DS Blog #10

The Special Olympics provide all year round sports training and athletic events in various sports for individuals of all ages with intellectual disabilities. There has been ongoing controversy for years regarding whether or not individuals with intellectual disabilities should be integrated into playing in the Paralympic games or if they should just remain a part of the Special Olympics. This controversy is unfortunately due to multiple scandals of athletes faking intellectual disabilities in order to participate in the Paralympic games. 

There have been ongoing requests by athletes with intellectual disabilities wanting to qualify to be able to participate in the Paralympic Games rather than just the Special Olympics. Even though the Special Olympics give athletes the opportunity to compete in the sport of their choice, it is not to the same magnitude of the Paralympic Games. The Special Olympics are ongoing year round, while the Paralympics are more exclusive as they run parallel to the Olympic Games every four years. 

I find it very unfortunate that these athletes have had their opportunity to compete at this magnitude taken away due to other peoples illegal and poor actions of cheating in order to win. Athletes with intellectual disabilities are just as valuable as athletes with physical disabilities, and the Paralympics should update their classification strategies, techniques, and regulations in order to include athletes with intellectual disabilities. 

It is so frustrating that the Paralympic games are exclusive rather than inclusive, because disability is so diverse and looks different for millions of people. I truly believe that an athlete is an athlete at the end of the day, regardless of disability status. The Paralympic Games have made major strides in offering athletic opportunities for athletes with disabilities, but their complex classification system makes it difficult for people with different types of disabilities to qualify for the games, and unfortunately this often restricts those with intellectual disabilities entirely. 

There are so many athletes with intellectual disabilities that have fought to be taken seriously their entire lives, and when being an athlete is a part of their identity and they do not get the same chance as other athletes to showcase that, it directly undermines what makes them who they are. The Special Olympics do a great job of offering opportunities to athletes with intellectual disabilities, but unfortunately the competition is not on the same level as the Paralympic Games, and all athletes deserve an equal chance to compete in the highest level of competition they want to.