Paralympics accused of discriminating against learning disabilities

The
Paralympic Games, which
begin in a week’s time, have been accused of discriminating against the
disabled.

The
Mencap charity has
announced a campaign against the event after the organisers refused to allow
competitors with learning disabilities to compete, on the grounds that it was
too easy to fake.

The
ban was imposed after the Sydney Olympics in 2000 after members of the Spanish
basketball team were found to have faked learning disabilities to qualify.

Jo
Williams, Mencap’s chief
executive, said they were very angry that athletes with learning disabilities
are now excluded from the Paralympic
Games.

“These
athletes have trained long and hard to reach the peak of their sporting
ability," she said. "They have had their Olympic dream snatched away
through no fault of their own.”

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Michael Millar