Paralympics

[C C Csiders]

This is possibly one for the All Sports Section. However, I am getting increasingly tired, and frankly narked, by the continual reference to the London Olympics of 2012 as The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

I am sorry if I offend anyone as it's not intended, but to my mind the Paralympics is a sideshow, an event that showcases disabled sports, and how disabled people are able to achieve (and all this is good in itself). But why is it considered Sport in it's true terms?

That South African 400m runner who has been given the opportunity if (a big IF) he achieves the Olympic qualification time to compete at the Games is one thing. But what if an abled bodied person was good at wheeling his chair around the track? Why wouldn't he be able to compete? It's surely the same thing.

 

[MK Shrimper]

Thing is I bet there aren't many able bodied athletes who COULD wheel a wheelchair around a track at the same pace without extensive training.

 

[Pubey]

it's political correctness gone MAD!



(sorry, i've always wanted to say that)

 

[Firestorm]

The concept of sport in its true terms has always got me.

Athletics is to me the true sport. No assistance (ok except the drugs) simple goals, (highest, furthest, quickest)

And I can't see how this varies that much for people with disabilities
To me the paralympics will be more of a sport than the the overhyped world wheel changing championship F1 is turning into

 

[Uncle Leo]

That South African 400m runner who has been given the opportunity if (a big IF) he achieves the Olympic qualification time to compete at the Games is one thing. But what if an abled bodied person was good at wheeling his chair around the track? Why wouldn't he be able to compete? It's surely the same thing.

He (Oscar Pistorius) failed to get anywhere near the qualifying time in the South African Olympic trials.

Must admit, I struggle to get too worked up about the Paralympics, but I agree with Firestorm in that they're far more to do with sport than stuff like F1.

 

[Bluesmanager]

The Olympics are about people performing at the highest possible level, why shouldn't the disabled people be allowed to do the same?

And so ends my sanctimonious rant for the day