I have written a second post for The Conversation about the Sochi Paralympics.
My lead into the post is:
As with the Winter Olympics held earlier this year, some athletes benefit from a very comprehensive, bespoke service to support their performance. This kind of service raises important issues about whether technology and engineering innovations are “essential for performance” or constitute “performance enhancement”.
I am interested in following up on the ethical dimensions of this essential/enhancement distinction in the context of the IPC’s mandate:
In principle unnatural or artificial aids which modify the performance of the competitors and/or constitute a technical correction of the individual’s physical predisposition to a defective performance, as well as competition equipment which impact the health of the competitors or increase the risk of accidents are to be excluded.
Photo Credit
A competitive edge: design and technology at the Paralympics (Frame Grab)
