The Unofficial 2008 Beijing Olympics Blog

I just stumbled across something pretty disturbing. It seems the Olympic organizers have set up a guide for volunteers on how to address handicapped people, especially athletes. The guide contains language that is patronizing and shows how out of touch China is with dealing with disabled people. Here’s an excerpt from it:

“Physically disabled people are often mentally healthy,” adds a copy of the guide, obtained by AAP.

“They show no differences in sensation, reaction, memorisation and thinking mechanism from other people, but they might have unusual personalities because of disfigurement and disability.

“For example, some physically disabled are isolated, unsocial, and introspective; they usually do not volunteer to contact people.

“They can be stubborn and controlling; they may be sensitive and struggle with trust issues.

“Sometimes they are overly protective of themselves, especially when they are called crippled or paralysed.”

Volunteers are instructed never to “stare at their disfigurement”.

“A patronising or condescending attitude will be easily sensed by them, even for a brain damaged patient (though he cannot control his limbs, he is able to see and understand like other people).

“Like most, he can read your body language,” says the 2008 volunteer guide.

“Show respect when you talk with them.

“Do not use cripple or lame, even if you are just joking.

“Though life has handed many difficulties to them, disabled people are often independent and self-reliant.

“Volunteers should offer assistance on a basis of equality and mutual respect…

“Disabled people can be defensive and have a strong sense of inferiority.”

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A while back I wrote a bit about Oscar Pistorious’s incredible athletic achievements, as he’s managed to get a chance to qualify for the regular Olympics. The odds are still against me, though, as he has to get a respectable qualifying time. If he can’t reach a suitable time, he’s still got a chance, if he gets picked up by the South African relay team. Why we’re mentioning this again is because I just came across an interesting article by A Modern Lei Feng, in which he tackles this exact matter, debating whether Pistorious deserves a shot at the Olympics or not, if the court’s ruling to let him participate in the qualifiers is correct and, in the event Pistorious fails in the qualifier, whether he’ll be worthy enough to participate in the SA relay team. Read A Modern Lei Feng!

Great news for handicapped athletes everywhere. The Court of Arbitration for Sport has ruled that South Africa’s superstar doube-amputee sprinter, Oscar Pistorius, is eligible to compete for a slot on the Olympic team, after winning his appeal on Friday. And when I say able to participate in the Olympics, I don’t mean the Paralympics (where Pistorius has already established the world record for the 400-meter run for double amputees) , but the regular, genuine able-bodied Olympics.

Pistorius appealed to CAS, world sport’s highest tribunal, to overturn a Jan. 14 ruling by the IAAF that banned him from competing. The IAAF said his carbon fiber blades give him a mechanical advantage.

“I am ecstatic,” Pistorius told reporters in Milan, Italy. “When I found out, I cried. It is a battle that has been going on for far too long. It’s a great day for sport. I think this day is going to go down in history for the equality of disabled people.”

However, Oscar still has to reach qualifying times to run in the individual 400 meters at the Aug. 8-24 Beijing Games. However, he can be picked for the South African relay squad without qualifying. That relay squad has not yet qualified for the Olympics. Anyway this is truly a unique and unprecedented moment for sportsmen and fans worldwide. Watching Oscar Pistorius compete this summer, at both the Paralympics and Olympics will be magical. Let’s wish him the best of luck!