Hi All.
My assumption on this is it would have something to do with the dymanics
of the fact wheels can move faster than feet. We don't see bicycles taking
on runners either - competeions are generally to see who is the best at a
particular thing - and it is suppose to be fair. So the sailing thing was
fair - everyone had proabaly about the same boats - so it was skill thing -
feet vs feet, bicylces vs bicyles, wheelchairs vs wheelchairs those are fair
- wheels against feet aren't. I wouldn't race someone riding a bicycle and
think it was going to be a fair race. Think about the dynamics of stuff -
wheels make stuff easier - you can get them going and glide - downhill would
be a breeze - up hill would be the pits.
Brightest Blessings
Trisha
-----Original Message-----
From: Perk
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: 6/3/00 1:09 PM
Subject: Re: Just a little tidbit
I have been asking the question why for years. Unfortunately there is
no
answer.
Kathy Jo
AOL Instant Messenger ScreenName KJPink
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http://homepages.msn.com/WindowsWay/kjpink/
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----- Original Message -----
From: Bobby Greer <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, June 02, 2000 5:18 PM
Subject: Re: Just a little tidbit
> Your perception is quite interesting, Yvonne, and contrasts with my
"narrow
> disabity" perception.
>
> Straight out I thought you have to be disabled to compete in a
> wheelchair. Then you ask, "Why?" and it is difficult for me to conjure
a
> logical response. If one had upper body strength and had used a manual
> chair for quite sometime, that person would be normally more adept at
using
> a wheelchair than their nondisabled couterpart. Now let me say I am
not a
> wheelchair user, so in that sense you and I are both laymen on this
> subject. So I do not know what my objection would be accept most
people
> consider wheelchair users as disabled.
> Food for thought.
>
> Bobby
>
> >Thanks, Bobby. I feel the same way about your posts. I really enjoy
this
> >list - you are all terrific. I feel at home here and I am learning so
much.
> >
> >I have a question, though about your response to my post. Are you
saying
> >it is ridiculous for them to compete in wheelchair racing? I took it
the
> >other way - if wheelchair racing IS a legitimate sport, then why
would
> >anyone be barred from participating regardless of ability? As I
understand
> >it, there is no physical advantage in the race. Wouldn't it be
> >discrimination to exclude based on ability? These are serious
competitors
> >- they train regularly. One got into it as a form of upper body
training.
> >And as I said, in Canada one does not have to be disabled to compete
in
> >this sport.
> >
> >I'm not trying to be funny or rude... I just would like to know what
> >people think and why.
> >
> >I also read an article recently about sailing. Can't remember all the
> >details but there are some Canadian companies that have manufactured
> >adaptive equipment to allow even severely disabled sailors to race.
One
> >system involves controlling the boat with puffs of breath. One sailor
> >interviewed was quadriplegic (I'm not sure of the cause) but with the
> >equipment can sail independantly. He was quoted as saying it is
> >exhilarating and gives him a sense of freedom. Since he can now
easily
> >sail, it puts him on par with others with lesser degree of
disability or
> >those with no disabilities. He also said the race outcome was then
> >determined by SAILING SKILL as opposed to level of physical ability.
Any
> >thoughts?
> >
> >Yvonne
> >
> >
> >>>> [log in to unmask] 06/02/00 05:15PM >>>
> >Yvonne,
> >
> > I vaguely remember hearing about this, but I did not hear
about
their
> >rediculous explanation. Sounds like something my university students
would
> >say.
> >Unbelievable! Who needs fiction when you look at what goes on.
> >
> > I wanted to say how much I enjoyed your posts to the list.
They
are
> >very
> >informative and up beat. Thanks.
> >
> >Bobby
> >
> >
> >>This reminded me of something I was going to ask the list a while
ago. I
> >>don't know if anyone read about this but in the recent Boston
Marathon 2
> >>Canadians were disqualified for doing the course in wheelchairs.
They
are
> >>able-bodied athletes who participate regularly in wheelchair racing
as a
> >>sport ( this is apparently allowed in Canada). They say that
wheelchair
> >>racing is a sport of it's own and don't feel they have an advantage
-
that
> >>in fact, the playing field, so to speak, is levelled for TAB and
disabled
> >>athletes alike. I was wondering what you all think about this.
> >>
> >>Yvonne
> >>
> >>>>> [log in to unmask] 06/01/00 10:17AM >>>
> >>TODAY IN HEALTH HISTORY
> >>=======================
> >>
> >>Rolling Along
> >>
> >>When the first national wheelchair games were held on this date
> >>in 1957, 75 individuals paralyzed from the chest down from the
> >>U.S. and Canada competed. The games, held at Adelphi College,
> >>Garden City, N.Y., included the 60-yard dash, javelin throwing,
> >>table tennis, and other team and individual events. Three years
> >>later the first paralympics were held in Rome and have been held
> >>every four years since. At the last games in 1996, some 4,000
> >>athletes from 102 countries competed in everything from archery
> >>to basketball, cycling and fencing.
> >>
> >>Copyright InteliHealth, Inc., 1998-2000. All rights reserved.
>
|
