Bow-leggedly?
For many of the people who compete in the SO, that competition is the absolute highlight of their life. One of my mother’s dearest friends has a son who is significantly disabled. He’ll be mental age 5 forever (he’s in his late-50’s now). Training for the SO gives him structure, a goal, something he can accomplish that has a point. He’s proud of his medals - and shows them off to anyone who’ll stand still long enough to hear all about it. It serves a valid and real therapeutic purpose in his life (and in the lives of many other competitors).
Athletic competition isn’t only healthy for the fully capable. And the fully capable aren’t the only ones who have an easier time with physical activity when there’s a goal in sight.
The whole “parody” thing has always baffled the crap out of me. For the participants, the Special Olympics is as real as it gets. A lot (I’d venture to say most, even) train hard and take it seriously. If the participants are taking it seriously, how can it possibly be a parody? Granted, they know that they’ll never be able to compete in the other Olympics, but they also know they won’t ever be able to do a good many things, either. That doesn’t stop them from doing the best they can with the limits they have.
As for devaluing the other Olympics, that’s just pure, unadulterated horsecrap. It doesn’t bother the IOC - and a number of past-Olympians are big supporters of the Special Olympics and very involved with it, to the point of serving on the Board of Directors. Including Carl Lewis, Nadia Comaneci, Mia Hamm, Yao Ming, Scott Hamilton, Bart Conner, and a whole host of others.
Excellent response. I completely agree.
I had a sister who had Downs, the special Olympics were a big help to her, and even though she had limitations it helped her health wise and mentally. She won a couple of medals in swiming and disc throwing. She may not have competed in a world wide compitition, but to see the smile on her face was worth a million of regular Olympic medals.
There is so much done today to help people with disabilities, some with Downs have impproved due to treating them as a regulr person and letting them do their best. I do not think any one with Downs ever commited a crime. We can learn a lot from them.
Monavis