I am really upset that the Court of Arbitration for Sport over-turned the International Association of Athletics Federation’s ruling that barred Oscar Pistorius from Olympic competition.This may sound counter-intuitive to those of you who know me and know how I feel about the rights of differently-abled people. And trust me, I still believe in the importance of striving for an inclusive society, but I don’t think this decision is a step in the right direction. I think it is possible to err so far on the side of caution that harm is actually done.
Don’t know what I’m talking about? This is a pretty good summary, even though it is from Wikipedia (good thing I’m not being graded on this!):
Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius (born 22 November 1986) is a South African Paralympic runner. Known as the "Blade Runner" and "the fastest man on no legs", Pistorius is the double amputee world record holder in the 100, 200 and 400 metres events and runs with the aid of Cheetah Flex-Foot carbon fibre transtibial artificial limbs by Össur. In 2007 Pistorius took part in his first international able-bodied competitions. However, his artificial lower legs, while enabling him to compete, generated claims that he has an unfair advantage over able-bodied runners. The same year, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) amended its competition rules to ban the use of "any technical device that incorporates springs, wheels or any other element that provides a user with an advantage over another athlete not using such a device". It claimed that the amendment was not specifically aimed at Pistorius. After monitoring his track performances and carrying out tests, scientists took the view that Pistorius enjoyed considerable advantages over athletes without prosthetic limbs. On the strength of these findings, on 14 January 2008 the IAAF ruled him ineligible for competitions conducted under its rules, including the 2008 Summer Olympics. This decision was reversed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on 16 May 2008, the Court ruling that the IAAF had not provided sufficient evidence to prove that Pistorius's prostheses give him an advantage over able-bodied athletes. Although eligible to compete in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Pistorius still has to qualify for the South African team.
All I can think about anytime I think about this (and trust me, I think about it more often than most!) is how I would feel if I were an Olympic runner that had to compete against Pistorius if he makes it to Bejing and if this decision is not, in turn, overturned. I am, and will always be, a coach’s daughter.
This is what doesn’t make sense to me: How can any one individual simultaneously qualify for the Paralympics and the Olympics? Aren’t these things mutually exclusive? Doesn’t qualification in one automatically disqualify you for the other? Am I the only one that feels this way?!
It’s a good thing Cohen Sr. is not around to see this. Letters would be written; radio talk-shows would be called; feathers would be ruffled; you can be sure. I guess I’m writing this to carry on the good fight.
