La Trobe University has academic experts available to talk to the media on a range of topics related to the 2024 Paralympic Games.
Dr Geoff Dickson
Director, Centre for Sport and Social Impact, Australia
Contact: g.dickson@latrobe.edu.au or 0475 776 029
Expertise: Dr Dickson is a sport management academic, specialising in sport governance, sport marketing and sport integrity.
Dr Dickson can discuss the following topics:
- Sport scandals and controversies
- Politics and geopolitics of the Paralympics
- Future of the Olympics and Paralympics
- International Paralympic Committee – image, reputation and integrity Brisbane 2032
- Integrity issues – cheating, category manipulation, fairness.
- Inclusionary practices
“A feature of these disqualifications is their seemingly pedantic nature. A mobile phone on a rowing boat, without any evidence that was used by the rower. The wrong size of pillow to supports an athlete’s head in their chair. An athlete losing contact with their guide only centimetres from the finish line.”
“These strict interpretations reinforce the claim that the Paralympics are an elite competition, and not a participation event”.
“These decisions highlight the technical nature of Paralympic sport rules, and the role of coaches and team officials in educating athletes as to what is allowed and not allowed.”
“Regardless of whether the athlete acquired an advantage from their infraction, it is necessary for sports to have black and white criteria. And the responsibility for adhering to these rules must always with the athlete”.
Dr Greg Dingle
Head of Sport Management, Centre for Sport and Social Impact (La Trobe Business School)
Contact: g.dingle@latrobe.edu.au or 0416 200 833
Expertise: Dr Dingle’s research focuses on climate impacts on sport and adaptation to climate change.
Dr Dingle can discuss the following topics:
- How climate change affects sport and sporting events such as the Olympics and Paralympics
- How sporting organisations can adapt to climate change
The quotes from Dr Dickson below may be used in the media:
“Climate change is likely to affect sport events such as the Paralympics in different ways. For outdoor Paralympic events, athletes are likely to be exposed to higher temperatures, which raises the risk of heat illness.
“Indoor events are less risky environments. For outdoor Paralympic facilities, climate change poses higher risks of climate hazards such as extreme rainfall, which has been associated with flooding such as the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
“For Paralympic event organisers, higher financial costs are likely. These costs could include operating expenses such as extra officials for mitigating heat risks to athletes. Rescheduling of events to cooler months of the year is another possibility.”
Contact details:
Elaine Cooney
e.cooney@latrobe.vic.gov.au
0487 448 734
