At this year's Paris Paralympics, only three of 22 sports featured events for athletes with an intellectual impairment. How can elite Para sport better embrace these athletes?
The size of the swell, the sun reflected off the waves, the morphing ocean floor — it all combines to make each race unique.For much of the last decade, Russell has been one of the world's leading flat-water rowers with an intellectual impairment.Currently, neither the Paralympics nor the World Rowing Championships include events for athletes with an intellectual impairment.
But a clamber for increased Games representation, the development of new sports classes and the continued growth of Paralympic alternatives suggest elite sport may be slowly learning to embrace athletes with an intellectual impairment.At the Paris Paralympics, swimming, athletics and table tennis offered events for athletes with an intellectual impairment.This contrasted with events for competitors with physical and vision impairments.
This was a devastating blow for athletes with an intellectual impairment across the world, with the International Paralympic Committee suspending all their events indefinitely. Von Einem began his sporting journey as a promising tennis player. It wasn't until his family moved to Abu Dhabi when he was a teenager that he began playing table tennis seriously.
Virtus is the global governing body for athletes with an intellectual impairment, representing 500,000 sportspeople in close to 100 countries, including Australia. "And when you see that on the field of play, clearly, those people who have multiple impairments are going to be at a competitive disadvantage to those that just have a single intellectual impairment."
Currently, Parr says that as high as "nine out of 10" athletes competing in the II2 class are athletes with Down syndrome. "They don't necessarily meet the eligibility criteria for having an intellectual disability, but they will also face many obstacles and hurdles taking part in sport," Parr said. Despite it being one of the fastest-growing sports on the program, Russell says there is still a lack of competition at the Global Games.
While the development of elite sport for athletes with intellectual impairment has been stop-start, Parr says that progress is being made.
Para Sport Sport Rowing Table Tennis Mac Russell Intellectual Impairment Disability Idpwd
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Australian Paralympic great Jed Altschwager retires after decorated careerAustralian para-rower Jed Altschwager hangs up the oars, three months after making history by winning gold at the Paris Paralympic Games.
Read more »
Man behind the Seine clean-up says the same could be done for Brisbane RiverThe race is on to prepare south-east Queensland for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Read more »
Fitzroy Crossing art, fashion hitting catwalks and shows as far away as New York and ParisArt and designs from the remote outback town have graced catwalks in Paris, New York and Melbourne. What's driving this trend?
Read more »
Starmer to join Macron on Armistice Day in Paris to show European solidarityBritish and French leaders will discuss Ukraine and defence amid fears for future of Nato after Trump’s re-election
Read more »
Australian swim star Sam Short seeks redemption after Paris Olympic Games heartacheSam Short's Paris Olympics were ruined by injuries and illnesses. But he is determined to bounce back, setting his sights on the 2025 World Aquatics Championships and the Brisbane Games further down the road.
Read more »
'Raygun' retires from breaking after Paris 2024 Olympic Games backlashRachel Gunn, aka Raygun, says she will no longer compete in the sport of breaking after the vitriolic reaction to her performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Read more »