It seems like the Paralympics just don’t attract as much attention as the ‘normal’ Olympics. Why? I’m not too sure but it’s a result of an under appreciation of the achievements of the differently abled community.
In the 2012 London Olympics, the Olympic coverage was in full force: multiple different channels added to Sky as well as extensive coverage of Prime and the front page of the NZ Herald dedicated to medalists on many occasions. Come time for the Paralympics and no such attention was given, other than Stephen Hawkins speech in the opening ceremony. I can only predict that the same will be the case for the 2014 Winter Paralympics.
I’m not saying I don’t enjoy the Olympics. As an avid sports fan it’s in my blood to flick through the latest goings-on in the various events, even in ones I’m not familiar with. But I can’t help but be frustrated at the lack of interest towards athletes who have trained just as hard and gone through the same grueling process as the athletes in the able-bodied games.
It’s really difficult to convince people that the Paralympics are worth paying attention to and it’s not enough that such a tournament even exists, which is what people have tried to use as a legitimate argument to me in conversation. When Paralympians win a medal for your country, it’s the same as when an able-bodied Olympian wins a medal for your country. Motivations are the same and the achievement evokes the same emotion of accomplishments and success for the players. It should do the same for the nation too, but nonetheless it’s difficult to argue that this is the case. On the national level, the standards are completely two-sided.
People with disabilities are underrepresented in all aspects of life and sporting achievements are just another example of this. This doesn’t make it ok and it will take time to prove to people that the Paralympics are worth paying equal attention to for the sake of making New Zealand an inclusive and accepting society.
“In the 2012 London Olympics, the Olympic coverage was in full force: multiple different channels added to Sky as well as extensive coverage of Prime and the front page of the NZ Herald dedicated to medalists on many occasions. Come time for the Paralympics and no such attention was given, other than Stephen Hawkins speech in the opening ceremony. I can only predict that the same will be the case for the 2014 Winter Paralympics.”
While I am all for encouraging disabled to participate in sports they can engage in, and to possibly also work (with honest, proper support, respect and fair treatment by employers, colleagues and others), I have little faith in modern day “olympics”, wheter for paralympics or for the traditional “able bodied” competitors.
The olympics are these days sponsored by many large corporate donors, who use the venue to promote their products, services and own image. Much money flows, and advertising is presented. We have rumors and more, claiming that the Olympic Committee bureaucrats also take bribes to favour certain competing cities who want to stage the events (bribes from administrators and corporates).
In London the paralympics were also even sponsored by ATOS, the company that has been doing the outsourced work capability testing of sick and disabled beneficiaries in the UK (for the Department of Work and Pensions). While they have an appalling record, while they are also highly suspected of having cooperated with controversial Unum Provident insurance over many years (another private interest influencing “welfare policy” in the UK), they were allowed to “polish up” their image by supporting the event.
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/aug/31/paralympic-sponsor-atos-hit-protests
http://blacktrianglecampaign.org/2012/08/30/2012-paralympic-games-begin-in-london-the-washington-post/
http://blacktrianglecampaign.org/2013/12/16/lorraine-from-glasgow-had-cancer-but-was-forced-to-starve-and-rely-on-the-foodbank-by-dwp-atos-who-over-ruled-her-doctors-and-declared-her-fit-for-work/
The Paralympic sponsor Atos has been targeted by disability and anti-cuts demonstrators in angry protests at its role in testing disabled people to reassess their eligibility for benefit payments.
“Hundreds of disabled and able-bodied protesters chanted outside the IT group’s central London headquarters, before moving to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in Westminster, the government department in charge of the scheme. There were minor scuffles with police after a small number of protesters occupied the lobby and attempted to blockade the department’s front entrance.”
Also more here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/08/29/atos-paralympic-sponsors-under-fire-disabled-attitude_n_1838614.html
It is time for the olympics and equally the paralympics to be returned to their more traditional purpose, where any corporate influencing and manipulations or advertising are tightly restricted, ideally stopped. If they want to sponsor it, let them pay into a fund, and then let have truly independent committees decide how the money is spent, only very limited “advertising” being allowed.
As for recognitions and broadcasting, I support that more coverage is needed and must be given. We have endless stupid cooking shows, travel shows, DIY building shows and other “talent shows” on television, but apparently we have no “space” for broadcasting about paralympics or other events, that should be of interest to our community.
And the ones who “advised” the UK government on “welfare reforms” are the same persons who have done so in NZ (with ties to UNUM and ATOS, e.g. Dr David Beaumont, Prof. M. Aylward):
http://accforum.org/forums/index.php?/topic/15463-designated-doctors-%e2%80%93-used-by-work-and-income-some-also-used-by-acc/
Attitude Pictures Ltd have secured the broadcast rights to the Sochi 2014 Paralympic winter games and will be live streaming on their web platform Attitudelive.com, that’s 44 hours of LIVE footage, the most Paralympic coverage NZ has ever seen, as well as interviews and extra footage. This is a real game changer in terms of web broadcasting and coverage of disabled spirt
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