Para sports gain more attention in France as Paris Olympics approach

STORY: Para sports gain more attention in France as Paris Olympics approach DATELINE: Oct. 30, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:22 LOCATION: SAINT-ETIENNE, France CATEGORY: SPORTS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the training 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (French): LOIC VERGNAUD, Triple Olympic handbike medalist 3. various of the training 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (French): SYA DEMBELE, Olympic breakdance athlete 5. various of the training 6. SOUNDBITE 3 (French): LOIC VERGNAUD, Triple Olympic handbike medalist STORYLINE: Para athletes have visited classes in French schools to encourage young people to do sports. It's part of initiatives to promote sport for people with disabilities, as the Paris Olympics is set to be held next summer. Near Saint-Etienne in the southeast France, para athletes Sya Dembele and Loic Vergnaud, who holds three Olympic medals in handbike, accompanied young people with disabilities for three days to help them start the sport. The course allows nine young participants to explore more sports, which they have never tried. SOUN

Former F1 driver Zanardi wins road hand-cycling gold

Former F1 driver Zanardi wins road hand-cycling gold

Alessandro Zanardi of Italy holds up his handbike as he celebrates winning gold in the men's time trial H5 class of the cycling road event at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics on Sept. 14, 2016. It was the third career Paralympic gold for Zanardi, a former Formula One driver who lost both legs in a crash during an auto race in September 2001. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo