UP contingent faces accessibility issues at Khelo India Para Games hotel

New Delhi: Despite some heartwarming stories and heroic performances on the playing field, select athletes at the 2025 Khelo India Para Games complained of mismanagement on matter pertaining to accreditation, transport and accessibility at hotels.

On Friday, as the athletics events for the Games kicked off at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here, athletes from the UP contingent allegedly experienced mismanagement at the venue's kit distribution center.

"People were sitting there since morning and kits were not provided to them," an athlete from the Uttar Pradesh contingent, who spoke under anonymity, to The Bridge.

"Accreditation was not given on time because of which the athletes, their escorts, and their coaches had to struggle."

The athletes were reportedly called to the stadium at 7 am IST and were allegedly made to wait until 9 pm IST to receive the kits. Some even claimed that accreditation was not provided to all athletes.

The accreditation is essentially an identity card which is a must-have for anyone to access the competition arena or to avail of the food provided at the stadium.

Elsewhere at the badminton courts, escorts of Uttar Pradesh's wheelchair shuttlers allegedly struggled to get their hands on accreditation even on the second day of competition.

"Management at the games is misinformed about the list of escorts, blaming athletes or their officials for lack of data although we had sent them all data regarding our travel, train arrival, and escort names," said a shuttler from UP, who did not wish to be named.

Also Read: Khelo India Para Games: Providing never-seen-before exposure to athletes

The escorts, meanwhile, alleged a lack of respect and awareness among the organising team.

"We go on getting disrespected every time we need to enter," said a shuttler's escort. "Initially they even refused that athletes need escorts because volunteers are deployed.

"There is a difference between one who is close to the athlete and someone unfamiliar. There is hesitation to ask for help," he added.

It's worth noting that a spinal cord-injured athlete does not always have control over their bowel movements. Personal escorts, in such cases, become essential.

"Only a personal escort can go to the extent of cleaning up accidental or medical mishaps. Would a volunteer or organiser clean up in case something happens?" another escort questioned.

Inoperable lift at hotel

There were additional complaints about the hotels provided. Wheelchair users from the UP contingent were allegedly lodged outside the stadium for better conditions.

An inoperable lift at one of the hotels, however, caused mobility challenges.

Videos shared with The Bridge members of the UP contingent showed athletes being carried up and down the staircase on the shoulders of escorts.

“Once I go up, I have to wait for three hours if I need to go back down”, an athlete complained.

The ramp at the lodging facility was reportedly made of wood and needed four people to push and lug it up and down.

“If you’re inviting wheelchair users, at least ensure that they can climb up and down with ease on their own. If an escort’s hand slips and the chair drops and an athlete gets wounded, who will take responsibility?" he questioned.

Further complaints regarding the hotel included narrow inlets at entry and bathrooms which allegedly prevented wheelchair movement.

Requesting anonymity, another para shuttler on behalf of a WH1 category athlete shared, “We cannot park our wheelchair outside the toilet and walk the distance to the toilet seat”.

Ex-army man para shuttler Prem Kumar Ale, a silver medalist at the Games in the men's wheelchair (WH1) event echoed the sentiment.

“All other arrangements and management were good at the games but those who are totally dependent on wheelchairs, like me, faced issues with accessibility at the hotel. The arrangement could have been better for us," said Ale.

No lounge

The athletes were reliant on the transport services provided by an agency appointed as the official accommodation, catering, and transport partner for the event.

“There are buses but they are not being provided on time," said an athlete. "If our event is at 10 am we have to leave by 7 am."

Additionally, select athletes who did not wish to be named, to The Bridge that the stadium did not have athlete's lounge. Wheelchair shuttlers were seen resting on the floor in the practice area during semi-final matches.

While the floor itself was clean, the athletes wished for a lounge facility.

"Athletes need to rest in order to prepare for the next match on the same day. Here, once the first match is over, we are sitting around, having to watch ongoing matches or rest in the venue without a proper lounge facility," said one of them.

The UP contingent was also left unimpressed with wheelchair badminton matches not being telecasted or streamed for a second time in as many editions.

With much scorn, they declared that if this happens next year as well, wheelchair players would withdraw themselves from the games themselves.

“We are international athletes and we don’t mind sleeping on floors but given the amount of budgets passed for Khelo India games if the government is not able to provide adequate facilities, then they should not organise such events that bring shame to them and athletes," an athlete said.

"If this was an able-bodied event, these issues would not have happened. And private companies and volunteers will not understand all this. They are normal people."

In-depth accessibility audits conducted