Current Event – South African Pushes to Compete at Beijing
Oscar Pistorius is a para-athlete who is posting world class sprint times and wants to compete at the Olympic Games in Beijing. His qualifying times are closing in on what he needs to be eligible for the Beijing Olympics however, the IAAF ruled that he couldn’t compete against able bodied athletes because his prosthetic blades give him an unfair advantage.
Recently, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in favour of Pistorius and opened the door for his possible participation in Beijing. This has created a huge divide in the world of amateur sports and the sport of track and field.
What are your thoughts? Should Pistorius be allowed to compete at the Olympics against other able bodied athletes? Do his blades give him an advantage over other athletes? Do some research and post your thoughts.
Follow this link for TSN report on Oscar Pistorius.
7 Comments »
Leave a comment
Visitors Map
I believe that everyone should be able to compete. Even know some person has a prosthetic leg it doesnt mean anything. For pete sakes they should be giving him an applouse for even being able to do the track times that he has done in the past. I think that they should let him have a chance at least once and if after they have some opinions i think that they can resolve it then.
I think that Pistorius should be able to compete against other able bodied athletes. It seems like they are just singling him out and maybe they are afraid that he could win. If the blades gave him a big advantage over other athletes he would have already beat the qualifying time. It is probably a lot harder for him to train with those blades and to keep his balance. He is a great athlete and that should not be taken away from him.
I think he should be able to compete because he is “special” and wants to compete against atheletes that may have the advantage over him because of two legs. I think it is very brave and determined of him to compete against the able bodied. If there is no competition left in the handicapped racing for him, I see no reason why he couldn’t compete.
I strongly agree with Mwestgard and sthome. The mechanical legs could possibly be alot tougher to use and if he is competeing in the special oylympics there would be no challage compared to able body compeditors in the special olympics. When one person who had a real leg and one of these “mechanical” ones and they say that the mechanical leg is acctually more slower he should be able to compete. To prove this factor i believe that they should allow him to run test trials against some of the top runners in the olympics to determine his fate within his racing career
I think if someone who uses prostetics wants to challenge themselves and compete in the olympics I think they should. I can understand the idea that maybe he has an unfair advantage but I can’t see it being possible. If there is an advantage he should not be allowed to compete. The fact that his racing times are not above everyone else’s gives me the impression that there is no advantage.
I agree with the comments above, if there is an advantage we would have been able to tell by now. Just because he has prostetics doesnt mean he is not able. I think he has more than proved himself as able. I also strongly agree with Sidni, maybe the other atheletes ARE afraid that he will win. What if he does? Will he be considered a cheater for using his prostetics? Or will he be even more of a role model than he is to other people with prostetics?
I believe that any one should be able to compete and they should be offered that chance. With no risk there will never be any return. So what if this guy beats everyone that should be viewed as a huge accomplishment not an utter disgrace. This will also make the able bodied athletes more competitive and they will train harder to get faster and stronger. There should be no hesitation for the Olympic board to let this man run. He has been through loosing his legs isn’t that enough pain already. If he does do good this will also make prosthetic athletes want to compete and not hold back.