Who says this? And what is "normal" defined as?

I don't support discrimination. In fact I think that Olympics discriminates against Para-olympians by having them compete in a completely separate event that occurs after the main event is over. I'd like the two events combined so that the competitors in events like wheelchair basketball would be treated with the same level of honour (and, hopefully, similar levels of funding) as those who compete in regular basketball.

here's someone who is more than happy to disable the enabled...

I can't say I agree here.  Sports for disabled athletes are carefully organized so that people with similar abilities are competing against athletes with similar abilities.  You may even have people running the in same race but they are actually NOT competing with one another because they are in different ability categories.  I suppose theoretically people without disabilities could compete in an open category (able-bodied), but then that would put you in the Olympics wouldn't it?  This would then provide further support for the Paralympics existing as part of the Olympics and thus sport on a spectrum of ability.

My best friend's son has spastic hemiplegia cerebral palsy and is training for the Paralympics in 2016.  He is a nationally ranked sprinter presently (as an athlete with a disability). Through him I have learned a great deal about athletics for people with disabilities.  These are highly trained athletes whose lives mirror able-bodied athletes training for national and international competition.  They are also doing so within a world that struggles to see people with disabilities as empowered and capable people, much less athletes that can kick our sorry able-bodied butts (my friend's son can handily beat me at a 5km run, and I run).  Case in point, recently a couple with cerebral palsy had their infant removed by F and CS until they proved they could care for their child (discrimination reserved only for parents with disabilities).  The father was a nationally ranked paralympic athlete (not discussed in the news).   

So, no, I don't see the paralympics as discriminitory.  I would also prefer to see the paralympics incorporated into the olympics and put sports for people with disabilites in the spotlight they deserve.

<tongue in cheek>
 

This is almost as horrid as the blatant discrimination of not welcoming anorexics at Weight Watchers meetings.
 

<tongue removed from cheek>

It has been 50 years since I played Peewee baseball.  I would still like to play and I think I have improved some since those days ... but the organizers are discriminating against me on the basis of age and will not let me play.  

Don't forget about the Special Olympics, they discriminate against those who function at a typical mental level.

It was a joke in response to the thread that said the Olympics discriminate against heterosexuals.

Alex, I don't know what it is about WC that makes people all serious the minute you leave social.  It's not the first joke that had to be explained.

Sorry. Obviously went right over my head.  Blonde moment?

I've learned over the years that humour does not translate well in an online medium. Sometimes people get it; sometimes they don't. Use it at your own risk!

(For what it's worth, Alex, I knew it was a joke.)

Steven,

Thanks for the explanation.

I was beginning to think it might be a cultural difference between Canucks and Aussies.

Aussies tend to see the humorous  side of most things - even serious issues. The downside is we're apathetic and tend to tolerate more than we should (IMO).

The upside is we smile and laugh a lot........

That's a definite upside PilgrimsProgress and even though my (in person) visit with you last year was rather brief, I know this to be true of you.

Back atcha, myst.

Did I mention how warm and wonderful Canucks are - especially the ones who eat bagels?................. 

lol Pilgrims

Hi Pilgrims Progress,

Yeah, well . . .having the platypus puts Aussies at an unfair advantage.

Egg-laying, duck-billed mammal.  What isn't hilarious about that?

Grace and peace to you.

John

Hey, I think these Atlantic Puffins from Newfoundland, Canada, are just as funny as the platypus.........

(Mmmm, reminds me of a certain Wondercafe picnic - is that Jae looking away? )

LOL Alex - I totally missed the joke! Let me go wash the egg off my face now!

Hi Pilgrims Progress,

They are funny looking birds with stubby little wings.  They are also identifiably birds.  Anybody who has seen a bird would know that a Puffin is a bird.

People who have never seen or heard of a Platypus would think it is a hoax.

Grace and peace to you.

John

You know. I had a parishioner once who ... Oh. I told her I'd never mention her problem. Forget I said anything. Go about your business. Duck-billed platypus. HA!

*******Tangent Alert********** (i.e.nothing to do with any Olympic Games)

For those that are curious - here is a platypus -

I actually think our emu is funnier (there is a certain hirsute quality about it that brings to mind a Wondercafe rev......)

Ha Ha - I had to post here - John got some extra support in preventing me from showing it the first time...........

I can't believe this!!!!!

I give up..........

For Pilgrim.....

I KNEW IT :3

Hi Pilgrims Progress,

There is an Emu ranch in Newfoundland and Labrador.  They had an escape several years ago (While I was still on the Island) it was in the news for weeks.

The emu above might have my hair (though I am nowhere near that shade) it definitely has RichardBott's smile.

Grace and peace to you.

John

That's it!!!

Scientific name - Dromaius novaehollandiae

Common name - RevJohn

(Likes to be confined in enclosures, which he calls quotes)...........

Hahaha Pilgrim.....and man he got big when enclosed in quotes.....what does that mean?

It was a joke?????  I wrote a 5,000 word masterpiece of backlash commentary about the top down machinations of the effete latte sipping liberal establishment dictating to Joe and Josephine six pack how they can choose up sports teams ... for God's sake.

Now you'll never get to read it ...

Wait - are you saying that this emu is the love child of you and Richard Bott??? 

I'm not sure I want to know how that happened!

qwerty,

One hopes you're not casting aspersions on my fellow countrymen.

Joe and Josephine six pack???? (at the very least they deserve a Surname with Capitals).

Geez, I sure wasted that thimbleful of good Aussie red wine on you............

Northwind,

I put it down to RevJohn taking up wrestling.............

Hi Northwind,

Important stuff always appears in quotes.

Grace and peace to you.

John

Ok, I am confused once more...

Is the wrestling what made the image bigger or what brought about the love child?

Hi SG,

Why does it have to be either/or?

Grace and peace to you.

John

Wrestling with his own importance......

Where is this love child? Did I miss something?

Hi Pilgrims Progress,

If he was I'm sure he would have called them Bruce and Sheila Sixpack.

Grace and peace to you.

John

Jokes are fun.

Quite right, RevJohn.

I believe RevJohn is hinting that he was wrestling at the time - and happened to have his "opponent" in a hold called "Shooting Star Press"..........

Hi Pilgrims Progress,

Ugh that isn't wrestling.

Strictly free-style.

Grace and peace to you.

John