Following the two week Olympic Games, the host city
must also hold the Paralympics Games and these were held from March 7 until
March 17, 2014.
Since the 1980s, Russians have discriminated
disabled people. In fact, a Soviet communist party leader in the 1980s said
that “In our country, there are no disabled people” (1). That decade was definitely
not a good time for athletes with disabilities in Russia because they also were
not allowed to participate in the 1980 Summer Olympics. After World War Two,
the returning 3 million injured soldiers did not receive a warm welcome as
they were excluded from the celebration of the end of the War. They were no
longer accepted in their own country even though they sacrificed their mental
and/or physical health for their country. Also, disabled people weren't allowed
to appear on television until 1987 (1).
The marginalization of the disabled people was so
wide spread and cruel in Russia that public services like planes, buses and
restaurants were solely for non-handicapped people. Also, measures to
accommodate disabled people were never taken. For example, there weren't any
ramps, signs for the visually impaired and lifts in Russia. Very few
handicapped people have jobs and those who do aren't well paid. Furthermore,
women are strongly encouraged to have an abortion if their embryo’s genetic makeup
has been found to be defective. Incapacitated people are often thrown in institutions
that aren't generally well kept. More often than not, these institutions have not
been maintained and have deteriorated.
In some cases fires have occurred in these facilities and at least one
hundred people have been killed in the past six years. Thirteen million
Russians are disabled. So, it is insane to think that at least 9% of a
population is not supported and accepted by their own government and country (1).
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| Accessing a Russian facility |
This year, the same country that has marginalized
handicapped people for decades, has welcomed 600 disabled athletes from all
around the world. Not only would this be a difficult task for any developed
country that has accepted the rights of handicapped people, but, it would be
especially difficult for a country with minimal handicap accessible
infrastructure to prepare for this major event. Only in 2011, did Russia take
measures to develop their health care and education, in light of the Games (invested
several million dollars). At the time of the Paralympics, some facilities and
infrastructures still were not handicapped accessible, despite the recent improvements
in Russia. Therefore, the Russian and international impaired athletes weren't
always able to enter facilities without considerable difficulties (1). For instance,
·
ramps weren't easily found
·
the majority of the doorways were raised above ground
level
·
the stairways were dangerously inclined and
slippery
·
issues occurred with the hotel wheelchair lifts
Despite the issues that occurred during the
Paralympics, it seems like Russia has come a long way in accepting everybody’s
rights equally, at least when Russia was in the media spotlight. However, will
these Paralympics be able to fully change the negative opinion of Russia
towards supporting disabled people? Will handicapped accessible facilities be made
available in all towns, cities and transportation hubs? Or were the health
measures recently adopted just used for show so that the world has a better
opinion of Russia? Overall, this discrimination is another major reason why I
think the Olympics and Paralympics should not have been held in Russia. Historically,
this country has been very regressive which is opposite to what these Games should
represent: true equality and respect for all individuals. 
I don't understand how people could have such cold hearts. It's sad to see that people are still getting discriminated, especially in international events like the Olympics. Russia should've at least made some changes so it would be easier for the handicapped to enter the facilities. Keep it one hundred Amanda!
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