What became of the Paralympian legacy?

[nickd]

What became of the Paralympics?







Is the legacy being played out in our
sporting clubs? ......


New research issues Paralympic legacy 'wake-up call'



There's some interesting but disappointing news emerging over how little impact the Paralympic games seems to have had in boosting the numbers of people with health problems and limitations taking up sports. The multi billion pound Olympic event saw massive publicity whereas the Paralympics received somewhat less coverage: it was however used as an opportunity to illustrate how much disabled people could achieve with firm commitments being made that the Paralympian legacy would see more emphasis being placed on promoting sport for the disabled.


Find out how the BBC cover the story....


"New research reveals little change in the number of people with disabilities joining sports clubs after the Paralympic Games.


Almost nine out of 10 (89%) sports clubs saw no change in a study conducted by the the Sport and Recreation Alliance, which chairman Andy Reed describes as a "massive wake-up call" for the government and sport sector."


BBC Sport correspondent Dan Roan reports on some video coverage here and you can also read more in an article in the Guardian over how London 2012 fears for its sporting legacy.


What's the point of all these grandiose projects unless cash is actually put in to ensuring that sports clubs can be adequately funded with sufficient resources to equip them properly with adequate skilled staff to ensure those who have a limitation can be enabled to safely participate?


Or was it all just another PR exercise aimed at convincing the country that the Paralympian participants were the real 'strivers' whereas those that stayed at home behind their curtains watching it on their flat screen TV's could safely be labelled the ever villainous 'skiver'?


If government is to be taken seriously about its Paralympian legacy it needs to lean a little more heavily on firms such as Atos (who were happy enough to sponsor the main event) and get them to fund a good few sport-clubs across the Nation - I somehow doubt we'll ever get to see such generosity.

[cherrylv]

The problem Nick is that the word 'disabled' conjures up a vision of money, time and resources. Add to that the number of disabilities that come under that heading and it simply strikes a chord of fear for many and unless in some way disability is hitting the headlines then it is easier to either brush it under the carpet or label those affected as skivers just because the few are athletic enough to be able to compete in the Paralympics. For some reason some quarters think that all disabled people should be able to rise to these capabilities and yet they do not apply the same logic to themselves and Olympic Events.
I hope there is a Paralympian legacy and not just for our hero's but for all those who feel they are capable of striving to these heights whatever their disability for they deserve the opportunity to make this country proud of them.

[nickd]

Good points made Cherrylv. I try and steer away from the word disabled but it is as you correctly say used so generically with little thought as to the huge variety of health problems there are under one umbrella heading. I think it really cheapened the Paralympics when used not so much as evidence of capability for the competitors but to highlight how those 'doing less could do more'. It was great to see the crowds see through Osborne as they booed him in to oblivion.