A few years ago the expression “disabled” started to become politically incorrect. For one thing, many people who were categorized under this heading did not like it and for another, many felt that they were “able” to do everything that an “able bodied” person could do.
On the face of it the last statement seems slightly optimistic, however with adaptations, changes in rules, and Hi-Tec equipment, even someone in a wheelchair can play just about any sport.
30 years ago wheelchairs were nearly all the same, the only defining difference was that some were motorized. But things have changed.
Today you can buy not only sports wheelchairs, but wheelchairs dedicated to specific sports like basketball or tennis. These wheelchairs have strong yet lightweight designs, incredible dexterity and manoeuvrability and they have features that make them purpose designed for a specialised sporting application.
One of the best examples of a wheelchair sport is also the oldest, i.e. basketball.
Wheelchair basketball has actually become a separate sport in its own right and it is even played (in wheelchairs) by able bodied teams. The wheelchairs are light, very strong and have leg and front body guards that wrap around the lower front section of the frame. Their rear wheels slope outwards from top to bottom to provide extra stability, and they will have one or two extra castor wheels at the back of the frame to prevent the wheelchair from falling over backwards during sudden acceleration.
This sport has been played for several decades and it remains the most popular attraction at the Paralympics and other international sporting events. Wheelchair basketball also has its own set of rules that make it very different from normal basketball. For one thing direct contact is allowed and impacts, crashes and injuries are common.
Thursday, 27 May 2010
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