International torch relay for Paralympic Games snuffed out

Opinion
Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor

Security concerns are quoted as the reason for depriving disabled athletes who train harder than able athletes in order to attain a goal even us able bodied armchair athletes can only dream about.  

Of course this cancellation blamed by security issues would not be because some feel Paralympics just do not have a prestige, sponsorship, grooviness, young , hip, fitness levels or world media attention and following of  the Olympiad currently in Bejing.  No, that wouldn't be right, most likely why though, as security seems to be no problem for other festivities around the world more security risky such as fireworks, parades, cultural events, and even soccer hooligism etc.

Nope Security issues such as to prevent mass hysteria from street crowds as athletes going from city to city may spark traffic problems and perhaps embarrassment to citizens and countries whose lack of care for the disabled who beg on the streets would not be a pretty televised sight along their own streets as their Heroes wheel or walk by, as these countries do no like their social scabs picked apart in world opinion and would rather have the disabled behind closed doors, out of sight, out of mind.

Why not just short 3 mile jaunts through major city streets must have been considered was certainly lost on the decision makers I am sure of.  Especially in countries where the disabled resort to begging in the streets, and these countries would be aghast to let the world see their poor and destitute disabled plodding along craning their necks for a glimpse of their their peers as heroes. Perhaps giving hope to the hopeless in aspiring to be a Olympic champion with the same disabilities.

Yep, if any a excuse was needed lack of security, not world embarrassment, sounds like the ticket.