German body invites comedian to watch para-sport after rude remark

The German Paralympic Committee (DBS) has invited comedian and TV presenter Luke Mockridge to watch para-sport in response to his offensive statement towards para-athletes.

"We would like to encourage people to watch para-sport live to experience the impressive performances that people with disabilities are capable of - and to understand what an asset they are to our society," DBS told dpa by request.

Mockridge caused outraged after saying some three weeks ago in the podcast "Die Deutschen" (The Germans): "There are people without legs and arms, who are thrown into a pool - and the last one to drown is the winner."

Former track cyclist Kristina Vogel, who has been paralysed since a training accident, was horrified with the statement.

"There are still some who talk such inhuman sh** and just put people with disabilities down like that. Here's just one example, it's unbelievable," Vogel wrote on her Instagram channel and shared Mockridge's quotes.

Swimming is regarded as the figurehead of the DBS at the Paralympics in Paris. German athletes Taliso Engel and Elena Semechin, among others, set world records and won gold medals at this summer's event.

Mockridge was once one of the faces of German broadcasters Sat.1. In August 2021, however, he announced that he would be taking a break and has barely appeared on television since then.

From mid-September, Mockridge is to host the Sat.1 show "Was ist in der Box? Das Comedy-Quiz" ("What's in the box? The comedy quiz).