Paralympic sport is meant to be inclusive and fair but athletes don’t face a level playing field. Those from higher income countries can compete more easily.
There are significant challenges in making old cities like Rio more accessible, and there are missed opportunities around the Paralympics, but it’s not all bad news.
Paralympians like Brenden Hall can serve as role models and inspiration to young Australians.
OIS
Technology has had a particularly visible impact on the Paralympics. But the the most important thing is to let the athlete’s ability come to the fore.
Hunter Woodhall of the United States leads the 4x100m race before the team was disqualified, giving the victory to the squad from Germany.
Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters
An Access World News database search says everything you need to know: Type in ‘Deflategate’ and you’ll get nearly twice as many hits as ‘Paralympics.’
The author, Bridie Kean, at the London Paralympics in 2012.
Australian Paralympic Committee
Australian Paralympic athlete reflects upon how her experience as a student-athlete influenced a pilot program for Para-athletes to combine the pursuit of Paralympic success and study
From a single volunteer with 8mm film to live broadcast on a commercial TV network, the media coverage of the Paralympic Games has come a long way since its inception.
The classification system is what keeps the Paralympics fair. Although it’s not perfect, it’s the best system we have, and it’s continually being improved.
Researchers are finding new ways to keep them cool.
Coach John Triscari talks to the Australian Paralympic Wheelchair Basketball team during the Women’s Gold Medal Game at the London 2012 Paralympics.
EPA/Daniel Karmann
The Paralympic Games started off as a way to motivate and rehabilitate returned servicemen and women after the second world war, and has evolved tremendously since then.
Professor of Social Inclusion - UTS Business School - Centres for Business and Social innovation, and Business Intelligence and Data Analytics, University of Technology Sydney