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Listening to some stuff about the run-up to the Olympics on the radio the other day, the programme started chatting about a bit of Olympic history I'd previously been unaware of. It was one of those moments when you put down what you're doing and listen with an air of incredulity because what you're hearing sounds so unlikely.
Apparently, back in 2000, ten members of the Spanish Paralympian Basketball squad were expelled from the games due to the fact that they weren't actually disabled - they were just pretending. It wasn't something like they'd strapped one leg up like an actor pretending to be Long John Silver in an attempt to look like paraplegics (although the idea of someone cheating in the Pirate Olypmics by doing just that is one I like and might do something with). Instead all ten of them were pretending to have learning disabilities.
If you gave Hollywood this idea they'd make it into a film with people like Jim Carrey and Will Ferrell and they'd ruin it. The movie would involve them pretending to be intellectually sub-normal in a wacky fashion in order to cheat before eventually doing things like learning and going through character arcs and ultimately coming to respect the dedication of their oppponents. Possibly the film would have a few heart-warming performances from actual disabled people to show that, hey, we might be A-list Hollywood types but we care and this isn't exploitation and those jokes are just in fun, okay disabled folks?
And it wouldn't be funny or entertaining in any way.
In reality this story has the potential to be hilarious in a really bleak and depressing way. Ten of the twelve members of the squad had to pretend to be mentally disabled in order to cheat their way to Olympic gold. You have to wonder not only why they bothered ("Hey, Diego, you're not good enough to play basketball in the real Olympics, but if you drool a bit you could maybe beat some special needs kids. That'd be both honourable and totally great for your self-esteem.") but also how on earth did they think they could get away with it? Did they honestly think that nobody would notice - such as the athlete's family? When the players got home with their medals, what did they expect their wives and kids to say? "Papa! You have won the gold medal! In the special Olympics! When did you become disabled, papa? Papa? Why won't you come out of the bathroom, papa? And why are you crying?"
You know, just when I think the world can't surprise me any more, it goes and does just that.
Apparently, back in 2000, ten members of the Spanish Paralympian Basketball squad were expelled from the games due to the fact that they weren't actually disabled - they were just pretending. It wasn't something like they'd strapped one leg up like an actor pretending to be Long John Silver in an attempt to look like paraplegics (although the idea of someone cheating in the Pirate Olypmics by doing just that is one I like and might do something with). Instead all ten of them were pretending to have learning disabilities.
If you gave Hollywood this idea they'd make it into a film with people like Jim Carrey and Will Ferrell and they'd ruin it. The movie would involve them pretending to be intellectually sub-normal in a wacky fashion in order to cheat before eventually doing things like learning and going through character arcs and ultimately coming to respect the dedication of their oppponents. Possibly the film would have a few heart-warming performances from actual disabled people to show that, hey, we might be A-list Hollywood types but we care and this isn't exploitation and those jokes are just in fun, okay disabled folks?
And it wouldn't be funny or entertaining in any way.
In reality this story has the potential to be hilarious in a really bleak and depressing way. Ten of the twelve members of the squad had to pretend to be mentally disabled in order to cheat their way to Olympic gold. You have to wonder not only why they bothered ("Hey, Diego, you're not good enough to play basketball in the real Olympics, but if you drool a bit you could maybe beat some special needs kids. That'd be both honourable and totally great for your self-esteem.") but also how on earth did they think they could get away with it? Did they honestly think that nobody would notice - such as the athlete's family? When the players got home with their medals, what did they expect their wives and kids to say? "Papa! You have won the gold medal! In the special Olympics! When did you become disabled, papa? Papa? Why won't you come out of the bathroom, papa? And why are you crying?"
You know, just when I think the world can't surprise me any more, it goes and does just that.
