There are still people in the world who think of Paralympians as “lesser” athletes. Apple has put paid to that in a film, The Relay, that documents eight athletes, four with disabilities, four without, in a four-stage, real-time relay race. It’s a film that shows how equal Paralympians are while it celebrates the grit, determination and sacrifice that is shared by all athletes, with or without disabilities. The film also highlights the accessibility features created by Apple on its iPhones, iPads and Macs.

The Relay, created by Apple’s in-house team, directed by writer-director, Derek Cianfrance, and produced by Radical Media, features highly competitive athletes from around the world, some of whom are contenders for the global stage in Los Angeles in 2028. Its athletes include a cyclist with an upper limb difference, a wheelchair racer, a low-vision swimmer, and a blade runner. 

In fact, competition between athletes with and without disabilities is common but rarely portrayed on screen. Apple’s message in doing so speaks loudly of equity and underlines Apple’s commitment to its belief that accessibility is a basic human right.

The Relay is running  on YouTube and apple.com, and portraits of the athletes will appear on @apple Instagram.