Disability Sports & Fairness

Adaptive technology is something that I feel should not be considered an unfair advantage for people with disabilities. Nowadays, everyone is reliant on technology, and there are always modifications being made. I do not feel that this form of adaptive technology will lead to unfairness in sports because the person with disabilities is just being provided with the proper accommodations to fulfill their sport at their greatest potential. Though able-bodied athletes may feel that this is unfair when competing against one another, this is just a way to perform at their best, just as any other athlete can perform. 

Those who are located in other countries around the world that are not able to afford this technological equipment may be at a potential disadvantage. When training with different forms of equipment across the world, it is hard to differentiate the top athletes worldwide. Here, there may be more unfair advantages because the competitors are not on a fair playing field by practicing and performing with different equipment. Therefore, when athletes are selected to join the Paralympic teams, more developed countries may prevail due to having more advanced technology. 

Being that the Paralympic Games were formed to allow people with disabilities to participate in their own sports, I do not feel that those who use adaptive technology such as a running blades, should be allowed to participate in able-bodied sports. I feel that it would be best to keep the sports separate so that there are no accusations of unfair treatment. Just as how able-bodied people are prohibited from competing in the Paralympic Games, I feel that it should be the same for people with disabilities. In the Sydney Summer Paralympic Games of 2000, the men's basketball team of Spain pretended to be a team of intellectually disabled athletes. Though this was not an unfairness due to adaptive technology, it was a form of cheating for those who were not apart of the disabled community. Though they were not upfront about the scandal, it still shows that there is not a fair playing field when competing against able-bodied athletes.

Oscar Pistorius being the first double below-knee amputee to ever compete in the Olympic Games has faced some backlash. When he was competing against other Paralympic athletes in the Paralympic Games, no one felt that there was an unfair advantage. However, when he had competed in the Olympic Games, there was much more controversy. People felt that since he was using the running blades, his body weight was much lighter, allowing him to run faster and farther. However, he felt that if this technology was such an advantage, why weren't other amputees running at the same times as him? Though I can understand where he is coming from, I still feel that able-bodied athletes and disabled athletes should remain separated so that there is no question on whether or not the games being played are fair. Nowadays, it is very difficult to keep everyone happy, and this might just be the best decision to ensure that their is no cheating or unfair advantages taking place. Some Paralympic athletes even refer to themselves as Olympians so that they can feel that they are integrated into the Olympic Movement.

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