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.