One argument against

merging the two events, put forward by former British wheelchair racer Baroness

Tanni Grey-Thompson, is that much of the Paralympics would "disappear off

the face of the earth" because only very few disability events would be

incorporated.

British Paralympian

Hannah Cockroft has also said that she is against combining the two events.

"I don't want the Olympics and Paralympics to merge because I am proud of

what we have made of that name," she told the BBC. The athlete said she

worries that losing the separate Paralympics brand would leave disabled

athletes overshadowed by other Olympic stars.

Paralympians do not

necessarily need to be boosted by merging the Paralympics with the Olympics.

Disability sport could simply be given more funding, more exposure, and

respect, with increased media coverage.

Despite the success of

the London Paralympics, mainstream media interest in disability sport has waned

since 2012. The Diamond League — a 14-leg series of athletics events — gets

regular coverage on networks like the BBC, but disability sport outside of the

Paralympics is hardly covered. During the IPC Athletics European Championships,

there were "people becoming European champions and their family back home

could not even watch them on television," Raghoo said.

The most recent data

on the issue from a 2011 survey by disability charity Scope shows that 65% of

disabled people are in favour of scrapping the Paralympics and instead allowing

disabled athletes to compete in the Olympics. 42% of disabled people said they

disagreed that the Paralympics positively impact the public's perception of

disabled people, while one in five said that the Paralympics makes disabled

people appear to be "second class."

"Whatever

happens," Rhagoo said, "the athletes have to be at the very centre of

whatever decision is made."

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What is Tanni Grey-Thompson's concern if the Games merge?

What is Hannah Cockroft's concern?

What could boost Paralympians?

Since London...

Which is FALSE?

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