I expected to use the staircase to get to my seat, but found that I was already at the stand. Row 5 on my ticket was only a few metres from the racetrack. I was completely overcome by the view of that huge arena – goose pimple effect! I was at the Olympic Stadium in East-London. It was my initial experience of the Paralympics 2012. A moment which was one of those “once in a life-time experiences”.
Britain
made it great; it wanted to show the world that anything is possible! This may
sound like an exaggeration. The application of scientific knowledge is very helpful
for the disabled but it is not everything. Paralympians show us above all that they
haven´t given up on life despite their disabilities. Their passion for life has
enabled them to overcome not only physical limitations but also psychological barriers.
“Only Paralympians really know how
personal a sacrifice that is,” British Paralympian Tom Aggar said. He didn´t
win any medal this summer – it´s not about medals, it´s about passion for life!
The adverts
in London presented Great Britain Paralympians as superhuman. Looking at the athletes
at the Olympic Stadium would appear to confirm that claim. “But not many with disabilities can mutate
into this,” wrote David Aaronovitch in The
Times (August 30). He claimed that 64% of the disabled had some experience
of hostility or aggression. The London Paralympics, with the biggest TV
audience ever, could help to shape the views of the majority in society. A life,
however disabled, is worth living and should be protected and supported. Each
human person has a super and original value.
To meet handicapped
people is a transforming experience. “There
is always that fear of offending a disabled person,” Tom Aggar said. We use
to be apprehensive about it! However, when you overcome the first impression –
the sentiment of pity – then you stop seeing the wheelchair and just see the
person. This is also the point of our faith. The body and the spirit are united
in a human being. Although the person – image
of God – is often obscured, it is never completely lost. We need to learn
to promote every life, to touch and develop the substantial human and divine value
of each person, with medical care, education, sacraments in the Church and
support in families. Sometimes it is also useful to learn to let go of the
little things. Human life – God´s creation – is even stronger than any disability
