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     As an athlete, there are many physical and mental benefits to participating in sports. I am a track and field runner who has also played soccer, surf, and swim. In this range of athletics, the track has definitely been the most mentally + physically challenging but also the most rewarding as well. As an athlete, a physical benefit is cardiovascular health; regular movements strengthen the mind and the body, also increasing endurance, as well as regulating blood pressure and lowering risks of illness when older. Another advantage is fatigue management; consistent physical activity increases energy levels that improve circulation through the body, which makes your body more used to fatigue, helping you maintain energy and improve sleep. On the other hand, the mental benefits are just as great. It was stated in Academia article called "The Paralympic movement: Using sports to promote health, disability rights, and social integration for athletes" that "Available eviden...

     The medical and biopsychosocial models are foundational frameworks for understanding disability. These models significantly influence how society responds to individuals with both visible and invisible impairments. The medical model primarily emphasizes diagnosis, treatment, and care plans aimed at "fixing" the individual's condition. This approach often frames disabilities as abnormalities requiring intervention or management. While the medical model has contributed to significant medical advancements, it can also reduce individuals to their diagnoses, focusing on limitations rather than capabilities and potentially diminishing their sense of self-worth. In contrast, the biopsychosocial model offers a more inclusive perspective by considering social, environmental, and biological factors in understanding and addressing disability. This model shifts the focus from inherent deficits to external barriers that limit participation. Recognizing these models illustrates th...

     Allowing every athlete with any type of disability to participate in every sport may seem like the easiest approach to make everyone feel included and seen. It correctly aligns with the societal goal of ensuring equal opportunity for any and all athletes. With the wide variety of opportunities, it would decrease the barriers faced by many athletes who possess a disability. Excluding athletes based on the severity of their disability may be discriminatory and seen as restrictive for no particular reason.  On the other had competitive sports are built on the idea of fairness. These athletes are grouped by age, gender, and skill level; this is the same in regular sports and para sports. Para athletes are grouped based on their ability to perform in a specific sport. Grouping these athletes not just because of their medical diagnoses but also how they perform with it ensures that competition remains fair with no advantage of one athlete over another.    C...

       The decision made by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to ban the Russian and Belarusian National Paralympic Committees (NPC) has sparked a great debate about fairness and inclusion and how the sport plays a role in politics. The IPC promotes courage, determination, and equality. Whether the ban is in line with the IPC values, it can be taken both ways, but which way is the right way? It can be interpreted in different ways depending on your own personal values.        In my opinion, the IPC is not making the right decision. I think it conflicts with their own values that they hold, and banning them does not make them look like a well-rounded committee. Paralympic athletes already go through many mental and physical behaviors. When the IPC excludes them from the Paralympics, it can be seen as more of a punishment. These athletes have no real effect on the government, so the decisions that the IPC makes should not include ban...