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Paralympics Begin in Beijing

12:40 H | Topics: Beijing Summer Olympics - Sports

Like most U.S. citizens, you probably weren't aware that the Paralympics began this past Saturday in Beijing, China. What are the Paralympics? Originally billed as the "Parallel Olympics" to signify the fact that they ran "parallel" to the Olympics, the Paralympics is a two week long sporting event that centers disabled athletes. Modifications are made in different sports to accommodate the needs of physically, mentally and learning disabled athletes, including lowering nets in volleyball, and using bells to guide blind athletes.

Paralympics are also, at least in the U.S., the bride's maid to the more important and pampered bride of the Olympic Games. As this article shows, the Paralympics are underfunded, under-subsidized, and under-publicized, leading to a disgraceful catch-22: paralympic athletes won't be funded until they can be competitive, but they won't be competitive until they are funded.

The good thing is, it appears that the U.S. is among the few countries that don't fully support and accommodate the needs of disabled athletes. The bad news is that the people most in need of accommodations (like extra money for more expensive equipment, accessible room and boarding at training facilities, etc) just aren't getting it. Which, in turn, continues the lack of value U.S. society gives to disability--if you can't be 'cured' by the money we send in to save you, well, we just aren't interested. Something we all should be ashamed of.

The Official Site of the Beijing Paralympic Games

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