By Kathleen M. Muldoon
It’s only September and already I’m excited about the 2008 Olympics. I love everything about the Olympics, not because I’m a jock-in fact, I’m an athletic zero-but because I admire those who are. Even more inspiring for me are the games that begin after the Olympics, the Paralympics- international athletic competitions for athletes from six different physical disability groups. These games follow the closing ceremonies of the Olympics and are hosted by the same country that hosted that year’s Olympics.
Not to be confused with Special Olympics, which are for athletes with developmental disabilities, the Paralympics are competitions for talented athletes with physical disabilities ranging from visual handicaps to cerebral palsy to spinal cord injuries.
If you think the Paralympic sports are “watered down” versions of Olympic games, think again. In fact, at the winter games in Turin, Italy in 2006, wheelchair curling was added to the already challenging roster of competition, including Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, biathlon, cross country skiing, and sled hockey.
If the idea of hurling yourself down a snow covered mountain doesn’t appeal to you, perhaps you are more comfortable training for a summer sport? Paralympic events that will take place next summer in Beijing, China include archery, cycling, equestrian, rowing, shooting, swimming, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing, and wheelchair tennis. You’ll notice that my sport, thumb twiddling, is not included.
At the first international Paralympic Games in 1960 held in Madrid, Spain, 400 athletes representing twenty countries participated. Next year, the International Paralympic Committee anticipates that over 4,000 athletes from over 140 countries (including the US) will compete in 471 medal events over a 12-day period.
Sadly, medals aren’t awarded for my very best event-watching real athletes compete! Sadder yet, in the US, only one hour of the Paralympics was shown on television during the 2006 games, while hundreds of hours were dedicated to airing the Olympics.
I hope you’re not like me-an athletic zero-and that you might consider going on the Paralympics Web site, www. paralympic.org, to see if there is a sport that interests you.
If you are like me, a non-athlete who wants to see more of the Paralympics on television, I hope you’ll join my crusade to get NBC-the network with the contract to televise next year’s Olympics in Beijing-to agree to air more than just one measly hour of the Paralympics. You can do this by going to their website, www.nbc.com. On the bottom of the home page, you’ll see a link “contact us.” It will provide many options to let your voice be heard.
If you’d like to pass along a copy of your message to Action readers, email it to action@unitedspinal.org or mail it to:
KIDS IN ACTION
United Spinal Association
75-20 Astoria Boulevard
Jackson Heights, NY 11370-1177
In the meantime, if you’re not training for one of the medal events, do start flexing your remote control finger-I’ve already started my training for that.
Kathleen M. Muldoon is a children’s book author and writing instructor for the Institute of Children’s Literature. She lives in San Antonio, Texas.
