Ria
The official IOC stance is that wheelchair racing is a restricted sport in
that only people with disabilities are allowed to participate in and not an
open sport like the rest of the Olympic events. Hence, they are a
demonstration event rather than a official Olympic medal event. I am sure
I have the newspaper clipping of this explanation somewhere in my office.
I'll post the reference if I find it.
It is an interesting question to pose, "Should wheelchair racing at the
Olympics become an open event?"
Regards
Simon
At 19:15 11/10/2000 +1000, you wrote:
>Laurence writes:
>
>>It would be great to have events such as
>>wheelchair racing, wheelchair basketball, goalball (game specifically
>>designed for blind people) included in the games -
>
>..and as more than "demonstration sports".
>
>>events where disabled athletes ARE elite.
>
>I'd like to see non-disabled athletes train for some of the wheelchair
>events. I don't think they'd beat the top disabled athletes... the
>only way many will realise just what those athletes are achieving.
>
>
>>It was fantastic to see Louise Sauvage win Australian
>>Sportswoman of the year last year? There is no-one faster than her in
>a
>>wheelchair.
>
>Absolutely. I just wish her recent Olympic gold medal *counted* for
>just as much as other medals won there.
>
>People say Australia won 58 medals at the games. We won 59, and nobody
>can tell me otherwise.
>
>- Ria
>
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> Ria Strong
> Melbourne, Australia
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