Technology in Paralympics

 

Adaptive Technology

Adaptive technology can be very controversial in sports. Some think that this technology is cheating or that it will take away from talent and make it easier for anyone to win or do the sport. I agree with this statement to some extent but also disagree. We live in a world now where technology is used in everything we do. Not only that, but we see more and more advances in technology every year. So it is expected that someday adaptive technology is going to be used by everyone in sports. That is why I think there is no argument whether it should be allowed or not because I believe it will be either way. I disagree that this technology will make it easier for the athletes or make it easier for anyone to compete. If all athletes have the same access to technology, then the competition will still be fair. However, different skills might have to come into play which in turn might actually make it harder for some athletes and take away from their actual talent. This is why I think adaptive technology should not be allowed in sports. This technology can also be a disadvantage for the nations who cannot afford it. This will lead to unfair competitions and I think will just take away from the talent you need to play a sport well.



However of course there are disabled athletes that do need technology in order to compete. This is a whole different story. For example, an athlete who has both or one leg amputated will need a running blade in order to run. This is completely fair. Much research has been done to show that these running blades do not give more advantage to the disabled athlete than an able-bodied athlete. Since there is scientific evidence that these prosthetics don't actually give an unfair advantage, then there is no reason people should think this is unfair. Their running blades are like a person’s foot and it requires just as much talent to run in them as anyone else. This is why I do think those athletes should be allowed to compete in able-bodied sporting events. Of Course an athlete with a running blade will run differently than an able-bodied athlete but they still have comprisable physiology. Just like not everyone is a fast runner, not everyone who has a running blade will be fast too. It still requires a tremendous amount of talent.




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