The Unofficial 2008 Beijing Olympics Blog

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!

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