AFTERMATH: PARALYMPICS

            While Micheal Phelps and Usain Bolt entertained my adrenaline levels, the Paralympics, as a whole, motivated me. I had never really watched the Paralympics before although there was a vague idea of what it meant. So, I was dumbfounded when I saw an armless female winning a swimming race, a one-legged cyclist finishing second behind an imbecilic person (no pun intended), a one-legged high jumper, a blind sprinter, etc. it makes you wonder what manner of mental toughness these individuals have.

            But one couldn’t help but notice how world records were thrown into the gutter with ease – even the podium less athletes shattered the previous world records. Our beloved delegates broke many. After careful observation, I noticed that in many of the events where the records were broken, the athletes were aided by technology either during practice or in play. This is, of course, not to take anything from the athletes but to reinstate the argument when Ed Catmull, the co-founder of Pixar said, technology plus art equals magic.

            We were so concerned about the able-bodied delegates that we forget the real stars with thirteen medals (6G-5S-2B). Although most of the medals came from weightlifting, we can not complain. We dare not. By all standards, given the disappointment of the Olympics, we were successful. A blissful relief, you may. The real challenge comes from what would happen next. For all the celebrations and welcoming jubilations given to these athletes, what they need is sustainability. In their various sports, technological advancement in facilities is needed for them to compete satisfactorily at the next games in Rio. Since Nigeria has become an import-dependent country, it should be easier for us to get the latest technology than misleading ourselves that we can produce them. Production of technology involves years and years of research and – I might be mistaken, but – no funds are put in place for that. They might have been put to better use like buying laptops for all lawmakers (pun intended).

            Sustainability in the lives of the athletes is the most important thing. Even if 50 million naira had been given to each delegate (that’s ten times more than was given to the gold medalists), it would not have been enough. What they need are jobs or assistances in self-employment to provide basic amenities like food, clothing, and shelter for them and their families. They need to be business owners or civil servants eligible for pension. Believe it or not, they have goal s besides weightlifting. Of course, the shirt should not be given the work of the shoe and vice-versa. If their jobs need more qualifications, they should be given more training. Sports may be their head start in life, but it is just part of it. I’m in no way advocating for sympathy for the disabled men and women of any profession or vocation; they don’t need anyone’s pity. They need more empathy and increased emotional intelligence from all and sundry.

            The Paralympics started in 1948 by Ludwig Guttman as a means of engaging the aggrieved war veterans; it was later accepted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and modeled as a full-fledged Paralympics in 1960. (So, no one should tell me Oscar Pistorius single handedly brought the world’s attention to the Paralympics). It has taught us, me that there is life after ‘disability’ even if one is unfortunately pushed into it or is born into it. It has taught that disability is of the mind.