Discussion Forum “Elite Paralympic Sports Facing New Challenges”.
This Thursday May 22, 2008, the topic “Elite Paralympic Sports Facing New Challenges” was discussed by Prof. Dr. Gert-Peter Brüggemann (Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln, Institut für Biomechanik und Orthopädie (German Sports Academy Cologne, Institute for Biomechanics and Orthopaedics)), Prof. Dr. Gudrun Doll-Tepper (president of the International Council of Sport Science), and Heinrich Popow (three-time bronze medal winner at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens).
The forum discussion, hosted by the medical technology company and Paralympics sponsor Otto Bock as part of the “ORTHOPÄDIE+REHA-TECHNIK” (ORTHOPAEDICS AND REHABILITATION TECHNOLOGY) trade fair in Leipzig, was moderated by ZDF editor Peter Kaadtmann.
On Friday, May 16, 2008, the international Court of Arbitration for Sport decided that transtibial amputee and athlete Oscar Pistorius from South Africa is permitted to compete in the Olympic Summer Games in Beijing if he meets the qualification standards. In order to qualify, he needs to cut his time on the 400-metre track by approximately half a second. The decision has heightened the timeliness and controversy of the forum discussion last week.
Interest from visitors to the trade fair was correspondingly high – in particular regarding the participation of Prof. Dr. Gert-Peter Brüggemann, who managed a study on Pistorius commissioned by the International Association of Athletics Federations. In the study, the biomechanics professor from Cologne concluded that Pistorius obtains a mechanical advantage from his prostheses.
At the forum discussion in Leipzig today, Brüggemann said he was surprised by the decision made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. However, the study he conducted only examined the advantages for Pistorius but not the disadvantages for non-disabled athletes. “I submitted a scientific study, but I did not make a recommendation,” said Brüggemann.
“Oscar earned his advantage himself,” German sprinter Heinrich Popow emphasised. Prof. Dr. Gudrun Doll-Tepper also believes the frequently cited term “technodoping” does not fit. After all, prostheses are not prohibited enhancements while drugs and medications are. The fact that the material improves athletic performance is a frequent occurrence in sports. Roberto Simonazzi, a former Paralympics athlete in the audience, addressed another important aspect: “An athlete requires skill in order to take full advantage of a prosthesis.” Heinrich Popow made the same experience. At the outset, he ran slower with his sports prosthesis than his everyday prosthesis. Gruelling training was required in order to change that. “Pistorius has perfected the use of his prosthesis,” says Brüggemann, adding that no one has ever achieved this level of performance in the past.
Over the course of the discussion, it became apparent that the decision whether a handicapped athlete should be permitted to participate in the Olympic Games is not limited to the sport itself, but is also ethically and morally relevant under the aspect of equal opportunity. “The case of Oscar Pistorius is absolutely unique,” says Prof. Dr. Gudrun Doll-Tepper.
Therefore, she does not expect many other handicapped athletes to follow the example set by Pistorius in qualifying for the Olympics. She showed understanding for Pistorius, who is looking for new opponents in order to compete at a level suited to his abilities. However, she indicated that clarification would be required regarding the eligibility of Olympic athletes to subsequently compete in the Paralympics.
Gunther Belitz, editor-in-chief of Handicap Magazine as well as world champion and Paralympics medallist in the high and long jump, believes the discussion surrounding Pistorius will help the cause of integration and acceptance for people with disabilities. While bilateral amputation used to be considered a severe disability, top Olympic athletes now fear competition from prosthesis users. He said that further discussion would be required in order to determine the point at which a prosthesis does more than merely compensate for a physical deficit. Prof. Brüggemann also indicated that “Sports must not turn into a materials war.”
According to Heinrich Popow, both positive and negative effects may result if Pistorius participates in the Olympic Games. It could draw attention to the impressive accomplishments of handicapped athletes. On the other hand, it might cause the Paralympics to lose significance and importance. Moderator Peter Kaadtmann raised another point that cast doubt on the principle of equal opportunity in elite Paralympic sports. Athletes that can afford a modern prosthesis would have an advantage over others. Heinrich Popow advanced an argument to contradict this theory: At the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, a Chinese long jumper left the professionally equipped competition in a cloud of dust. In addition, he says even the best material is not necessarily ideal for a particular athlete. Popow believes that the professionalisation of sports for handicapped athletes is especially important. He himself trains at the highest level and under the best conditions with non-disabled athletes at TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
At the end of the forum discussion, Peter Kaadtmann pointed out that public broadcasters are providing approximately seven hours of Paralympics coverage per day. The amount of airtime has never been this high. “I hope that as many people as possible will get to see the impressive feats of handicapped athletes on television,” says Kaadtmann. “We the athletes will reward interest with top performance,” Heinrich Popow promised.
