PARALYMPICS 2012

Para Olympic Games

Para Olympic Games

Introduction

It is important for a human body to be physically active for health benefits. However, in recent years the levels of physical disability issues have globally risen, due to the fact, that there has been a major lack in the levels of recommended physical activities (Barnes, 1991). A major reason for proper physical and mental health is to achieve a good amount of physical activities, which improves internal and external fitness. In addition, the Para Olympic Games or Paralympics are the events of multidisciplinary sports involving disabled athletes from around the world (Brittain, 2010). This year, London has been chosen for the purpose where hundreds of disabled people will gather to take an active participation in world's second largest sports event. It is very interesting to know that UK is recognized as birthplace of Para Olympics right. In 1948, right 64 years back, British government organized an event and allowed many survivors or disabled soldiers of World War Two to have sporting competition with their disabled colleagues. In other words, it can be seen as an attempt of encouraging the disabled soldiers to better realize their importance even after disability as well as enable them to become an active part of the society. That was 1948 when the idea of integrating disabled with the overall society was present but the supporting elements like electronic media and special legislations ware missing (Brittain, 2010).

Today, it is 2012, where the electronic media is not just present but also plays an important role in highlighting different social issues. It is a fact that disabled people are regarded as special ones but they still face incorrect behavior from different sectors of the society (Smith & Thomas, 2009). There is no doubt that media as well as legislation system are making efforts to change the perception about disabled persons. However, the response in the society is slow as many disabled people are not heavily present in various areas of businesses. It is easy to understand that integration of disabled or special persons with the society is the only solution to change public perception about them. Similarly sporting events can be seen as a vital platform for the special or disabled persons to become an active member of the society through their presence in the worldwide sports events (Brittain, 2010). The upcoming event of Paralympics in London has been designed to accommodate series of events including athletics, swimming, table tennis, wheelchair rugby, goalball, wheelchair fencing, archery, seven-a-side and five-a-side football, track cycling, wheelchair tennis, power-lifting, judo, wheelchair basketball, boccia, sitting volleyball, equestrian events and shooting.

Discussion

There is no doubt about the fact that Special Olympics or Paralympics games are recognized as a largest event for gathering large number of special athletes or disabled sports persons at one place. In addition the upcoming London Paralympics event is also a major opportunity to change the perception about disability sports in United Kingdom as well as rest of the world. This event provides a chance to all disabled athletes to show their hidden talent ...