Paralympics, athletics at home, made by people who don’t really take into account the performance of what we’re doing,” she said.

Angie Ballard (L) is a long time server of the Paralympic team and was one of Australias Flag Bearers. Picture: Supplied

“I think you need more people with first-hand experience making, being part of those conversations, former athletes, former coaches.

“Anyone with lived experience is the best, but you can’t just get one answer on disability or sport.”

Ballard said her concerns extended beyond her own T53 classification.

“I would love to see the day where all of the different classes are supported to perform at their best,” she said.

”Which means different things for different classes. Some of our quadriplegic athletes can’t sweat, so putting them on in the heat of the day is gonna have a performance at risk.

“Same if you’ve got a long walk for some of our 30s (athletes classified in that range) who have co-ordination issues, that’s going to impact performance.”

Originally published as Angie Ballard calls for those with experience to be involved with organising Games