FYI and action.
Frank HB
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [OZADV] Paralympics Ban Outrage
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2001 15:33:16 +1030
From: David Morrell <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: OZADVOCACY-- Disability rights in
Australia<[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Hello all,
The SA Minister for Disability Services, in a commendable venturing
outside his portfolio area, sends a strong message to the International
Paralympic Committee about a recent decision they've made. Disability
Action has added some background information after the Minister's media
release, including an email address to which you can send your thoughts
if this matter annoys you as much as it annoyed the Minister.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
MEDIA RELEASE
Hon Robert Lawson MLC
Minister for Disability Services
4th Floor Mercantile Mutual Centre
45 Pirie Street ADELAIDE SA 5000
Tuesday, 30 January 2001
PARALYMPIC BAN A GROSS OVER-REACTION
Disability Services Minister Robert Lawson says the decision to
suspend all athletes with intellectual disabilities from
Paralympic competition is a devastating blow for these athletes
and their families.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in Germany has
decided to exclude all athletes with intellectual disabilities
following an incident at the Sydney Games last year when it was
found that most of the gold-medal winning Spanish basketball team
did not have a disability.
"This decision is a gross over-reaction. It is like banning a
whole sport because of a few drug cheats."
The IPC justified its decision because of problems regarding the
determination of eligibility to compete as an athlete with an
intellectual disability. However unlike Australia, Spain does not
subject its athletes to eligibility criteria.
Mr Lawson says this decision will have a huge impact on many
athletes with intellectual disabilities and their families.
"Most of these athletes are dedicated and hard-working and
deserve their chance to compete at the highest level possible and
represent Australia on a world stage," he says.
"It must come as a bitter disappointment to people with
disabilities to realise that because of the unscrupulous actions
of some that they will be the ones punished."
Mr Lawson has written to the IPC urging it to resolve eligibility
concerns and reconsider its ban.
"The IPC’s decision could well end the dreams of many hundreds of
athletes with intellectual disabilities. 750 Australian athletes
with intellectual disabilities registered for the Sydney
Paralympic Games.
"I hope that within a short time this decision will be reversed
and such deserving athletes will once more be given the
opportunity to strive to be the best."
END OF MEDIA RELEASE
To find out what's got the Hon. Robert Lawson so irate, visit these
links.
General news stories:
http://cbc.ca/cgi-bin/templates/sportsView.cgi?/news/2001/01/29/Sports/paraolympics010128
http://www.napcosa.co.za/articles.asp?ArtId=85&sponsor=
For the International Paralympic Committee's side of the story go to
their thoroughly inaccessible web site at;
http://www.paralympic.org/
and look under Media for Press Releases.
If you would like to join the Minister in expressing your outrage at
what has happened, here's who to contact.
Dr. Susanne Reiff, International Paralympic Committee Director of Media
and Communication,
[log in to unmask]
Get your emails flying!
David Morrell
Disability Action Inc.
Rights, equity and empowerment for people with disabilities
****************************************************************
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Phone: +61 8 8346 8288
Freecall: 1800 805 495
TTY: +61 8 8346 3964
Fax: +61 8 8346 9288
Postal: 295 Torrens Rd., West Croydon SA 5008, Australia
Disability Action is funded by the Commonwealth government's Department
of Family and Community Services, Disability Services Program. Views
expressed by Disability Action are not necessarily endorsed by the
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