why are paramName and others needed if not used?

In this method, 

 public static int UpdateEmployee(int EmployeeId, string Name, string Gender, string City)
        {
            string CS = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["DBCS"].ConnectionString;
            using (SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(CS))
            {
                string updateQuery = "Update tblEmployee SET Name = @Name,  " +"Gender = @Gender, City = @City WHERE EmployeeId = @EmployeeId";
                SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand(updateQuery, con);
                SqlParameter paramOriginalEmployeeId = new
                    SqlParameter("@EmployeeId", EmployeeId);
                cmd.Parameters.Add(paramOriginalEmployeeId);
                SqlParameter paramName = new SqlParameter("@Name", Name);
                cmd.Parameters.Add(paramName);
                SqlParameter paramGender = new SqlParameter("@Gender", Gender);
                cmd.Parameters.Add(paramGender);
                SqlParameter paramCity = new SqlParameter("@City", City);
                cmd.Parameters.Add(paramCity);
                con.Open();
                return cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
            }
        }

SqlParameter paramOriginalEmployeeId = new ....   but its never used?  Why is the cast done this way?  Is it a placeholder?