Backwards in wheelchair: down the stairs

[Sylvia]

Without a doubt having some venue for disabled athletes is definitely better than no venue. And having the Paralympics at the same time and place as the regular olympics helps increase that visibility. But I wonder at what point is it no longer about whether someone is disabled or not and more about what an amazing athlete they are.

[tangentgirl]

Wow, nice picture, Oakleaf!

Given the obvious strength and physical fitness of many disabled athletes, I've often wondered why the Olympics and Paralympics aren't just one olympic event. I believe they are held the same years and roughly the same time (sometimes one after the other) at the same or close by locations. Why keep them separate?

I think they are separate because it would not be a level playing field. In some cases, able-bodied people will always have an advantage. Finding a disabled swimmer who could fairly compete against Michael Phelps seems (and I could be wrong) unlikely, as swimming is such a whole-body sport.

In other cases, it's the opposite - remember the track runner with the artificial legs that made him awesome? And if you have a marathon, someone in a wheelchair will always have the advantage on the downhills.

However, I do think it would be cool and empowering for all of the athletes to compete in friendlies, right around the time of the Olympics and Paralympics.

Heck, I could turn out to be wrong, and maybe in those friendly games be proven so.

[Sylvia]

I guess the way I look at it is we don't have separate Olympics for men and women. It is one Olympic event where men compete against men and women against women. I would have no problem with disabled people competing against other disabled people. I just think it would be really cool to bring in some of these disabled sports into the regular Olympics. It would give the athletes the same visibility, acknowledgement and sense of accomplishment that I think all amazing athletes deserve. I think the visibility could also help the general public see what amazing athletes disabled people can be. To me it seems odd to have it a separate event. Although maybe there are longer term plans to one day merge the two.

[NbyNW]

I guess the way I look at it is we don't have separate Olympics for men and women. It is one Olympic event where men compete against men and women against women. I would have no problem with disabled people competing against other disabled people. I just think it would be really cool to bring in some of these disabled sports into the regular Olympics. It would give the athletes the same visibility, acknowledgement and sense of accomplishment that I think all amazing athletes deserve. I think the visibility could also help the general public see what amazing athletes disabled people can be. To me it seems odd to have it a separate event. Although maybe there are longer term plans to one day merge the two.

I totally agree with this. It would be great to see all the athletes march together in the opening and closing ceremonies, and for the Paralympians to get equal TV coverage.

[Sylvia]

One of the great things about the Olympics, is many of the athletes go on to become roll models for the next generation of athletes. I wonder how many kids have watched the Olympics hoping that they too might become an Olympian. Likewise should paralympic sports become part of the Olympics, the increased visibility would provide healthier role models for disabled children than the images of poster children from ages ago. I guess to me it just feels right.

[NbyNW]

Also, it would go far to send the message that just because you lose the use of a limb (or lose the limb altogether), your life isn't over; you can still live a very active life! I'm not saying the adaptation is easy, but it can be done.

[Sylvia]

Also, it would go far to send the message that just because you lose the use of a limb (or lose the limb altogether), your life isn't over; you can still live a very active life! I'm not saying the adaptation is easy, but it can be done.

Yes, I totally agree with you.

I think it could do a lot for making it more acceptable too. As you say, the adaptation and really any adaptation of that magnitude isn't easy. But if being in a wheelchair could be viewed as no stranger than say wearing glasses, I think the world would be a very different place for disabled people.

[tangentgirl]

I guess the way I look at it is we don't have separate Olympics for men and women. It is one Olympic event where men compete against men and women against women. I would have no problem with disabled people competing against other disabled people. I just think it would be really cool to bring in some of these disabled sports into the regular Olympics. It would give the athletes the same visibility, acknowledgement and sense of accomplishment that I think all amazing athletes deserve. I think the visibility could also help the general public see what amazing athletes disabled people can be. To me it seems odd to have it a separate event. Although maybe there are longer term plans to one day merge the two.

*smacks forehead*

Ah, I see what you are saying now. One event, different competitions. That sounds very cool.

[Sylvia]

*smacks forehead*

Ah, I see what you are saying now. One event, different competitions. That sounds very cool.

yes, exactly. I should have explained better.