Paralympian says party snub example of inequality

A para-athlete has said the decision by Fortnum & Mason to hold an event for Olympians but not Paralympians is an example of the inequality he faces "time after time".

Paralympic and world T13 javelin champion Dan Pembroke was one of hundreds of Team GB medallists who attended a reception at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.

The 33-year-old from Hereford said he felt his colleagues had been "palmed off" by the shop, which only invited Olympians to an after-party event in London.

Fortnum & Mason has apologised for the "mistake" and said a separate Paralympics event was being organised.

Mr Pembroke, who won gold medals at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympics, said he felt the oversight was "unfair".

"Time and time again - this is the inequality that we notice as Paralympians," he said.

"We train as elite athletes. We should be recognised alongside the likes of Olympians.

"I'm used to it. It’s terrible to say but this is the state of what it is. I'd like to see it change but it just seems that we always get palmed off.

"Why invite Olympians from an event - it was directly after going to the palace - and not mention anything about Paralympians?"

Paralympians at the joint Buckingham Palace event were asked to wear sports tracksuits but their Team GB colleagues were reportedly issued new suits

In a statement, Fortnum & Mason said: "We entered into this with good intentions but recognise that we have made a mistake here for which we fully apologise.

"We have been planning for, and of course will be honoured to host, a Paralympics GB celebratory event at Fortnum’s and an invitation to do that has been made, but we do understand the hurt we have caused by not making our plans clear to the athletes earlier."

Mr Pembroke said he would not go to a future event, if it was arranged, due to his training regime and travel costs from his home.

"I don't have the big sponsorships that Olympians have - we just don't get the publicity to be able to kind of get that money that we need to be travelling all the way around the country to be honest," he said.