Adaptive Technology in Sports

      Hello and welcome readers to my blog, this week we have another exciting and thought-provoking topic. I will be discussing whether or not adaptive technology should be allowed in sports as well as if this technology affects athletes from disadvantaged nations who cannot afford it. Furthermore, to around out this week's blog, I will address if this adaptive technology should be allowed in able-bodied sporting events. 

     First, I want to say that I do believe adaptive technology should be allowed in sports, I would like to think it promotes inclusion and opportunity. For example, the prosthetic running blade is a replacement for a biological leg and enables basic motor function, which to me does not seem like any kind of bonus feature promoting a competitive advantage (Figure 1). Although, on the other hand denying this sort of adaptive technology would exclude athletes with limb differences from competing at all. With this framework in mind, I think adaptive technology is a necessity for inclusion and equal opportunities for all types of athletes. 

(Figure 1: Image of a Running Blade Prosthetic)

     However, this sort of adaptive technology is not cheap at all, which leads the access to this equipment being tied to wealth. Making it quite of a struggle for disadvantaged nations to afford this kind of state-of-the-art equipment such as running blade prosthetics or specialized wheelchairs. This has made the performance of a nation depend more on their funding for adaptive technology rather than skill and training. This global inequality gap is stretched further due to athletes from wealthier countries always being able to benefit from things like sponsorships, while the athletes from disadvantaged countries do not have this luxury. Therefore, most of the time these disadvantaged athletes are competing with outdated adaptive technology. 

(Figure 2: Image of an Imbalance of Wealth)

     Lastly, there is the discussion whether or not athletes who need to use adaptive technology should be allowed to compete in able-bodied sporting events. As I previously stated in paragraph two, I do not believe adaptive technology gives any sort of bonus features to an athlete. I believe that it is used to level the playing field rather than to give the user an advantage. Overall, I am for athletes who need to use adaptive technology being allowed to compete in able-bodied sporting events. 

     In conclusion, I believe that adaptive technology should absolutely be allowed in sports. Although, I think there should be some sort of global regulations and efforts to help disadvantaged countries be at the same level as wealthier countries. As well as if an athlete who needs to use adaptive technology wants to compete in an able-bodied sporting event, they should be allowed to. That is about it that I have for you in this week's blog topic, thank you again to all my new and returning readers for tuning in!

References

https://theborntorunfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/b2rjoshbeecher.jpg

https://img.freepik.com/premium-vector/businessman-with-unbalanced-scales-light-bulb-vs-money-weight-people-ideas-time-greater_426488-1720.jpg?w=1380