So, is it just me, or did anyone else see the Paralympics on T.V.

Ask an abled bodied person if they watched the Olympic games, and most people will of seen at least two or three events from the games. Ask the same people if they saw any Paralympic sports from the games, and you'll probably just get that vacant look, "Para' what?".

So here's the question: Why not integrate the Paralympics with the Olympics?

I'm not talking about disabled atheletes competing with abled bodied atheletes (not yet!), just mixing the timetable between abled bodied and disabled events.

It would raise the profile of the Parlympics, sponsors would still reach their audience, and the revenue and logistics would be more integrated and more effecient.

Yes it's great that we have the Paralympics, but why reproduce the segregation we have in society, why not fully integrate both games, and make the Paralympics fully inclusive.

Just my opinion, what's yours?

Simon

where i live the paralympics where never on tv(i even call the cable people to ask).

so i thank that it would be a good thing.

thats a good idea, but theyd end up putting the commercials on whenever it was a paralympic event or something.

Simon, that's a great idea.

Here in Israel there are only two tv broadcast providers - either cable or sattelite. Up until the last Paralympics we were sattelite subscribers but we found out that there was no way to see any paralympic events - we switched over to cable where they broadcast about 3 hours each day (crap reception but better than nothing). This is despite the fact that the Israeli paralympic athletes have brought home far more achievements and medals than the able-bodied olympic athletes - a friend of ours and his team won the gold in Athens for sailing, and the Israel swimming team is outstanding and even set a new paralympic record.

You may have read in another thread that my husband Avi is currently in the US with the Israel national team for a wheelchair basketball tournament as preparation for the world championships in Amsterdam this coming July. Last year we reached fourth place in Europe. Despite all of these achievements, the attitude here towards disabled athletes is pathetic. The team is now pushing for higher awareness in the media, such as TV broadcasts, newspaper articles, etc. On Friday there was a short spot on the news - they filmed the team at the airport leaving Israel and gave a (very) short review of the situation and about the monetary discrimination between able bodied and disabled athletes (including reimbursement for expenses). Hope I'll have some good news on this subject soon....

Personally, I see the Paralympics as inspiring and would prefer to see that than the regular Olympic games. As for Beijing 2008 - hopefully we won't need to see it on TV - our goal is to be there ourselves!

Cheers,

Rosalie

It's all very laudable wanting to see paralympics on TV becasue it's inspiring or because it brings back more medals than the regular atheletes but I seem to remember much the same argument (about more medals) being used about white water kayaking when I was active in that in the early eighties. Trouble is at the end of the day it (whether its white water canoeing or paralympic sport) is very much a minority sport with a very small participation and audience base. I may be disabled but I enjoy watching AB athletics, especially at the olympics - I find wheelchair athletics and the categories for intellectual disability (I had to look up the correct PC term!) somewhat akin to watching paint dry and I can't make head nor tail of the different disability classifications, the lower limb amps are pretty cool though. Wheelchair basketball and rugby are about the only disability sports that I can see that would have any degree of wider appeal.

We all want to see the sports that are closest to our own hearts (for whatever reason) featured more highly but the programmers (and quite rightly so in my view) have to program for the majority as they generally have advertisers, sponsors or trustees to satisfy in terms of audience sizes and however much we might like it to be different the audience just isn't there. If the audience was there for the paralympic sports they'd show it and integrate it more fully, of that you can be certain. That the paralympians get the integration and exposure that they do is often down to the 'lets show the bave little disabled people' PC mentality and I'm very uncomfortable with that.

There was a fair bit of integration at the commonwealth games with disabled events being mixed into the timetable and some were shown on the TV as fillers but generally the TV schedules moved onto analysis or to other venues when these we on IIRC. The recent paralympic world cup has no directly comparable AB event to integrate with and the logistics of the Olympics just don't work. The villages are already full to overflowing and the schedules are already packed to bursting point so would we rather a few token 'lets show the bave little disabled people' events or would we rather or own dedicated event getting full and exclusive use of all the facilities a couple of weeks later with TV schedules freed up from the AB event. I know which I'd prefer.

Well, they say you need to give a child a new food 15 times before they will like it, and personally, I think this transfers well in comparison with the mindset of adults WRT patterns and social behaviour.

Once it becomes the normal, it will be accepted.

Resistance is futile, they will be assimilated!

Mwhoohaaha!

Sorry, got a little off track there.

Unless the Paralympics becomes part of the mainstream, how can it be taken seriously?

I hate people coming up to me saying, "yeah, but you could do basketball like those on T.V" (I'm a C5/6").

It just makes me look like a lazy git!

COME ON!

Let us into the mainstream and educate a few people!

Ok, too many !!!! marks

But you get my drift (I hope)

Simon

p.s. Please don't flame me, I'm disabled don't you know! Mwhoohaaha (oops)!

The last commonwealth games included events with disabled people (pardon the term disabled if it offends you ) for the first time (I think) and it was good to see. I think there should be ONE olympics for everybody. Its a special thing to be good enough at your sport to qualify to take part and I dont think it should be segregated for different types of people into different types of Olympic games.

If we're going to go down that line then we have to accept that each sport and/or event within that sport is treated in terms of selection for inclusion in exactly the same way as the able bodied sports and that disabled sport isn't included as a form of tokenism. Selection of sports for inclusion is based upon a number of factors but these revolve around the populatity of each sport in terms of participation and demand around the world. Lets look at for instance Rugby Sevens (a sport I'd love to see in the olympics - much more so than any disability sport) - rugby is played in many many countries (probably equally as many as have active disability sports programmes) - Rugby crowds regularly fill stadiums to capacity of over 50,000 round the world for internationals (disability sports probably only attract crowds in the 100's) yet rugby sevens can't get into the olympics as it's said to not be popular or widespread enough for the olympics. Karate and Squash made it in. There's only space for 28 sports. So to include just one disabled sport - say basketball they'd have to drop say karate. There's probaly a 1000 or more times more people taking part in karate worldwide than wheelchair basketball so who deserves to be at the olympics more? Yes in a perfect world the olympics would include every major, every minor and every disability sport but realistically the olympics would then probably take just about the whole olympic year to get through rather than being a three week super festival. Disability sport is never going to justify inclusion in the olympics in its own right and I for one don't want to see it there as a form of tokenism or political correctness at the expense of able bodied atheletes who probably have a better case for inclusion.

I can't reconcile demanding to be included in the mainstream with then also demanding to still be treated as a special case - isn't that just a bit too much like wanting to have our cake and eat it?

There's a huge case for getting more integration of disability sports into mainstream events and things like the London Marathon do so very effectively (with no hint of tokenism or PC), there's a time and a place for this and I'm afraid, for the reasons stated above I just don't think the olympics is it. Forcing disability sport into places where it really has no right to be is in my opinion counter productive and devalues the efforts of the atheletes. They want to be there as atheletes and not as the token 'lets show the bave little disabled people'.



<trying to be deliberately provocative>
You play wheelchair rugby simon?

My apologies if this is a bit of a rant but it's my pet soapbox

Yes, Russ, you have a good point here. How would you get a sport into the Olympics? Competition is fierce to be included and things like bridge and ballroom dancing have tried to get it; did bridge make it, I'm not sure.

One thing is certain, that none of the existing Olympic sports would want to give way to allow other sports to enter. Of course, one could extend the games to include 4 instead of 2 weeks and that would allow space for more sports.

I fear the problem of categories for disabled sports might prove a bit of a minefield though. I bet no one will do anything about this but it would be good to see some action.

I would just like to see the paralympics on TV.

I am an ex-disabled sport participant (achieving national colours), ex-disabled sport convenor, and present sports fan (rugby, cricket, soccer, Olympic events, etc). In short, I like sport, I've done sport, and I've administered sport.

Personally I would like to see as much integration as possible, through all levels of the sport. Practically it is not possible, largely because of the number of disability categories. But I don’t believe that should stop us from trying.

Whilst I agree that some disabled sports are about as exciting as watching paint dry (mine being one of them, namely, shooting) I must also admit that many of the able bodied Olympic-type events are not much better. In fact top of my list right now of "most boring sports event seen recently" has to be the latest Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Compared to the Winter Olympics a few weeks earlier it was an absolute sleeping pill.

I also don't believe that disabled athletes, especially the "elite" ones, need hold back for any able-bodied athletes. I was disgusted when the Canadian sports bodies voted Felicien and Peticlerc joint sportswoman of the year, when Peticlerc had won 5 golds, and Felicien had failed to even start! Some able-bodied athletes get more than they deserve.

There are a number of Olympic events which can be integrated with relative ease . . . archery is one, shooting another, lawn bowls, the marathons, etc. There are other options worth considering as well, such as holding the Paralympics before the Olympics, and then carrying the "finals" of various events across into the Olympics coverage window. It's not ideal, but it can be a foot in the door.

Disabled sport needs the added publicity and awareness, and to be honest, able-bodied sport needs some new blood and variety.
 

While I agree, the integration would be good, the problem maybe logistical. Athlete villages are so large now if you added in w/chair sport as well you could have a real headache.

I'll probably get kicked off the boards for this but I reckon I am the only NON SPORTING FAN in my part of the country.

I tend to agree with Russ - I find watching AB sports more interesting. Wheelchair rugby, I cannot understand that; wheelchair archery - does nothing for me. I know sports are all about adapting, however, I cannot see anyone but the disabled being intersted in paralympic sports.

I guess they could be integrated into the AB Olympics but then you would have more people competing for spaces.

I am not sure how many AB folk would watch the paralympics. As far back as I remember, they have always been held as separate occasions. It does not offend me that they are not integrated at present.

I'm really the wrong person to comment as I would rather have 3 extra hours of therapy on my wonky arm than watch a sport on TV - AB or otherwise. As a disabled person now of 18 years standing, I normally turn over when disabled sports come on TV not that I demean what the athletes do - I just dont find it as interesting as watching an AB run the race or whatever.

If I dont post again you will know that Uncle Webmaster has thrown me off! To cover myself, it is only my opinion and I am entitled to one as much as the next person.

Gary
I do agree with you, have to say. I find w/chair rugby completely confusing as it bears no resemblance to errrr rugby! Also think actually having disabled athletes compete against AB is a non starter, even that is being suggested here. The marathon times are way faster for w/chairs, in fact the longer the distance the bigger the gap.
About the only Olympic AB sport which is completely boring is syncronised swimming, yawn, yawn. Even though its fantastically hard its just not thrilling in anyway.
You already have 'cheating' in paralympics too, some of the equipment the amputees try to use (legs with springs in) may be tantamount to an AB 100m runner using a motorbike

Gary...I don't think Uncle Webmaster will boot you out - you are entitled to your opinion. Actually I tend to agree with what your said, I would rather take part in a sport than watch it!!

hello i am an able bodied person and do not have any disabled in my family.

yes, we watched some of the olympics on tv and no we didn't watch the paralympics at the time because .... we went to athens to watch it.

why?? because we, my son and i (4 at the time) watched what there was from sydney and enjoyed it so much that we decided we would have a once in a lifetime experience and see it live. whilst we were there we saw the wheelchair rugby and were instantly smitten. we have since got involved with this exciting sport. my husband is a ref and my son and i hep out where it is needed.

having said that i don't think it is practical to integrate the olympics with the paras because of the time involved. the olympics currently runs for 2 weeks from 8 till 10ish. + the paras runs for a further 10 days for the same amount of time i just don't think it would work.

we are now saving up to go to beijing in 2008

This is the deal with integrating the Paralympics and Olympics together...
1. There are too many athletes and the olympic village could not hold the # of participants.
2. There are too many events because of the large # of classes. For instance in many sports there are 10 classes and depending on your disability level you would compete in your appropriate class. In the olympics there is 1 winner for male and female in track however for the paralympics there is a winner for each classification. Currently, there is pressure from the international federation to decrease the # of classes- which will make fewer events and fewer medals to be purchased and awarded.
3. It would be too costly
However, in many countries besides the US the Paralympics is covered during primetime hours .
I don't see the two integrating anytime soon...

Hey Simon,

I'm leaning toward integrating as much as possible, not just on TV. Much like Oscar Pistorious there is a guy named Nick Scandone, who has ALS could, and DOES compete against the a/b's. "U.S. disabled sailor Nick Scandone - diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease beat an entire field of able-bodied sailors to win the 2.4mR World Championships in Italy last September [2005]. Dean Brenner, chairman of the U.S. Olympic Sailing Committee, was quoted at the time relating that Scandone had been judged evenly with able-bodied sailors, winning "based on his performance without any compensation or adjustment" for his disability. He also was voted the 2005 Rolex Yachtsman of the year."

Did any of you know that?
'"

why is it a competition to see if anyone else knew these facts?

Good for them, but I really think that you have a Bee in your Bonnet. Chill, life is short...

(I highlighted the text I was referring to, so that there would be no confusion)

take care,

K

I got to watch the wheelchair US Open tennis on espn classic he other night. Was amazed at ho great they are. Girl was from I think SWEDEN and was like 400wins - 12losses.

I'm disabled, and have no interest in watching any paralympic events.

The Olympics is a money driven event... Hundreds of millions of dollars/euros/yen are spent getting and preparing for this,,,,circus ( what else is it,,,really) and many times more putting it on.

We havn't gotten to the TV revenues, yet.

If nobody watches,,,, it goes back to what it once was,,, and should still be,, a group of athletes competing for the joy of competing.

Let the paralympics remain that. It should be about the competition, not the show.

There are better ways of " championing a cause" than " begging to eat at the grown up's table"

I find the whole concept demeaning and condescending.

As for competing with ABs,,, that I'd watch. No matter the event,, if they compete on an even basis with no allowances made for whatever disability they may have,, that is something that would get coverage.

If one of us comes in anywhere other than last, it will hit the headlines.

For marathons,,, run them all uphill and let the wheelchairs in.
ed

I think your talking about Esther Vergeer she's from the Netherlands and her statistics as of March '07 when I did my last article on her are:

504 and 25 in singles
350 and 26 in doubles.
Amazingly she is unbeaten over the last 4+ years (Jan '03)
7 time Whelchair Tennis World Champion
4 time consecutive Paralympic Gold Medalist, singles and doubles, never done by an a/b
At the end of 2006 she won her 9th consecutive Wheelchair Masters End of Year Champion
139 singles titles. compared to 107 for Steffi Graf and 167 for Martina Navratilova
20 major titles in singles, more than Evert, Moody, Navratilova, or Billie Jean King
31 major doubles titles.
Since '03 Esther had 150 sets out of 500 at 6-0, thats more than 30 percent of all her matches.
Since '03 Esther had 42 matches at 6-0, and opposing players have only gotten 5 three set matches.
6 consecutive British Opens
259 consecutive singles match wins (Jan '03)
32 consecutive doubles match wins

You could read the whole article here http://rollingpix.blogspot.com/2007/03/est...or-laureus.html and use the search tool to learn more about her. She is truly amazing.
66 consecutive titles