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Monday, 28 June 2010


AN engineer has said that disabled athletes such as Oscar Pistorius should not compete against able-bodied athletes in competitions.

Is this man ‘disabled’? Watch the video!

AN engineer has said that disabled athletes such as Oscar Pistorius should not compete against able-bodied athletes in competitions.

Although at first this sounds unfair, Dr David James’ reasons are very interesting. He spoke to the public this week at the Cheltenham Science Festival.

“Disabled athletes,” he says, “will only ever be allowed to compete alongside their non-disabled counterparts if their abilities are limited to what is said to be ‘normal’.” James says that this would stop engineers from inventing things like super-fast prosthetic legs.

“If we allow technological development to continue,” he says, “we will soon see disabled athletes out-performing able-bodied athletes, and the whole notion of disability will be challenged.”

What do you think? Let us know where you stand on the issue by voting on our poll or leaving a comment below.

 

 


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11 Comments


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  • me1234 (Age 13) wrote on Monday, 28 June 2010 @ 18:52

    he isint ‘disabled’ he lost hes legs that dosent mean he is disabled!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Chilli (Age 12) wrote on Friday, 2 July 2010 @ 17:42

    I think that wether your lost your legs your can still be called disabled or not.You chose what you want to be called. Chilli

  • Chilli (Age 12) wrote on Friday, 2 July 2010 @ 17:44

    I wouldn't call him disabled

  • Chilli (Age 12) wrote on Friday, 2 July 2010 @ 17:44

    I wouldn't call him disabled

  • Soapy (Age 15) wrote on Thursday, 8 July 2010 @ 17:48

    How is he not disabled? He has lost his legs and just because he can run, doesn't mean he's not disabled. People like him would usually be in a wheelchair. He is disabled.

  • ana1001 (Age 11) wrote on Sunday, 19 December 2010 @ 13:26

    He is so clever and he is disabled hes lost both his legs and he is normally in a wheelchair probrably i say he is disabled

  • Hajra444 (Age 8) wrote on Tuesday, 4 January 2011 @ 20:22

    clever man

  • rocky959 (Age 10) wrote on Tuesday, 22 February 2011 @ 18:55

    just cuz he has lost his legs does not mean he's disabled.Well he can't be disabled cuz he got plastic things strapped to him.

  • honeybun00 (Age 11) wrote on Thursday, 24 February 2011 @ 15:51

    This guy is amazing being disabled doesn't stop him from believing in his dreams!

  • cool-cow (Age 12) wrote on Sunday, 5 June 2011 @ 17:09

    i think he is disabled

  • growler25 (Age 10) wrote on Saturday, 17 September 2011 @ 10:58

    wow! how can he manage to run like that