Blog #3 - Paralympic and Olympic Games

 Sofia Torrie

Disability and Sports

Dr. Sowers

When it comes to comparing the Paralympic and Olympic Games, there can be many people who agree or disagree with Dr. Guttman. Personally, I am more on the agreeing side to Dr. Guttman, but I can also see where people would disagree. I agree with Dr. Guttman because the effort that the Paralympians give to the Paralympics is equal to the athletes in the Olympics. I believe that they are putting the same amount of effort into the games, and the Paralympics is to celebrate people who are doing what they love. The Paralympics gives us a deeper understanding of people who are willing to give their time and effort into something that may not be recognized as much as the Olympic Games and that is why I believe that the Paralympic Games are a better representation of the Olympic Ideal. 

The Olympics is something that people always look forward to watching to see “the best of the best” and it is exciting to see, but there is also no inclusion within the Olympics. Of course, the Olympics are to showcase the highest level of athleticism, but the Paralympics shows another side of athleticism. The Paralympics gives us a glimpse into the other side of their work. We can see the determination to continue to work as hard as able-bodied athletes and they are also competing in the same competitions. In the Paralympics we also see how some athletes have had to overcome tough obstacles to be in the place they are today. The Paralympics have many different athletes with many different stories, and with that, they all come together to compete in these games to prove that they are worthy to be there. Another point to why the Paralympics are more of a better representation to the Olympic Games is that the athletes are able to reflect on the fact that they are able to do the things they are doing, and they show genuine pride in their accomplishments. 

The Olympic Games are meant to represent the best athletes in the world, and they also have stories to reflect on, and of course they are all thankful to be there, but I believe that the Paralympic games represent a deeper message. I think that the Paralympic games represent the Olympic Ideal because of the inclusivity and being able to represent themselves and their stories that led them to be where they are today.






Resources: 

Perestrelo, Nuno. “Beyond the Games: The Power of Paralympic Athletes to Transform Society.” Sport Integrity Global Alliance, 2 Sept. 2024, siga-sport.com/press-releases/beyond-the-games-the-power-of-paralympic-athletes-to-transform-society/. Accessed 09 Feb. 2026.

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