Meg Pelly's Sports Blog

  The decision to ban Russia and Belarus from recent Paralympic Games has been highly controversial, raising important questions about fairness, politics, and the values of international sport.   On one hand, the  International Paralympic Committee (IPC)  promotes inclusion, equality, and the celebration of athletes with disabilities. On the other hand, the IPC also has a responsibility to uphold ethical standards and respond to global events that threaten peace and human rights. It is tough job that the IPC has to uphold these standards and ensure fair play. Banning Russian and Belarusian athletes may seem harsh, especially since many of them have no control over their own government’s actions. Athletes from both countries train for years to earn a spot at the Paralympics and being denied that opportunity because of their country’s actions seems unfair.  At the same time, allowing them to compete under their national flags while their governments are engaged i...

The debate of whether the Special Olympics should stay separate from the Paralympics, and whether or not individuals with intellectual disabilities ought to be blanketed within the Paralympic Games, brings up many issues surrounding equity, inclusion, and the motive of game. The Special Olympics and the Paralympics were created for two very important but different purposes. The Special Olympics  creates a focus on inclusion, personal growth, and community for individuals with intellectual disabilities of all talent degrees. It is more about the participation of these athletes rather than the competitive nature of elite sports. In comparison, the Paralympics is a global, high-level competition for athletes with physical, visual, and in some cases, intellectual impairments. The Paralympics serves to showcase the talent of these elite athletes on a larger stage and places an emphasis on performance.  Because their desires and audiences are different, it makes sense for the Speci...

 Since the creation of adaptive sports , many athletes who suffer from disabilities are able to participate in sports that they would not traditionally be able to. These athletes have since been given the opportunity to compete at elite levels, and break down barriers that had prevented them from competing.  Running blades, prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs, and other adaptive inventions have allowed impaired athletes to perform at a higher level. The inclusivity of athletes has also increased as participation is encouraged, no matter what the level of competition is.  However, adaptive sports are not always accessible to all. Wealthier nations have greater access to adaptive technology, as well as programs specially designed to accommodate impaired athletes. Less fortunate countries may struggle to even obtain the basic equipment needed for competition. This creates an uneven playing field based on wealth and status, and not one based on ability or talent. The lack of resour...

The way that disability is understood varies widely depending on the perspective of the viewer. The medical model views disability as a defect of the person affected, and that the disability is something that should be fixed. The biopsychosocial model views disability as a more holistic approach, and that there are both social and psychological aspects that impact biological disabilities.  Taking a deeper look at the medical model of disability, it views disability as something that needs to be "fixed". It sees disability as such a negative thing, and that the impairment is a direct result of illness, physical disability, or cognitive disorder.  This model also neglects to acknowledge that there are other factors, such as social, psychological, or environmental factors that create barriers or obstacles for those with a disability. This approach is traditional and quite outdated. It sets those with a disability up to be viewed as hopeless and less than able bodied people....

  The media coverage of sports involving athletes with disabilities is severely underrepresented and under appreciated by the population. Most of the time, media coverage of people with disabilities cast a negative light on their character or situations. The media should do a better job at portraying disabled people in a light that is both positive and inclusive to further increase appreciation of all types of athletes.  In order to increase the presence of disabilities in the media and in sports, the media must do tons of work to break down existing stereotypes and rebuild positive views of disabled persons.  The media often portrays athletes and people with disabilities as "helpless" or as a "hero". The media creates a message that those with disabilities lie somewhere on this  spectrum  and can sometimes be inaccurately represented. By providing viewers with more background, or sharing the stories of those with disabilities in the media, they can then create ...

 The Olympic motto "Faster, Higher, Stronger- Together" can be embodied by the athletes of the Paralympics and Olympics alike. It was founded on the idea that we can only become faster, we can only aim higher, and we can only become stronger by standing together.  The Paralympics and the athletes who compete all posses the values that enable them to overcome the highest barriers and largest obstacles. It can be argued that the Paralympics are the real Olympics because its athletes compete at the highest level while also overcoming physical challenges to represent their country through sports.  Paralympic athletes challenge the stereotypes of disabilities in athletics by demonstrating exceptional skill and perseverance. Not only are they the most elite athletes competing for gold, but they do so while also overcoming adversity and pushing their own physical limits.  The Olympics and Paralympics exist as side by side competitions. Both allow athletes to have a chance ...