„We disables athletes have to open up and come out of the dark room and show everybody that sports make sense and give great joy.” I heard these words from Pásztory Dóra, Paralympic athlete in an interview. I remember that then I thought that these words reflected the extreme will and desire to do something. And I also thought of the openness radiating from these words. This young girl with disability, who is a multiple champion swimmer and a university student, calls our attention to take people living with disabilities as an example. We shall consider them exemplary because those who have enough strength to come out of the dark room, to approach other people, and to be successful in any field of life deserve frank acknowledgement.
For this very reason, the Paralympic Movement is much more than just an international sports event. This movement is an emblem, the symbol of human will and joy in life. It is part of universal culture as sports are a type of universal culture similar to music and films. We have to record and immortalise the success and the great moments of sportsmen with disabilities, and arts are probably the most suitable means for the purpose.
I feel honoured, because Hungary is the host country of the I. International Paralympics Sports Film Festival. One of the most important tasks of the Hungarian government is to make the social adaptation and integration of people with disabilities as easy as possible. This is the reason why this Festival, where 55 films from 20 different countries are presented to the public is so very important. Feature films, documentaries, reports, portraits, music videos and advertisements - all about the same subject, about the every-day life and the victories of several thousand Paralympics athletes living in different parts of the Globe.
Mr. Philip Craven, the president of the International Paralympic Committee once said that Budapest might become similar to Cannes in terms of the Paralympics movement. I personally would be pleased if the Hungarian capital city would be more than that. If it were a bridge - as it is indicate by the name of the Festival - connecting people; people with disabilities and their supporters, the sportsmen and sportswomen, the creators, the audience and everybody who likes sports, art and fascinating human performance.
I wish you a pleasant time and a meaningful entertainment during the Festival.
Dr. András Bozóki
Minister of Culture