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If I Can Walk Then I Can Run ………
By tophat | May 19, 2008
Over the weekend the Council for The Arbitration Of Sports (CAS) made the pronouncement that double amputee Oscar Pistorius of South Africa should be allowed to participate in the upcoming Olympics in Beijing China. The CAS the highest international arbitrary body when it comes to resolving issues on sports has seen fit to send a shot across the bows of the IOC who sought to ban Pistorius from competing .
Pistorius seen here in the 400m competing at a meet where he faced able bodied athletes. picture courtesy of bbc.co.uk/sports ………….
The reasons behind this though not far fetched left many feeling that the IOC had overstepped their mark from the outset. The IAAF have allowed Pistorius to compete against able bodied athletes and he’s acquitted himself with a certain degree of success. The 100m, 200m and 400m specialist holds the world records for the three events as an amputee. But that wasn’t Pistorius’ gold from the outset as he just wanted to be given the chance to compete against able bodied athletes at the highest echelons of the sport. Be that as it may the feeling was that Pistorius would have an added advantage being as the fact that he’s aided by the blades the given name of the prosthetics that uses to race with.
Pistorius seen here running the 200m at an international track meet in Rome in June of 2007.
The IAAF for their part has never refused Pistorius to take part in any of their sanctioned events around the world. But the IOC for its part felt that this would abet Pistorius and that it’d also fly in the face of what is deemed fair based under the ideology of the Olympic spirit and its members. And whilst much has been made of the use of steroids within the sport of track and field. This issue as such has never been raised before within the sport until now. The issue of able bodied athletes racing against amputees or otherwise. The IOC has set standards that must be met for the athletes to qualify for each track event . But in the case of Pistorius it was their wish to deny him the chance to compete based solely on the fact that he was fitted with these technologically advanced apparatus. The input by the IAAF to the IOC it appear wasn’t going to sway the edict of the IOC from the outset.
Pistorius is seen here competing against able bodied athletes in a 400m event in Johannesburg , South Afrcia in July of 2007. picture courtesy of track&fieldsourthafrica….
And though Pistorius had yet to meet the qualifying times for his chosen events the 200m and 400m . He felt given the chance he would be able to meet the qualifying standards set by the IOC, his own national athletic governing body. The South African Athletics Federation at the national level were quite firmly behind the athlete but only under the condition that he met the criteria being asked of him . And it was to this extent that ire of the IOC was raised as they no doubt felt that in allowing the athlete to compete it would also raise some serious questions as to the validity competitiveness. And the very fact that this would be seen as a blatant form of cheating by some. But one clearly must look at what is defined as cheating with regard to this situation. Can it be said that he’s clearly being assisted by the use of this technology ? And if so then why hasn’t the IAAF seen fit to seek that it be banned in competition with regard to able bodied and the disabled competing against one another ?
Pistorius finishes 3rd in a 200m qualifying heat in Athens , Greece during the Paralympics in 2004. picture courtesy of athenshash.com/ioc/paralympics ……….
If the IOC is to keep itself abreast of what is happening in the world in terms of competitive sports and life in general . It certainly can’t afford to be somewhat archaic in its stance. In public life we have the able bodied and disabled working alongside one another and in some cases even competing against each other in various vocational endeavors. And while the Paralympics are appreciated as to what it brings for the less able bodied amongst who seek to compete. It can’t be lost on many of us that some of those very athletes may well want to seek a chance to compete against their abled bodied opponents in some measure. They’re not asking for any benefactorial advantage but just the chance to compete.
Pistorius races and comes to the bend in a 200m race in Genoa Italy in 2007. picture courtesy of bbc.co.uk/sports/athletics ……………..
In the case of Pistorius his birth disorder came about because of a genetic defect which led to his being amputated at the age of 11 months old as there was no fibula in either of his legs. The orthopedic surgeons felt that it’d be appriopraite for the child at the time to have both legs amptuated at the knees to subdue the effects of this disorder. It can be said that this choice can’t have been made lightly and at the same time this wasn’t something that Pistorius or his family sought for him. I won’t question the veracity of what it is that the IOC is seeking to do but I would certainly question the way that it has gone about seeking to restrict this particular athlete from competing.
Pistorius shows his abilities as an athlete competing in the 400m . picture courtesy of bbc.co.uk/sports/athletics …………..
The CAS in adjudicating the matter I certainly believed carried out their duties judiciously taking into account all the arguments that were being made by scientists , athletes and specialists alike on either side of the argument. Wherein at the end of the day it’s not just about the suitabililty of the athlete but also the use of widespread technology in the advancement of not only science but sports also. There have to be boundaries set no doubt . But at the end of the day at what cost to the athletic achievements and endeavors of the athletes themselves ? No one has yet to come up with an answer as how best to resolve an issue like this.
Pistorius sits besides his prosthetic legs that he uses in his daily life whilst his blades which he uses for racing are in place. picture courtesy of shanghaidalynews.com/sports/images/pistoriusoscar …………..
For Pistorius being given the chance to try and compete. It would seem to be the fair way in going about doing things . But with each verdict such as this the bar will have been set even higher for the next confrontation as to what’ll be deemed appropriate when it comes to competing on a level playing field in terms of athletic endeavors be it for an able bodied or disabled athlete. The choices we choose to make can be profound one but so too can the choices that we can refuse to make. Pistorius’ choice will no doubt be a prohetic one and hopefully one that’ll instill a great deal of courage in others with a similar affliction.
tophat ………….
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May 19th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
al….This precedent should not be set. Yes, I feel for the handicapped. I don’t think any prosthetic attachments should be allowed in the Olympics. What happens 8 or 12 years from now when a handicapped high jumper shows up with the latest coil spring prosthetics? With technological advances he might high jump 10 or 12 feet. They already have the paralympics, and as Jerry Seinfeld asked, “Just how does the parking work at the handicapped Olympics? Who gets the closest spots? I wanna know.”
May 19th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
mackey
I for one feel that if he makes the qualifying standards as set by his national body in accordance with the mandates set by the IOC then he ought to be allowed to participate.
We’ve already had the runner Deena Kastor of the US compete against able bodied athletes and she’s blind. This isn’t a situation where he’s taken an artificial substance . And if he’s already being allowed to compete against able bodied athletes by the IAAF. Then what gives ?
This is the IOC being archaic and not wanting to rock the boat. Look at their inactivity down the years concerning the illecit drug use and you’ll see what I’nm getting at. It’s only because of that furore why we’re now seeing ‘em taking such a stance. Nothing more , nothing less that’s all !
tophatal ………………..
May 19th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
mackey
I think that the IOC wwas wrong in their stance from the outset despite their alleged good intentions. They’re being somewhat archaic in their stance. Pistorius had already been competing against able bodied athletes from the start. And though having not yet met the qualifying standard they sought to deter him from competing. That to my mind is wrong. Where was their stance when there was rampant abuses happening within track and field ?
We’ve already had a disabled athlete in Deena Kastor compete against able bodied athletes. And in Kastor’s case she was blind. So are you saying that she shouldn’t be allowed to compete also ?
This isn’t solely about precedence but also about common sense too !
tophat …………..
May 19th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Handicapped athletes competing are fine, al. Just no prosthetics. What happens when these blades advance enough so that almost any legless person can beat Olympic sprinters? Say, 20 years down the road. Then the whole Olympics turns into another paralympics.
May 19th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
mackey
Pandora’s Box has alredy been opened and that’s what we’re now seeing. One thing for sure is that both the IAAF and the IOC will have to come to some sort of agreement as to what is plainly admissable and what is not !
tophatal ……………
May 20th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Top,
This is such an important story.
Kudos!
I like what the young man is doing, and what he’s trying to prove, but I’m not sure I want him competing against non-handicapped athletes. I’m not saying I don’t, not just yet at least, but I’m clearly on the fense about it.
Still, if he’s succesful, it will open the door for a whole new dimension in sports. Which may not be a bad thing …
But, again, I’m undecided.
May 20th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Mean Dovine
Pistorius is only 21 years of age and I for one won’t question the veracity of what he’s trying to do. He isn’t knowingly cheating nor is he asking to for an allowance other than being given the chance to run. And all of this mind you is upon him meeting the qualifying standards as set out by his national body along with the IOC. As of yet he hasn’t met that criteria. The IOC were wrong to institute their restriction or ban against him.
What ought to happen in the case then of partially sighted runner Deena Kastor who has already competed at the Olympic level. You can’t have one rule for one party and then not strictly apply for all disabled members. There either has to be a line of demarcation or nothing at all.
That has been all that Oscar Pistorious has asked of the IOC nothing more , nothing less just a fair chance to compete that is all .
Defined as legally blind though she does possess some sight. Marathon runner Deena Kastor competes against able bodied athletes in various disciplines in middle distance running from 1500m to the marathon.
tophat ……………..
May 20th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Mean Dovine
As the situation now stands Pistorius is now saying that it’d probably be a better option for him to make the team for the 2012 Olympics in London. I for one think that’s unfortunate. It’d would’ve been better for him to at least to try and make an attempt at obtaining the qualifying mark for whatever event he’s choosing.
tophat ………….
May 27th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
I see no problem with allowing him to compete with prostetics. The only issue is that there could be the issue of cheating in the future. Thus, maybe the IOC can work with prostetics makers and create a sort of “competition grade” prosthetic for those who want to compete at the highest level?
Great article Top. And I agree. Let him run!
May 27th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
morisato
Unfortunately IOC has the one size fits all when it comes to their rule book. And that oughtn’t to be the way that it works.
All that Pistorius is asking for is a fair chance to compete alongside able
bodied athletes. Instead the IOC wanted to put a dent in his
chances. As it now stands Pistorius feels that if he’s not able to
compete in Beijing then he’ll try to make it to the 2012 Olympics in London.
As he’s still young at 21 it may well now be his best chance overall.
But I’d still like to see him try to qualify for Beijing this year.
tophat………