Support for Para-athletes has been vocal
FROM a handful of exhibition wheelchair races in Victoria in 1994, the Paralympic element of the Commonwealth Games has grown to 38 medals in seven sports on the Gold Coast.
However, quite apart from the impracticality of merging two already huge events, there appears little enthusiasm among Para-athletes for emulating the process at the Olympic Games.
“We don’t really want to be integrated, we’re Paralympians and they’re Olympians,” said Kelly Cartwright, an amputee who won long jump gold at the 2012 Paralympics and competed in the power-lifting on the Gold Coast.
“We have a disability, we are different but we are athletes. I think the Paralympics represent that.
“We just need to boost the profile of the Paralympics and get that showcased around the world a bit more.”
The support for Para-athletes from the Gold Coast crowds has been vocal and wheelchair-bound local Kurt Fearnley said the backing he received winning silver in the wheelchair 1 500m “almost blew my head off”.
The veteran, who brought the curtain down on his career with a marathon gold on Sunday, was hopeful that the raised profile of the Para-athletes could also open a broader discussion about disability in Australian society.
“Let’s have this conversation on a greater level and let’s make sure we can do something positive for what’s happening right here,” Fearnley said.
“It’s working, it’s good, it’s the right thing to do.
“Now let’s use it as a pivotal moment. Tomorrow morning have that yarn wherever you are.”
A few nights later, Arnott described the whole experience of racing amputee Galadima and winning a medal in the T47 100m as “surreal” and said he was looking forward to a few more days hanging out as a proud member of the England team.
“It’s just fantastic, you get to come across the other side of the world,” grinned the 21-yearold.
“And it’s all for the sport.”
The support for Para-athletes from the Gold Coast has been vocal