Experiencing diversity and togetherness - all in one stadium
Martin Doulton
by Martin Doulton
Having worked in sport related employment for over three decades I am sometimes gobsmacked by a blinding flash of the bleeding obvious. In most cases, when this happens I recognise something that perhaps I have been blind to in the past.
In the lead up to the London Paralympics I thought I would share my latest learning and sadly something I haven’t really noticed before.
Monash Sport recently hosted a student driven wheelchair basketball competition for the second year running. Monash University Medical Undergraduates' Society (MUMUS) organised an afternoon that brings together students from several faculties to celebrate an experience that is new to many – having to learn and play wheelchair basketball.
The event was all about fun, games and most importantly building an understanding through a new appreciation of the challenges that individuals confined to a wheelchair experience.
Having played wheelchair basketball myself on several occasions (and with a bent knuckle to disprove the myth that wheelchair basketball is a non-contact sport) the thing that struck me about this event was not the unbridled enthusiasm of the participants, not the rapid learning curve that is necessary to play wheelchair basketball, and not the amazing support that Disability Sport Victoria coach (and Paralympian) Andrew Browning gives to participants who enter his world of wheelchair sport.
It was seeing both basketball and wheelchair basketball being played simultaneously on adjacent courts with nothing between them.
Observing students easily shoot a basket standing up and then struggle to get anywhere near the basket when seated in a wheelchair was quite a contrast. It exemplified for me that many may not appreciate how difficult wheelchair sport can be to master.
It also showed me that there is no need to segregate sitting and standing versions of the same sport. By opening up the courts those who are able can interchange the two versions sport with those that can’t – be it basketball, tennis, or any other sport.
Perhaps it’s not as simple as this solution although for a fleeting moment on the Monash Sport basketball courts - it was.
With the Paralympic games imminent I can only hope that the broader community can appreciate what it takes for all athletes with a disability to compete at this event.
Sadly, until more of us have had the experience of (trying to) play sport in a wheelchair the acceptance that this is an event of equal standing with that of any other international games will be lacking.
Martin Doulton is the Director of Monash Sport at Monash University.