To mark the opening of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, spoken word artist Henry Stone returns with the second instalment of his Own the Moment collaboration with the ITF, urging fans to recognise not just the historic feats in wheelchair tennis at the Paralympics, but the role the Games have had in changing perceptions towards persons with disabilities and ushering in an ever-more inclusive society worldwide.

The performance, which can be viewed above or on YouTube, follows Stone’s earlier work on the eve of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where he traced the inspirational touchstones from the annals of Olympic tennis.

Similarly, Stone sees the Paralympics as serving a deeper purpose, one that stretches beyond the sporting realm.

“A few years ago, the IPC made a significant change in their focus of the Paralympics and the Paralympians,” he said. “Instead of focusing on the ailments they’ve overcome, it shifted to their athletic ability and achievement.

“I don’t think it would be fair to just focus on what a Paralympian has had to overcome in their private life – they want to, and they should, be seen as athletes. They prepare like other athletes: they sleep like athletes, they work hard like athletes. Anything else is disingenuous to the work that they put in as an athlete over the course of weeks, months and years. That’s what I’ve tried to highlight for the Paralympics – that’s the main differentiation from my work for the Olympics.”

Read Henry Stone’s Paralympic Own the Moment script in full:

You had to deal with some bruises and bumps… 
And you may have doubts over a few different months, 
But to snap and sink yet come back from the brink 
No one has a right to assume that you’re done. 

The fact that you’re here makes that massively clear. 
The battle for first has been the standard for years. 
You’re here for your country like everybody else, 
You’re here to compete and get medals on the shelf.  

To be an athlete is a story of resilience - 
Paralympians aren’t just ordinary civilians... 

As we stepped into ’92 properly, 
Wheelchair tennis became less of a novelty.
In Spain it became a full medal sport 
And Brad Parks was the icon to strengthen its cause 
We didn’t focus on his caps, but on what he could do, 
Him and Randy Snow were the ones we could look to.  

But as wheelchair tennis was coming to prominence, 
So was the idea of the Dutch being dominant. 
This was the start of a golden generation, 
Molier and Smit offered hope and elation.  

But Sydney 2000 is where things really sprouted. 
Invincible Esther was the kid in the centre, 
Not one set lost when she came to the fore, 
Like her swipe of the racket was the greatest of all.  

The Games have always given space to those 
Who had to overcome their greatest woes. 
Like when quad tennis earned a spot for inclusion 
To represent those who got lost in the blueprint. 

Let’s move onto Shingo, the hero we needed. 
Who left the doubles in Athens undefeated. 
45 Grand Slams, he left 3 Games as a champ –
Now here in Tokyo, he’s the face of Japan.  

And we saw a great thing when we flew to Beijing, 
Where Taylor and Wagner accrued great wins. 
But in the arena, Pete was the leader, 
Defending the gold he won in Athena.  

And the government declared their unity for the impaired community, 
Catering facilities to the less-abled more suitably. 

Then London’s abundance made the other Games redundant, 
Focusing less on Paralympians taking losses. 
The onus would be on their athletic achievement, 
Not how they overcame a bad set of grievance.  

So when Esther got the 4-7-0, 
No one could doubt how she became a hero. 

Two million people then witnessed the sequel.
Rio was buzzing as heroes were coming. 
But the basketball king fancied a change: 
Tennis brought Dylan Alcott back to the Games. 
But why switch to tennis? Why live through the trouble? 
I guess he has a thing for gold singles and doubles.   

But in Tokyo watch out for the golden girl... 
De Groot the number one player in the whole of the world. 
She’s already earned her place on the ladder, 
But Kamiji might have a say in the matter.  

I often think about their circumstances 
And how adversity never hurt their chances,
And there’s someone watching in need of these heroes…  

To help them achieve and swell their belief 
That if you suffered in the realm of defeat, 
There are comrades to offer you a welcome relief. 

The Paralympics is where we all chase first, 
And you can be the hero you always were. 
Just give it your best as you go for the line 
And make sure you own it when the moment arrives.