This week we focused on the Paralympics, specifically on the issues of the classification system, cheating, and advancing technology. In your opinion, which of these issues will be the most relevant/significant/pressing for the future of the Paralympcis? If the Paralympics do happen in a few months in Tokyo, which of these issues will we be hearing about and why?
We watched the following videos and connected them to discussions about classification and technology:
1. The men’s 50m backstroke S4 from 2016. Notice the different bodies and the wide range of impairments. Is this a fair classification grouping? If you were tuning in to watch this and had no knowledge about the classification system, would you be confused? What do we need to do to ensure that the able-bodied audience understands classification? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM1zVcPrP2s&t=358s
2. The women’s 400m T54 from 2016. Tatyana McFadden absolutely destroys the competition in this race. Notice her wheelchair. Who designed it? How much did it cost? Is this type of technology accessible to everyone? Should we be concerned about the high cost and limited accessibility of advanced technology like this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znoIscyX0Qw&t=209s
3. Markus Rehm, a long jumper from Germany, sets a new world record with this jump. This jump would have earned him the gold medal at the Olympics, as well as the Paralympics. Does his performance blur the boundary between able-bodied and disabled? Would it be fair to allow him to compete in the Olympics, or does he have an advantage because of his “cyborg” body? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_Vt2N7SIDE
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