Too capable to compete

South African amputee and champion sprinter Oscar Pistorius rests after a training session in Pretoria, South Africa, on June 21, 2007.

The Olympics just aren't what they used to be. I have in my head that its purpose was to be a celebration of the human spirit. But there won't be any celebrating for Oscar Pistorius at the 2008 Summer Olympics. This South African amputee and champion sprinter is not being allowed to compete in the regular Olympics events.

How can something like this happen? Apparently, "the South African runner's curved, prosthetic "Cheetah" blades are considered a technical aid in violation of the rules." In addition to this, a German professor claims "An athlete using this prosthetic blade has a demonstrable mechanical advantage (more than 30 per cent) when compared to someone not using the blade."

And so, Oscar now has the dual identity of being overadvantaged in the sports world and underadvantaged in the outside world, although he likely wouldn't let something as 'trivial' as not having legs stop him no matter where it is.

It's likely clear by now that I think he should be allowed to compete. Nevermind his prosthetics. How about all of the performance-enhancing drugs that "normal" athletes use? And while he may have a slight advantage as far as exertion during the race goes, due to his prosthetics, how about the amount of exertion he needs to generate for every single fucking day?

The final kicker, the thing that really burns me, is that I have the strong suspicion that rules are not put to such strong scrutiny for the Special Olympics. It's almost like putting everyone on the island of misfits and as long as you're a misfit, then the same rules do not apply.

It's wrong. It's the Olympics. Where has the human spirit gone?