Time to regain Olympic ideals: Letter
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: I couldn't agree more with Nick Walker ("Let the disabled join the freak show", 30 July). Why, in an age when we are trying so hard to let everyone have the rights they deserve, do we have a separate Olympic Games for disabled athletes and treat people like second-class citizens because they are not good enough for the "real thing".
The opening ceremony of each Olympic Games is now a massive experiment in manipulation to make us to feel what a wonderful experience we are enjoying with the whole world competing together on "a level playing field". When the whole world includes people who on a daily basis deal with disabilities that would defeat most of the people that are competing at Atlanta why should they be excluded?
The Olympics should be an event where "amateur" sportspeople can enter secure in the knowledge that they are competing in a world arena with the best of their class. I find it difficult to understand how professional teams are acceptable when some of the best "amateur" sportspeople are excluded because they are disabled.
The Olympics are no longer "a level playing field" and we should be trying to regain that ideal and include those who are at the top of their field regardless of their physical abilities or disabilities.
HELEN NOBLE
Bristol
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments