Anonymous wrote:The Paralympics is comparable to the Olympics. The special Olympics is a great organization, but is not at all similar to the Olympics, in function or intent.

What part of their mission statement supports your statement?

https://olympics.com/ioc/mission

Or their value statement

https://olympics.com/ioc/olympic-values

Results are not quantifiable. Yes, I know medals are given.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s nice that this organization exists and allows people to compete, but it’s not a moral failing if the average Joe doesn’t want to watch.

That has nothing to do with the network’s equitable obligation to provide equal coverage.

Where did this obligation come from?

The network has an obligation to shareholders. They have no obligation to air something that people won't watch.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s nice that this organization exists and allows people to compete, but it’s not a moral failing if the average Joe doesn’t want to watch.

That has nothing to do with the network’s equitable obligation to provide equal coverage.

Who decided they had this obligation?

Anonymous wrote:It’s nice that this organization exists and allows people to compete, but it’s not a moral failing if the average Joe doesn’t want to watch.

That has nothing to do with the network’s equitable obligation to provide equal coverage.

It’s nice that this organization exists and allows people to compete, but it’s not a moral failing if the average Joe doesn’t want to watch.

Geez...barely anyone watches normal TV at all. Why would there be any concept of equity in anything the broadcast networks choose to air.

I mean, even in the Olympics...it's not like they are giving much air time to fencing or other sports that barely anyone cares about.

Maybe in the new world of ESPN+ where you can pay extra to watch all kinds of random games in all kinds of sports...the Special Olympics can find a viewership that pays specifically for that coverage.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Paralympics is comparable to the Olympics. The special Olympics is a great organization, but is not at all similar to the Olympics, in function or intent.

Yeah, it pisses me off that the paralympics aren't televised (at least on the spin-off channels) NBC last time had the rights to both the olympics and paralympics - which meant no one else could televise the paralympics - but as far as I know they failed to do anything, even on peacock or something like that.

They televised Beijing winter events because I watched it.

OP do you mean Paralympics or Special Olympics? Those are very different events/missions.

Paralympics does get TV coverage. We watched some of the winter events in Beijing and they were super interesting.

I know Special Olympics does have a biennial event, but isn't more of the purpose of the organization the year round sports activities?

Anonymous wrote:The Paralympics is comparable to the Olympics. The special Olympics is a great organization, but is not at all similar to the Olympics, in function or intent.

Yeah, it pisses me off that the paralympics aren't televised (at least on the spin-off channels) NBC last time had the rights to both the olympics and paralympics - which meant no one else could televise the paralympics - but as far as I know they failed to do anything, even on peacock or something like that.

I don’t see it as equivalency. The disabilities and degeees of impairment are so wide-ranging. I regret to say it reminds me of childhood athletics where ‘everybody wins’.

The Paralympics is comparable to the Olympics. The special Olympics is a great organization, but is not at all similar to the Olympics, in function or intent.

It's not about fairness. It's that not enough people are interested. It's sad, but don't blame the media, blame the (lack of) audience. if the people were there, the advertisers would be there and the media would be there.

I volunteered with them for years. I agree that I wish it got more mainstream attention. Sponsors go where the money is, its the same issue with womens' pro sports. I just wishes sponsors and the like realized how beneficial it is for ALL kids to be able to turn on the TV and say "hey! That person is just like me and look at all they are doing"

This has been bothering me for a long time.

Every four years, the world’s attention is drawn to the Olympic Games.

And we all get bombarded with constant adds, reminders, images, coverage etc. for months in advance of the Games.

Then we are again repeatedly assaulted for months afterwards, with athletes in adds who won gold and landed promotional gigs.

How is it in any way fair we fail to provide the same Media coverage to the Special Olympics?

It’s discrimination, really. An ugly form of modern bigotry, which no one wishes to speak about.

It certainly is not equitable.