A Championship Future for the International Paralympic Movement

By Michael Short

As part of the human make-up, we have a compelling urge to identify and classify.

This urge is clearly evident in sports. On its own, "sport" is a rather generic term, so it’s been broken into three classifications -- recreation, competition and excellence -- making it easier to slot individuals and activities.

There is, however, a growing movement among some very specialized and talented athletes who are trying to break the classification barriers surrounding their sport. They will soon have a golden opportunity.

Two weeks after the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, 5,000 athletes, participants and organizers will descend upon the Georgia city to show the world what they are capable of.

For Dr. Robert Steadward of Edmonton, president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), this event will provide the ideal stage for athletes to answer several questions: Can athletes with disabilities be categorized into the same or similar levels of sport, based on the same objectives and expectations? Is sport excellence for athletes with disabilities recognized at the same level as achievements of their able-bodied counterparts?

Steadward says sport for people with physical disabilities is a relatively recent addition to modern sports. "It is still a mere fledgling caught within the super-structure of modern-day sport, and throughout our short history we have struggled to equate ourselves with the so-called normal realm of sport."

The first recorded sport events for people with disabilities were staged shortly after World War I, when games were held for athletes who were deaf. It was through work with veterans who had been injured in the Second World War that the medical community discovered the need for these soldiers to be exposed to physical activities. Recognizing this, the British government, in 1944, opened the Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke-Mendeville Hospital in Aylesbury, England. Under the guidance of Sir Ludwig Guttman, sport was introduced as a form of recreation and aided in the rehabilitation of these soldiers with disabilities.

It didn’t take long for the concept of a federation for disability sport to develop, and after a relatively short incubation period, the International Paralympic movement began to grow.

Recognizing the ground athletes with disabilities have covered since those early years, Steadward is optimistic that the future remains bright.

"Undoubtably, the most impressive growth within the Paralympic movement has been in terms of sport excellence. During the 1940s, sport was considered solely for its therapeutic and recreational values. Today’s athletes with disabilities may choose to participate in a variety of sports at a level of participation that suits their personal objectives and expectations."

But Steadward is quick to point out that the Paralympic movement has not limited its involvement to recreational sports. "If anything, it is imperative we provide a platform for highly motivated athletes whose objectives are to excel and reach their personal limits, and provide them with the opportunity to participate in international competitions. At this level, sport is practised for reasons beyond those of rehabilitation."

If this is the case, then do athletes with disabilities need to be recognized in the same light as their able-bodied counterparts? "Today, sport excellence has no different meaning for the athlete with a disability than it does for the able-bodied athlete," says Steadward.

The IPC is working closely with the International Olympic Committee to ensure that athletes with disabilities are an integral part of upcoming Olympic Games. This includes their being present during opening and closing ceremonies of the Atlanta Games. The ultimate goal is the day athletes with disabilities can compete alongside able-bodied peers.

Justification for this, says Steadward, is becoming woven into our social fibre.

"One needs only to consider the historical growth of both social and athletic opportunities for people who have a disability. Society has opened its doors, as many practices of segregation have started to evaporate.

"And sport," says Steadward, "is one of the prime tools we need to use to break down any remaining barriers."

(For more information, contact Michael Short at the International Paralympic Committee, W1-67 Van Vliet Complex, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H9; tel.: (403) 492-7091; fax: (403) 492-7161; e-mail: mshort@per. ualberta.ca.)