Eligible for the paralympics?

dean84

With the london 2012 olympics and paralympics coming up, i was interested to know if people with arthritis are eligible to participate within the paralympics? If so what classification does the condition come under and how do you get involved? If not eligible, i would like to know peoples views and opinions on this topic matter.

I know how important exercise and keeping mobile is with having arthritis, with goals and targets like the paralympics, this would help people with arthritis to keep them motivated and involved with sports they love.

Be interested to know peoples views!

Thanks,

Dean

dreamdaisy

I feel I compete in the paralympics every day in just getting up, showered, and doing chores. I would like to have some energy left for fun stuff but there are three major obstacles - I am too old, too fat, too tired. There must be info on a website somewhere about who is eligible for the paras. I cannot think of a reason why young arthritics couldn't take part in events if they were able. DD

barbara12

Hi Dean and welcome
Sorry I dont know, if we where would you be entering them , and what sport do you do.
Its an interesting question
Barbara x

dean84

I dunno if i would enter but i would look into it as i do find it very interesting to see how the paralympics classifys arthritis. Ive had numerous operations on my hips, knees and ankles but i am always willing to try new actvities and experiences to the best of my ability. At the moment i do alot of swimming to keep me fit and healthy, but i wouldnt say im a speedster in the water ha But other people with a natural talent for swimming who have arthritis might by interested in participating and i thought that someone might be able to enlightening more information on the topic area.

Dean

barbara12

Hi Dean
Has you know swimming is so good for the muscles, there are quite a few people on here that have had to give up there sport due to arthur, I hope they spot this thread, and maybe add something to it.
Good luck with everything
Barbara x

keith1971

My sport would be going up and down the stairs one at a time!

dreamdaisy

We could do an alternative Arthritic Olympics. (Dean, this is purely for fun!)

100 metres clatter for crutch users only.

400 metres relay for scooter users, the baton would be a thigh bone.

Diving competition: this would involve a flight of stairs with the competitors carrying a bundle of washing.

Discus: hurling a dinner plate at an insensitive rellie.

Hammer throw: chuck a proper hammer, the target rheumatology consultants.

Long jump: scooter users and a ramp.

Triple jump - ummmmmmm . . . . . .

Swimming: everyone could have a bash.

Marathon: cooking a full roast from scratch.

Any other ideas? DD

jillyb1

Can I go in for the 2 metre zimmer frame dash ? My current personal best time is 10 minutes . Jillyb

elnafinn

I very much doubt that having arthritis is the degree of disability that the governing bodies are looking for.

Elna

tkachev

Going DOWN the stairs one step at a time-backwards. A race to see who can get into bed plump the pillows and pull the quilt straight first.

Dean my sport was gymnastics. I could not attempt any gymnastic movements now as my arms cannot take the strain(agony) and my legs, well I cannot even sit down on my own now. When I think of what i could do in the good old days.

Elizabeth

Poppyg1rl

Oh DD,
Can i enter the diving competition? Think I'm pretty qualified Whilst carrying washing and avoiding the stray sock ready to cause broken bones! Winner gets a shiny gold medal, loser gets a fushia pink glittery cast!!

chris7

Hi Dean

Interesting question and as a big sports fan who is desperate to get to the games at any cost. ( hip permitting! ) I did a bit of googling as I do. :roll:

Yep there is a category called les autres, "the others" who include people with mobility problems which it would appear does include arthritis though there would be some sort of medical assessment required I guess.
Apparently a James Morgan who had his some surgery on his arthritic foot and ankle qualified for the rowing team and got a bronze medal I think in 2008?

So go for it guys
Chris

tjt6768

I will be honest, it is something that I have never had an interest in watching, but I don't watch the Olympics full stop..
What has always made me think is....
If a deaf man is classed as disabled, is he allowed to do one of the running events? If so, why?
I may be very neive when it comes to this sort of thing as I genuinely don't watch any of it, just always wondered how it worked..
Would a man/woman with say a prosthetic arm be able to enter the running events? And again, if so, why?
Are the events organised so that the persons disability directly affects the event?
You're all gonna laugh at me know for asking daft questions aren't ya :shock:

Go on, take the Mick :roll:

frogmorton

DEan

That would be brilliant!!!

I hope you decide to go for it....l would be so proud to see someone off the forums there!!!

Let us know if you are going to give it a go

Love

Toni xx

Airwave!

Morning, if I could go and compete I would, sailing, I shall be out this w/e. It's not just being able to do something though, I might need to be classified differently? Because of no work for a long while, the costs of training would be hard to meet, let alone £10k for a decent boat/trailer/assistance and a car to pull it!

Whatever, I shall be on the water as part of the sailing team, I volunteered, I had the interview and am more than qualified. They will contact us in October to make offers of jobs, I have an inkling of what I shall be doing.

The eligibility to compete is tightly controlled, so it's only for some disabled, so not really for all disabilities, we are in a 'no-mans lane' as far as competition is concerned.

8) Its a grin, honest!

frogmorton

Well done you Airwave!!!

how brilliant

Love

Toni xx

tkachev

I do know that gymnastics has its own competitions for special needs. It also has vintage competitions for ex gymnasts.As for Tony's questions I have noticed that the disabilities seem to be similar in a race, eg; blind runners or wheelchair users and not mixed disability.

Elizabeth

tjt6768

I'm still no clearer.. Lol
Can a deaf person be part of the running team? Doesn't make sense if it's a yes as being deaf gives no disadvantage to running, if you know what I mean.....
Someone clear this up for me please?


Lol

Cheers

Airwave!

Well, for a start Tony, if you're deaf you wouldn't hear the start of a race???? or the recall, or the crowds when you won. Could a blind athlete run in a lane, how does he know when he has covered 50m or finished or should he just keep running?

We'll trust that the blind archers have more success than I would!!!! There are so many classifications.

chris7

Hi Tony

The short answer is no, deaf people can only participate if they have another disability which does qualify them such as being an amputee or have another impairment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paralympic_Games

The categories are complicated but if you scoot down this link it does explain it. They try to make events as fair as poss by putting similar disabilities together, so there will be race for wheelchairs, one for amputees, one for cerebral palsy etc etc. Even seperate races for level of cerebral palsy. It can never really be totally fair but it's the best they can do. :roll:

Hope this helps.
Chris

Hi airwave blind runners run with a able bodied athlete tied at the wrists, but the blind runner has to cross the line first and are often dragging there helper with them.


Chris

Airwave!

I had seen the blind runners in training, never running though. They still need to be athletes first and foremost. As regards us arthers, I doubt if many would qualify for any of the games and if we did qualify we would be unable to be an athlete.

We are in between, I suspect, as far as the games go, and good luck to those that do get to the Paralympics.

tjt6768

blind archers... Now that would be worth watching, from a safe distance of course, lol..
I did wonder how it worked, watching it is not for me though.. Thanks anyway Chris, by the way, I am not saying that the info on the link isn't true but watch what you believe from wicked pedia, lol..
People can put anything they want to on there.. Lol

I'd be useless at any of the events, back, knees, legs in general, hands and wrists no good, oh, elbows too now :roll:
Unless there is a category for having dimples... Gold medal thanks very much, lol...

zechariah

Hi,

I played wheelchair basketball for a while, brilliant fun by the way!
It is all done on a points basis and that is decided by a medical, the best way is to pick your sport and find if there is a society nearby that also deals with disabled athletes, go along and they will know more.

The paralympics isnt so much about what disability but how you are affected, the only exceptions that I know off is wheelchair rugby where you have to have a spinal injury and obviously the blind football.

A lot of athletes have to travel a very long way to train as not all clubs and centres deal with disabled sports.

I hope that helps