paralympic lost the plot?

[davidc4430]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-28/paralympics-swimming-down-sydrome-exclusion/7783760

you must be kidding, downs syndrome and your not in the paralympics!

someones head should roll over this one IMO

[kopenhagen5]

I can see the point though.

They are required to have an intellectual impairment as Down syndrome doesn't necessarily give any physical disabilities.

So you could have a person with Downs and be just as good as a normal swimmer.

There are obviously different levels of Downs so perhaps categories within Downs need to be defined.

[the_great_she_elephant]

I thought the Paralympics was for the physically impaired. Doesn't the special Olympics cater for  for the intellectually  disabled?

http://www.specialolympics.org/la2015/

[davidc4430]

how many downs syndrome athletes were in the normal (hate that description) olympics?

none

that kinda says if you have downs syndrom your not going to qualify for the 'normal' olympics.

i'm pretty sure having downs syndrome makes you disabled in sporting events IMO

i did hear of 1 female competing for australia in the olympics will also compete in the paralympics, table tennis? not sure now.

[imastawka]

I think she ele is right.  

Downs Syndrome competitors should be in the Special Olympics.

The Special Olympics is for intellectual disablilities only.

[the_great_she_elephant]

How many Downs Syndrome athletes had personal best times that would have qualified them for the "normal" Olympics?

[davidc4430]

there ought to be just 2 olympics, non disabled and disabled. how difficult can it be to add intellectually disabled people? gotta be cheaper than holding a seperate event, plus bring them into the 'olympic' family.

after all, every athlete would prefer an 'olympic' medal to any other. and to be able to say 'i performed for my country at the olympics'

[davidc4430]

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@the_great_she_elephant wrote:

How many Downs Syndrome athletes had personal best times that would have qualified them for the "normal" Olympics?

---

i doubt a downs syndrom athlete will ever have a time good enough to go to the normal olymics, thats why i say they should be eligable for the paralympics, having a mental illness should qualify you for the paras.

paralympics should cover all the ones with disabilities who will never go to the 'normal' olympics.

just my view.

[davidc4430]

oh, i also think calling something 'special' is condescending to disabled people these days. they have a disability, they are not 'special' no matter what bruce says.

of course they are all special to their mums.

[lyndal1838]

The name Special Olympics has been in use for nearly 50 years now....why is it suddenly demeaning?