Australian Open champion Joachim Gerard features in the campaign video ©Getty Images

The Belgian Paralympic Committee has launched the "Now is the time to stare" campaign in the build-up to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

The campaign aims to raise awareness that people with disabilities are still often stared at in the streets.

The Belgian Paralympic Committee hopes the campaign draws attention to the achievements of the country’s Paralympians by highlighting that people with disabilities are capable of great things.

Four Belgian Paralympians feature in a campaign video, filmed with hidden cameras.

The video captures members of the public staring at world Para athletics medallist Gitte Haenen, goalball player Klison Mapreni, world champion Para cyclist Ewoud Vromant and wheelchair tennis star Joachim Gerard to highlight the issue.

"Our Paralympians are all top athletes who live for their sport," says Anne d'Ieteren, Belgian Paralympic Committee chair.

"They deserve a lot of respect and recognition for that, but unfortunately they are sometimes looked down on a bit.

"A sad social issue that other people with disabilities are also confronted with on a daily basis.

"We want to change that with this campaign."


The Belgian Paralympic Committee has encouraged people to like and share the video on social media, along with using the eyes emoji to highlight the importance of the campaign.

The organisation has thanked the National Lottery and Belgian Paralympic Committee partners for their support of the campaign.

The initiative comes as Belgian athletes prepare for the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, where they will be represented in sports such as boccia, table tennis, goalball and table tennis.