For many a year para-athletics hasn’t exactly been part of the bigger picture of the global sporting scene, writes MARK ETHERIDGE in Gold Coast, Australia.
Not at these Commonwealth Games though… here para-sport is fairly and squarely in the frame. Unlike Olympics and Paralympics which are separated, there are no para Commonwealth Games. Here it’s one big family!
An example: Monday night sees Team South Africa’s Dyan Buis, Charl du Toit and Union Sekailwe all lining up for the men’s T38 100-metre final.
They were scheduled to run at 7.10pm Gold Coast time.
Fifteen minutes later and in the very next race on the programme, South Africa’s double Olympic champion Caster Semenya was due to run the 1500m heats – when it comes to mixing it with the big guns it doesn’t get much better than that.
South Africa’s F38 long jumper Juanelie Meijer alluded to the feeling of being part of one big family after her event on Sunday, saying just how much it meant to be included in the main programme.
Buis, Du Toit and field event athlete Reinhardt Hamman (all Paralympic gold medallists) also spoke of the significance.
‘It’s great to feel like one of the guys,’ smiles the cerebral palsied Hamman (just like Du Toit and Buis). ‘We’re a small para-group and we don’t stand out here. It’s just our “gangster walk” that shows who we are.’
Buis has been one of the loudest voices in the call for recognition. ‘These Games are a prototype for inclusion.
‘It’s always a privilege to be part of Team South Africa but this is really liberating – and it’s perfect going forward.’
Added Du Toit: ‘Well done to the Commonwealth Games Federation, we’re looking forward to this. We’re part of the bigger picture and the fact that our medals count towards the bigger tally is also great.’
Photo: (left to right) Hamman, Du Toit and Buis, taken remotely by Hamman