The Paralympics

Friendly Observer

By Arthur Keefe

We are now looking forward to the Para (or Parallel) Olympics, where disabled athletes from all over the world compete at the highest level in adapted competitions.

The origins of this were in England in 1948, when a Jewish German Doctor who had fled the Nazis, was given charge of a unit for soldiers with spinal injuries at Stoke Mandeville hospital.

Fastest Man with no legs. He is the ultimate inspiration for persons with disability. He is Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius, a South African sprint runner. Known as the "Blade Runner" and "the fastest man on no legs", Pistorius, who has a double below-knee amputation is the world record holder for T44 in the 100, 200 and 400 metres events and runs with the aid of Cheetah Flex-Foot carbon fibre transtibial artificial limbs. 
Photo and info source: http://en.wikipedia.org

Initially he encouraged (even bullied) men who had been written off as hopeless cases to regain their physical strength. He then developed adapted sports, and invited others in similar units elsewhere to compete. As news spread, teams came from other countries, too.

Others took up the cause and in 1988 the Olympic committee admitted Paralympics to the Seoul Olympics for the first time.

This is an inspiring story of how attitudes and expectations can be transformed, not overnight, but by persistence and belief, and in this case, allowing some disabled people to lead fulfilling lives.

This attitudinal change has now transcended sport and in many countries it is now a requirement on private and public bodies to ensure their premises are accessible by disabled people. There is also legislation to outlaw unnecessary discrimination on the grounds of disability. This has lead to the provision of ramps in buildings to which the public have access, hearing loops in theatres and cinemas, brail embossed signage, among others.

These changes have transformed the lives of many disabled people and show how changes for a small elite group (as are paralympians), can feed into a wider societal transformation.

So far I have qualified everything I say with the word "some"-some countries, some people etc. This, as we all know, is because within countries there is still much room for improvement, and between countries the differences are vast.

The Philippines is a very tolerant country in many respects. And, in areas such as gender and sexuality equality Filipinos are among the leaders. However, disabled people have not benefited in practical ways from such tolerance.

For example, I have often commented in this column on the appalling state of our walkways. Vendors colonising them, motorists treating them as car parks, poles, plants and large holes or other obstacles make it hazardous for all, but if you have restricted mobility or are partially sighted, they are a nightmare. There are a few ramps in public buildings, but too few. There are no audible warnings at road crossings in the big cities, and no brail signage I have seen.

Of course, these facilities can be expensive if retro fitted, but they can be a requirement for all new or adapted buildings, and changes will gradually come about.

Policies to promote inclusion are not just about physical facilities. They are also about attitudes and behaviour. For example, when considering a disabled person for a job, the question should not be "how will they cope with their disability?" But, it should be "how can I help this person use their ability?"

It is about creating a mind set in society where disabled people are helped to achieve their potential and not shut away or excluded from normal daily life.

The Paralympics will not get the huge coverage of the main games (and I can't resist reminding you that TEAM Great Britain got 29 gold and 65 Medals in total!) but if you do see the remarkable achievements of the competitors in running, swimming, jumping, archery, and so on, just take time to ponder on how we in San Carlos can help our fellow Citizens with disabilities realise their dreams, too.