The rise of the Paralympic Games has been an undeniably remarkable phenomenon in the world of sports. It has not only brought about a surge in global interest but has also become a powerful vehicle for promoting inclusivity and breaking down societal barriers. In an effort to further expand the narrative surrounding the Paralympics, Harder Than You Think (HTYT), a content initiative with exclusive worldwide rights to tell the story of the Paralympics through to the 2028 Games in LA, has partnered with European production and sales house Off the Fence to propel the Rising Phoenix Universe initiative. This groundbreaking collaboration aims to create new projects and find partners to showcase the extraordinary stories of the Paralympic movement.
HTYT, founded by London 2012 Chief Marketing Officer Greg Nugent and chaired by ex-BBC Director General Tony Hall, has been developing the Rising Phoenix Universe since the release of the double Emmy-winning Netflix and Bytedance documentary, Rising Phoenix, in 2020. Building on this success, HTYT has tasked Off the Fence with seeking partners for the next four projects emerging from the Rising Phoenix Universe. Under this agreement, Off the Fence will also co-produce additional content beyond these core projects, amplifying the reach and impact of the Paralympic narrative.
One of the projects set to captivate audiences is the three-part docu-series titled Road To Tokyo. Co-directed by Mat Whitecross and pioneering deaf director Bim Ajadi, the series follows the journeys of 12 Paralympians as they prepare to compete in the postponed Tokyo 2020 Paralympics amidst the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The series, produced by John Battsek from Ventureland and executive produced by Jack Thorne, provides an intimate look into the lives of these remarkable athletes. Notably, one in four members of the production team identify as disabled, underscoring HTYT’s commitment to promoting inclusivity both on and off the camera.
Another notable project in the pipeline is Paris 2024: A New Revolution. This 90-minute feature film, currently in post-production, aims to leverage the platform of the Paris 2024 Paralympics to start a global conversation on disability equality. Directed by Sheridan O’Donnell, the documentary intertwines O’Donnell’s personal journey as a low vision filmmaker with the broader narrative of the Paralympic Games. Co-produced with Ventureland, Paris 2024: A New Revolution has garnered support from Procter and Gamble’s P&G Studios, continuing their collaboration with HTYT following their partnership on the Equal Too podcast. The film strives to inspire audiences while shedding light on the triumphs of the Paralympic movement.
A core component of HTYT’s mission is to challenge the underrepresentation of individuals with disabilities in the entertainment industry. Despite approximately 15% of the world’s population identifying as disabled, their presence in the industry remains alarmingly small. To address this disparity, HTYT aims to achieve a significant shift in the demographics of their production teams. It sets a goal of having at least 50% of the staff on all future projects identify as disabled, fostering an inclusive environment that is a testament to the principles of the Paralympic Games.
The Off the Fence deal extends beyond the immediate projects, including Road To Tokyo and Paris 2024: A New Revolution. It also entails the distribution of Road To LA, a production that charts the journey to the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, culminating in the LA 2028 Paralympic Games. With the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) projecting a cumulative audience of 5 billion for the LA Paralympics, the desire to share the power, glory, and heroism of the Paralympics with a global audience is a shared vision.
The collaboration between HTYT and Off the Fence represents an exciting development for enthusiasts of the Paralympic Games and advocates for inclusivity. Through the Rising Phoenix Universe initiative, the extraordinary stories of Paralympians will find their way onto the screens of viewers around the world. By opening up the Paralympics to a diverse range of storytellers, this partnership seeks to inspire, educate, and ignite conversations on disability equality. As the Paralympic movement continues to gain momentum, it serves as a testament to the indomitable spirit and unwavering determination of individuals who defy the odds and rewrite the narrative of what is possible.