Okashira and the Olympics: The Paralympics and "MEET THE SUPERHUMANS" | Yasuo Takagi (Dean of the Graduate School of Health Management)

2012.10.01

The London Paralympics, with its theme "MEET THE SUPERHUMANS," was an unprecedented success, with 96% of all tickets reportedly sold by the day before the opening ceremony. While the television and film character Superman gained popularity by fighting social evil with superhuman powers like flying and stopping locomotives, the Paralympics moved spectators with the performances of athletes who, despite their disabilities, had honed their skills through grueling training.

The Paralympics are said to have originally started in the United Kingdom as a form of rehabilitation for soldiers injured in World War II. Former soldiers injured in Iraq and Afghanistan also participated in this year's Games, and of the 227 athletes on the US team, 20 were reportedly active or retired military personnel. Newspapers reported that "soldiers who fought for their country are once again fighting for their country at the Paralympics," but while this may serve as motivation for rehabilitation, the idea of them participating in another battle on behalf of their nation evokes mixed feelings.

This raises the question of what constitutes a "superhuman." Opinions were raised that questioned whether the participation of Oscar Pistorius, a runner with prosthetic legs, in the men's 400-meter race at the Olympics constituted "material (equipment) doping." When Pistorius was defeated in the men's 200-meter race at the Paralympics, he accused the winner, Alan Oliveira, of having prosthetic legs that were "too long." Oliveira responded, "My performance is the result of my training, and I am happy to have made my mark on Paralympic history." However, resolving the issues of disability classification (severity) and equipment doping is unavoidable for the future development of the Paralympics.

Prosthetic and orthotic devices for people with disabilities are custom-made to suit the type and degree of an individual's disability, which means they are produced in small quantities and cannot be made at a low cost. It is said that the military is the largest user of such devices, which is similar to the Paralympics. For example, a robotic suit developed in the United States that enables people with spinal cord injuries who have difficulty walking to walk again costs 11 million yen, with an additional 800,000 yen per year for maintenance. Furthermore, to sell these devices to the general public, they must pass strict government screening. The developers say their dream is for these devices to become like smartphones or jeans, sold in sporting goods stores. Even before the issue of equipment doping, questions arise such as how many people with disabilities can afford these devices and what qualifies someone to be called a representative athlete. Because this year's Paralympics garnered so much public attention, it has highlighted many challenges, including the need to broaden the base of disability sports, provide social support for it, and establish clear rules.

(Date of publication: 2012/10/01)