After hearing about how he was put through these tests because of how well he was performing against athletes with both legs, it brought many questions I have about how people view athlete's with disabilities. For the most part people see athletes with disabilities as individual's who need to compete with other athletes with disabilities because they'd be at a disadvantage if performing against able-bodied athletes. But when an athlete with a disability is good enough to perform better than some able-bodied athletes people jump to the conclusion that there is some type of advantage this athlete is getting because of the prosthetic limbs. There's been other stories like this where athletes compete at a level in which people seem to think it's impossible and want to find out answers through science.
When coming back to the Olympics and how he wants be the first disabled athlete to qualify ever, it raises discussion. If Pistorius was to qualify for the Olympics in a sprint event, how would the media cover this story? Also, do you think it was right for people to raise questions on whether he had an advantage against able-bodied sprinters?
If Pistorius was to qualify for the Olympics in a sprint event, I believe this would be the main story of the Olympics and the media would cover the story the whole time. This story would change the face of the Olympics and show that the IOC is open to the idea of athletes with disabilities competing against able-bodied competitor. It would show that the IOC is increasing diversity in competitions and willing to give any athlete a shot in representing their country.
ReplyDeleteIf Pistorius qualified and the IOC allowed him to compete in the Olympics I do believe that some will raise questions and believe that he has an advantage over other athletes. People will question is advantages in any situation which is understandable, however I do not think they have the right to do so. If they IOC, the highest body of sports, declares that Pistorius does not have an advantage then no one has a right to question it. If he did have an advantage he would not be competing in the Olympics and the IOC would never allow it.
I agree with Alli. Pistorius being in the Olympics would be a huge story. It would probably be all over the news as a "feel good" story I'm thinking. It would show that the IOC is willing to let those with disabilities compete in the Olympics, and it truly gives the best of the best the opportunity to compete, despite any physical or mental disabilities they may have. The world wants to see the best of the best compete, and this could essentially be what they would be getting.
ReplyDeleteIf he did quality for the Olympics and he was allowed to compete, the media wouldn't turn it into just a feel good story, they would also be sure to bring up the controversy involved. Some competitors or fans would undoubtedly bring up that this might give him an advantage, and that is a shame in my opinion. Like Alli said, if the IOC says he is fair to compete, that should be the final say. However, it is also a shame to Pistorius because if he loses, no one is going to say "Well, maybe if he didn't have a disability he would have won." But if he does win, some will be up in arms and say "He only won because he had an advantage." There is not a situation where Pistorius will truly win in the eyes of the public if you ask me. He will always bring controversy with every race he wins, and no one will ever argue for him if he loses.
I feel that it is only natural for a society to raise questions about certain advantages/disadvantages that someone may impose on a particular event. Raising the question should hopefully lead to the right answer. In this instance, I think it is difficult to prove that he has an advantage but it is also difficult to prove if he has a disadvantage. I personally think that he should have been able to try to qualify for the Olympics just based on the fact that an advantage couldn't be proven. No one has ever really been in his shoes and felt what he felt so it is difficult to deny him the ability to run in the event based one what we feel it right. I think that it kind of relates to Learning Disabilities in education. Some may feel that it is an advantage that students with Learning Disabilities are allowed to have extra time on an important exam, but in reality it is giving them the opportunity to "compete" with the other students on as fair of a playing field as possible.
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