The World’s First Marathon in the Metaverse

Paralympic athlete Blake Leeper shares how the new virtual world will help shape a more inclusive culture of movement for individuals with disabilities

From the LifeMinute.TV Team

May 17, 2022

Inclusion is key for individuals with disabilities. But just like the real world, the Metaverse is still not meeting the ambitions of a world free of physical limitations and societal stereotypes. That’s why Paralympic athlete and advocate Blake Leeper, along with Degree Deodorant, are continuing their mission to break down barriers and create a world where everyone has the confidence to move more.

The Metaverse, positioned as a new virtual world free of physical limitations and societal stereotypes, is not yet meeting these ambitions. In fact, 60% of people feel that virtual worlds lack inclusivity. And many are calling for more accessibility. However, the Metaverse is still in its early stages of development, which is why Degree Deodorant will partner with the virtual world, Decentraland, to help shape the standard of inclusivity and representation in the virtual world.

Created in partnership with Decentraland, Degree’s first step in the Metaverse is its introduction of a more inclusive avatar library. Available for the first time at The Degree Metathon, these newly developed wearables—such as prostheses, running blades, and a wheelchair—offer greater representation for people with disabilities and enable participants to create avatars representative of their unique identities.