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[Apparelyzed]

London 2012: Paralympics divide opinion, survey suggests

Nearly one in four disabled people in Britain feels patronised by the Paralympics, but a similar number feel empowered by them, a survey suggests.

Some 61% of the 386 disabled people polled for charity Scope saw the Games as an opportunity for disabled people, but just 23% said they were excited.

One in five thought the Games made disabled people appear second class.

The British Paralympic Association said high ticket sales showed a big public appetite for Paralympic sport.

The Paralympics run from 29 August to 9 September next year in London and feature around 4,200 athletes in 20 sports, including South Africa's Oscar Pistorius and Britain's David Weir.

The Olympics take place from 27 July to 12 August.

The survey was carried out for disability charity Scope by ComRes, which held online interviews with 386 disabled adults and 111 parents (and eight carers) of disabled people in August.

While 22% said they felt patronised by the Paralympics, 23% said they felt empowered.

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16004258

[JaneC]

It never occurred to me to feel patronised by the Paralympics ........I think they are a fantastic idea as we would never be able to compete in sport at that level against able-bodied athletes would we !

It is wonderful to feel that if you do really well at a sport you could compete and represent your country, at my age it is not going to happen but good luck to all the younger folk out there who are entered in the Paralymoics I shall be glued to the tv for the duration !!!

[ajl338]

you have to look at the source. A poll done by scope, what do scope represent, I have a feeling that their mission supports mainly mentally disabled people. The paralympics does not recognise mental disability as a catagory, its all about physical disability. Did scope also ask the same question about the "special olympics" ???