Why not run the Olympics and Paralympics together?

scott says:

09:20am | 28/08/12

Why are we treating disabled atheletes differently?  It’s discriminatory!  The only way we will have true equality is if the disabled atheletes competed directly with able bodied atheletes. 

And while we’re at it, let’s get rid of the men and women’s events and have each athelete compete against each other.  Let the best person on the day win.

Richard says:

12:33pm | 28/08/12

If we can’t run them together, why not run one straight way after the other and not days later . To show our respect for the Paralympians run these games first and then the professional games. After all a true sports sports enthusiast would not see any problem with that

Gregg says:

08:05am | 28/08/12

Gee SuperD, you’ve got all Oxymoronic there
” I have the utmost respect for the efforts that paralympians put in and I think the games are great in terms of providing goals for the disabled. If I had a family member or friend who was a paralympian I would be there biggest fan. I don’t know anyone involved so I won’t be watching. “
And then more morbid yourself:
” It just seems a bit morbid to me. Almost like using the disabled for entertainment. It just feels a bit wrong. Like every medal is a consolation prize. It’s just that no one able bodied ever dreams of Paralympic gold. “

Your last sentence in that bit may well be true for I doubt that any ablebodied person dreams of being otherwise and will never have an inkling of what their life would be like unless something happens to make it so.
And then a bit guilty are you?
” This isn’t to say its no achievement, “

” just that most boys fantasize about being the fastest, not the fastest on one leg or in a wheelchair or whatever other category is available. And this pretty much explains the lack of commercial media interest. Basically no one cares. “

Some of that is also true but fortunately many people do care.
Personally, I think the paralympics show enormous courage in what they achieve and it is far from being morbid.
If you want achievment, you only have to look at the blade runner guy in the 400 metres at the Olympics.
I knew of a lad who had lost one leg in a motor cycle accident and he was a 400 runner with one artificial leg, his times very competitive and would likely be better than most able bodied fellas, certainly better than me but that would not be too hard to do.

I do not think it is that people do not care but more the practicalities of merging the two, the politics of two separate organisations being another issue.
As for media coverage, it is just a sad fact of life that it would seem accepted by major media that there will be enough who do not care that added to those who do not even care for the Olympics and those already Olympiced out, the commerciality of it is the ratings and advertising income.

Shep says:

08:37am | 28/08/12

I think that you very eloquently voiced how many feel but will never admit.  It is very much a case of “there but for the grace of god ...”

We are proud and hopefully supportive, and admiring of their personal courage in the face of adversity, but unless we are personally involved in someway it does not have the same relevance as watching the worlds best compete.

Phillb says:

09:59am | 28/08/12

Gotta say I disagree with pretty much everything you wrote.  I would rather watch an athlete that has had to overcome the odds then someone who has been bankrolled to the Olympics.  Watch the doco Murderball about wheelchair rugby.  I can only hope my son grows up to have half the guts those guys do.

Groo says:

01:24pm | 28/08/12

Of course the networks are ignoring it. Media barons are mostly fascists at heart and if Nazi Germany taught us anything it’s that untermenschen are real!

Budz says:

08:38am | 28/08/12

You just summarised my thoughts. You can’t force people to care and therefore follow the paralympics. Clearly people don’t care that much about it, otherwise it would get sponsors and TV coverage.
This is the same as people complaining about women’s sports. If people cared (including women) , they would get sponsorship and TV coverage. It is also like expecting the state championships for example in swimming to get coverage.
Sponsorship and TV coverage is based on demand. No/low demand =  no sponsorship/ TV coverage.

I, Claudia says:

09:47am | 28/08/12

I just find it amusing that you slop yourself in front of your TV every night, but object to seeing paralympians on the screen. I-R-O-N-Y.

I, Claudia says:

09:47am | 28/08/12

I just find it amusing that you slop yourself in front of your TV every night, but object to seeing paralympians on the screen. I-R-O-N-Y.

Tim says:

10:20am | 28/08/12

Claudia,
is that an Alanis Morrisette type Irony?

Ando says:

11:02am | 28/08/12

I, Claudia ,
He never said he objected , everyone I know sits down to watch television and his statement was not ironic at all.
I assume you never miss a paralympics event.

Shane says:

11:22am | 28/08/12

I don’t care about the paralympics either.  To me it would be like watching women’s football.  The game is there but it’s just not quite got what it takes.

Good on them for competing, and good on them for winning, but I simply don’t care, and will actively avoid all coverage of the paralympics.

Tim says:

07:37am | 28/08/12

Yep exactly.
And he doesn’t even take into account the logistics of the events. Due to the nature of the disabilities, there are more events at the paralympics for different levels of impairment. 
Where are you supposed to fit them in and at what venues? Somehow I don’t think people would appreciate a month or longer Olympics.

As for tv coverage, well sorry its all about the ratings. Its fantastic courage by those involved but most people don’t like watching disabled people compete, the same way they don’t like watching 4th grade footy.

Admiral Ackbar says:

11:50am | 28/08/12

Agreed TimB, just one thing. I wouldn’t say it is an indictment on viewers. People want to watch sports at their top level, and the paralympics is not the top level, obviously. If people aren’t interested, it doesn’t make them bad people. I absolutely respect what they’re doing but I won’t be watching because it doesn’t interest me in the least, not because I’m a bad person. It seems a few people here think that if you don’t like the paralympics you’re an evil hell spawn. Those people need to get over themselves.

TimB says:

01:47pm | 28/08/12

Haha, yes Admiral, I agree totally. Just trying to be diplomatic .

Admiral Ackbar says:

02:42pm | 28/08/12

Hehe, you’re more polite than I TimB.

Budz says:

08:40am | 28/08/12

Well I can tell you what to tell them.
“Dear sons/daughters, even though we would like to watch the Paralympics, a majority of people aren’t interested by it, and because of that they don’t show it because it is very expensive to broadcast and they would lose a lot of money.”
I would also try and explain the basics of supply vs demand and how capitalism works, but it may be a little bit beyond them.

D head says:

01:28pm | 28/08/12

@bud . I pity your kids if u have them but they’ll grow up like u I suppose. at least they’ll know they’re not people but units of output.

gnome says:

03:48pm | 28/08/12

In truth, there are several sensible answers you can give them, just no politically correct ones.

Little Joe says:

09:54am | 28/08/12

Stop it Steve ... you are presenting a mature informed argument!!!

“No, no no!!!” they cry. “You shouldn’t worry about the cost!!!

HC says:

08:22am | 28/08/12

Umm have you ever watched wheelchair basketball?  Those guys go out there and try to kill each other for the ball   it’s f***ing awesome and an able-bodied basketball player wouldn’t last 10 seconds before needing a wheelchair himself small wonder it’s nicknamed murderball

Give me some of the Paralympic sports over their regular Olympic counterparts any day.  I don’t really give a f**k about the inspirational stories or anything I just love the competition which is more true to the Olympic spirit (especially having amateurs instead of professionals compete) than the ‘real’ Olympics are these days.

Tim says:

08:52am | 28/08/12

HC,
that’s Wheelchair Rugby not Wheelchair Basketball.

HC says:

10:16am | 28/08/12

Ah my mistake

Not much difference between the two to the uninformed eye though, both still violent as all hell and very enjoyable to watch  

Ando says:

11:21am | 28/08/12

Hc,
I agree that murder ball is a serious competition and a good sport but we are talking about mass appeal and whether we should force it on the viewer against normal commercial considerations .How often do you go and watch it.? Whats your favorite team? Do you think it should get equal billing with the AFL and NRL?

Admiral Ackbar says:

11:59am | 28/08/12

“an able-bodied basketball player wouldn’t last 10 seconds before needing a wheelchair himself”

That’s just silly, of course they would. Alternatively, a wheel chair basketball player wouldn’t last any time on an able-bodied basketball court because well, you’re not allowed a wheel chair on a freaking basketball court. Your argument is just, wow.

adie says:

04:03pm | 28/08/12

I played wheelchair basketball for a bit a few years ago.  Im able bodied, but the opportunity came up to have a go, so i did.  The teams were made up of a mixture of people with dodgy knees, people missing limbs, paraplegics, and people with no physical body issues.

It was so hard!  The people who play it appear nuts.  I constantly had bruising on my shins from being ran into.

I was exhausted after 10 minutes of wheelchair basketball.  its not easy.

mark says:

10:23am | 28/08/12

if channel 9 showed the wheelchair rugby instead of rythmic gymnastics, the ratings would have been sky high.

KH says:

02:08pm | 28/08/12

@mark - Channel 9 could have broadcast dead air and it would be more interesting than ‘rhythmic gymnastics’............or any sport with the word ‘synchronised’ in it….......

Mal says:

08:49am | 28/08/12

Apologies, it was Samuel not Ant, but the argument it still wrong.

Paul says:

09:39am | 28/08/12

The ABC could broadcast the event in black and white on 24 hour delay and still provide a better coverage than Channel 9

Dorothy Dogood says:

09:30am | 28/08/12

Agreed, and there should be no winners or losers and everyone should get a medal because there are feelings and self esteem at stake here. By the way, definately no handstands, cartwheels or somersaults events.

Admiral Ackbar says:

12:10pm | 28/08/12

“Equality should be mandatory when it comes to coverage and support”

Why? Are you going to make people take interest in things that they otherwise wouldn’t be interested in? What an ignorant comment.

M says:

12:40pm | 28/08/12

Hahahahahahaha, equality should be mandatory should it? Especially when it comes to sports that no one watches and no one really gives a rats about? Channel 9 should be forced to air something that’s not going to bring in any advertising dollars just cause you’re afraid that someone’s feelings might get hurt?

Lol. You’re the wanker mate.

Tim says:

01:16pm | 28/08/12

I fully agree,
Why doesn’t my local third grade Tiddlywinks competition get equal billing with the NRL and AFL.

It’s blatant discrimination I tells ya.

Phillb says:

10:05am | 28/08/12

Actually I wold prefer to watch the toughest, hardest, most courageous athletes but that is just me.

Paul S says:

10:11am | 28/08/12

Perhaps. Although there’s actually 34 countries in the OECD. And another 170-odd other less developed countries so I’m quite sure we wouldn’t be ‘Officially worst place in the world to be disabled’. I think I’d rather take my chances with the Australian health system than many other countries on that list too.

AdamC says:

10:37am | 28/08/12

Yikes, @Channel 4, what a negativity festival. Ever considered that the Brits are televising the Paralympics in great detail because they are home games?

Jess says:

11:23am | 28/08/12

Also the AIS doesn’t discriminate against disabled atheletes. Same facilities and services for all atheletes. 

NDIS will also increase our standing in that aspect of the OECD

gobsmack says:

12:26pm | 28/08/12

How dare you.

You forgot the Gay and Lesbian Olympics.

Joe says:

01:59pm | 28/08/12

Oscar Pistorius is the only one. He is so far ahead of without her people with his disability (in the 100m, 200m and 400m) that he has to compete against able-bodied people in order to have any competition.

Tim says:

10:25am | 28/08/12

“no reason why they shouldn’t get just as much airtime on TV on ran at the same time. “

Who’s going to fund it?

Face it, you’re in the minority, I can appreciate the effort that Paralympians have gone to but it just isn’t that good to watch when compared to other sport.

Note that a vast majority of the able bodied Olympics also wasn’t that good to watch either yet no one is whinging that the the syncronised swimming didn’t get equal coverage.

M says:

03:35pm | 28/08/12

Yeh, whatever. Youll be the only one