Games/Classification explainer

1 min

Sydney drone breather shot

EXT Ð ATHLETICS TRACK - DAY

VO: At the core of the DowniesÕ concerns was whatÕs known as the classification system...which they claim can be manipulated to gain advantage

Darren PTC, walking along athletic track

Stylised GFX for impairment types

ItÕs used to group together athletes according to their level of impairment Ð kind of how weight or age classes work in some non-disabled sports.

ItÕs the cornerstone of the Paralympics movement.

Eligible impairment types are broken down into 10 categories Ð 8 for physical disability, one for visual impairment and one for intellectual disability.

EXT Ð SWIMMING POOL Ð DAY

Darren PTC, walking along pool

Stylised GFX for impairment types and swimming classifications

In swimming for instance, the classification range for freestyle is set from S1, for most physically impaired, to S10 

The system is different for each sport, but the aim is always the same Ð to make competition as fair as possible.

MEET THE CLASSIFIER

3 mins

EXT Ð VELODROME - DAY

GVs Melbourne velodrome exteriors

VO: Classification seems like a complicated beast.

SO I WANT TO HEAR FROM A CLASSIFIER

INT Ð VELODROME Ð DAY

para_Mel_Cam A_012

Lachie hand-cycling around the velodrome

19:34:47

PARA_MELB_ACTUALITY_PRE-IV

Rachel and Lachine intros

ACTUALITY

LACHIE: 17:15:05
ÒHi, how's it going? I'm Lachie.Ó

RACHEL: 17:15:09

ÒIÕm Rachel, nice to meet you too. Um, I'm going to be classifying you todayÉÓ

(FADE UNDER)

THOUGHT TRACK

RACHEL MAIN ZOOM IV 00:08:33
ÒClassifiers do the role on a volunteer basis.Ó

RACHEL MAIN ZOOM IV 00:04:21
ÒMost sports have, um, classifiers that are, um, what we call medical classifiers, So that's what I'm under and they're generally physios or doctors.Ó

Rachel and Lachie sitting face to face chatting during assessment

ACTUALITY UPSOT

PARA_MELB_ACTUALITY_PRE-IV

Rachel: Tell me a bit about how much you hand cycle and how long youÕve been cycling for.Ó

(FADE UNDER)

RACHEL MAIN ZOOM IV 00:02:55
ÒThe first component is, um, an assessment in a often in a room. Um, thatÕs private and it's with a panel of classifiers there's some talking discussion of the person's, uh, experience of the sport and their injury.Ó

Rachel does physical assessment on Lachie

ACTUALITY UPSOT

PARA_MELB_ACTUALITY_PRE-IV

Rachel: ÒKeep your arms like that, and a bit of resistance against me..Ó

(FADE UNDER)

RACHEL MAIN ZOOM IV 00:03:30
ÒThen there's also a really important other part, which is seeing the athlete performing the sport.Ó

PARA_MELB_CAM A_01

Through to

PARA_MELB_CAM A_08

16:52 - 17:01

We see Lachie getting his cycle ready

RACHEL MAIN ZOOM IV 00:14:22

ÒIf an athlete was placed in the wrong class, um, which is a very rare occurrenceor it might mean that they might dominate a field and be able to perform better than the rest of the athletes in that field.Ó

PARA_MELB_ACTUALITY_POST-IV

Rachel giving Lachie instructions

GVs Lachie takes off and starts hand cycling around velodrome

ACTUALITY RACHEL: 19:21:02
ÒI want you to, um, show me a hundred percent that you're competing, like you're competing. So, um, so you're giving me your best effort.Ó

ACTUALITY RACHEL: 19:23:06

ÒI'll also ask him to do some things like slow down and manoeuvre.Ó

THOUGHT TRACK

RACHEL MAIN ZOOM IV 00:19:54

ÒIntentional misrepresentation, it's when someone purposefully, does not,behave in the way that, um, is their usual function. And that means that they'll often be aiming to get in a class where they can be more competitive and do better.Ó

Rachel watches Lachie do laps

Shot of Lachie doing lap para_melb_cama_038 19:33:41)

ACTUALITY RACHEL UPSOT

ÒNow, Lachie, can you go any faster?Ó

THOUGHT TRACK

RACHEL MAIN ZOOM IV 00:26:16

Òo when we're looking at classification system, I think that it can be manipulated, but I don't think it's too easy to manipulate.Ó

RACHEL MAIN ZOOM IV 00:49:51

ÒBut I think for the majority of athletes and for the majority of sports, it is a system that is working well.Ó

GVs lachie doing laps, Rachel observing

Lachie completes lap and comes to a stop

VO: RACHEL ADMITS THAT CHEATING IS POSSIBLE BUT BELIEVES THE VAST MAJORITY OF ATHELETES ARE PLACED IN THE CORRECT CATEGORIES

BUT LACHIE THINKS CLASSIFICATION IS LESS FOOL-PROOF

para_melb_cama_046

LACHIE 19:39:57

ÒI do think it would be easy to cheat the system ...you can fake your functionality you can fake how you do things in front of the classifiers, itÕs so easy to do, IÕve heard of athletes doing it before.Ó

GVs Rachel helping Lachine on massage table

VO: Classifiers have a difficult job. Assessing impairment levels isnÕt as simple as weight or age categorization. But athletes have been able to cheat the system.

SpainÕs Sydney 2000 scandal

3 mins

We see fireworks off the Sydney harbour bridge during 2000 Olympics

Still photo of SpainÕs ID basketball team

Credit: AP

HIGH TEMPO MUSIC TRACK

VO: At the Sydney 2000 Paralympic games

THE ACTIONS OF ONE TEAM shook the classification system to its core

VO:  SpainÕs intellectually disabled basketball team crushed ALL opposition and claimed the gold medal

EXT Ð BASKETBALL COURT - DAY

Retired basketballers Brad and Brett are playing each on a suburban court

ACTUALITY UPSOT

Bradley and Brett playing basketball

VO: But to - Bradley Lee -  something didnÕt quite seem right. And it wasnÕt.

ACTUALITY UPSOT 17:02:55

ÒIÕm Too strong BrettÓ

Stills of Bradley playing 2000 Paralympics

Credit: Paralympics Australia

THOUGHT TRACK

BRADLEY: 14:33:11

ÒI'm a former member of the Australian boomerangs, um, plays with an intellectual disability basketball team that represented Australia in Sydney in 2000.Ó

BUTT TO 14:45:55

ÒWithout a doubt, the proudest sporting achievement of my life.Ó

BRADLEY MAIN ZOOM IV

DARREN: (14:51:25)

ÒI wanted to ask you about your observations of that Spanish ID, basketball  teamÓ

BRADLEY: (14:52:41)
Absolutely discipline though. Completely professional in everything that they did. Yeah. They never got upset. They never showed any emotion.

Archive footage of Spain playing in Sydney 2000

LIB 151200 SPAIN PARALYMPIC RETURN PKG

VO: THIS CLIP FROM THE GOLD MEDAL MATCH BETWEEN SPAIN AND RUSSIA  SHOWS A HIGHLY METHODICAL PERFORMANCE FROM THE SPANIARDS

BRADLEY MAIN ZOOM IV

BRADLEY: (14:51:35)

ÒWe played them in, in Brazil two years before that and, uh, yeah, they were an absolutely totally different team.Ó

Stills of Spanish gold medal winning team

Credit: AP

VO: ThatÕs because SPAIN BROUGHT IN NEW RECRUITS FOR THE 2000 PARALYMPIC TEAM AND  10 OUT OF THE 12 PLAYERS HAD NO INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AT ALL

BRADLEY MAIN ZOOM IV

BRADLEY: 14:53:53

ÒWhen I found  I was disappointed and, and upset. Uh, that's putting it politely.Ó

DARREN:

ÒPut it impolitely for me.Ó

BRADLEY:

ÒI was livid, I wanted their heads on a plate.Ó

Archive footage of Spanish team and journalist Carlos Ribagorda

LIB 151200 SPAIN PARALYMPIC RETURN PKG

VO: One of the Spanish players was an undercover journalist. He blew the scandal wide open, claiming the only classification tests he did when joining the team were six push ups and a blood pressure test.

Stills of Australian ID basketball team

Credit: Paralympic Australia

LIB 201000 ID MENS BASKETBALL AUS RUS_SBS_ID_15475921

THOUGHT TRACK

BRADLEY: 14:54:22

ÒYou look at Australia, we have a, yeah. We have a, we have a pretty, yeah. We're, and we're proud of who we are and, you know, we're determined to do win fairly. Yeah. But, um, but yeah, like these guys were just, um, yeah, like half the time shouldn't even been there.Ó

EXT Ð BASKETBALL COURT Ð DAY

GVs of Brett and Brad playing basketball

VO: The fraud resulted in the ban of intellectually disabled sport in the Paralympics until London 12 years later

Intellectually disabled basketball remains banned from the games

BRADLEY MAIN ZOOM IV

DARREN: (14:56:36)

ÒAnd what did it mean for your Paralympic dreams going forward?Ó

BRADLEY: (14:56:43)

ÒIt blew them out of the sky. Just yeah. Whatever, um, whatever aspirations you had, uh, participate in Paralympic level competition again, where virtually vanished.Ó

BUTT TO 14:56:27

ÒWeÕre being punished by, by this one team.Ó

BUTT TO 15:21:02

ÒJust like any, any drug cheat, you know, just treat him, um, let them serve the time, but don't crucify the rest of the game.Ó

DARREN: (15:00:37)

ÒIf you were in a room with those Spanish basketballs, what would you say to them?Ó

BRADLEY: (15:00:57)

ÒI'd probably call them a bunch of selfish arseholes.Ó

CURRENT ATHLETES

POND 5 x 3 shots

We see Para-athletes racing

THE PARALYMPIC GAMES BEGAN MORE THAN 70 YEARS AGO Ð AND HAVE GROWN TO BECOME ONE OF THE WORLDÕS LARGEST SPORTING EVENTS

ITÕS KEY VALUES ARE: COURAGE, DETERMINATION, INSPIRATION AND EQUALITY

Ricardo Ten UGC

Markus Rehm UGC

VO: With Tokyo just ONE week away, COMPETITORS ARE HUNKERING DOWN IN COVID SAFE TRAINING BUBBLES

I CAUGHT UP WITH A FEW OF THEM

TO SEE IF THEY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT CHEATING

ZOOM IV RICARDO TEN

PHOTOS FOR OVERLAY

These photos are Getty

RICARDO ZOOM 00:02:25

SPANISH SUBS

ÒRight now, I am in the high performance centre in Spain, in Sierra Nevada.Ó (OUT 02:37)

VO: RICARDO TEN HAS WON 7 MEDALS INCLUDING TWO GOLD IN SYDNEY Ð AND HEÕS ON HIS WAY TO TOKYO AS A CYCLIST

RICARDO ZOOM

SPANISH SUBS

ÒWhen you are classified, the fact you can have a high profile or a low profile within that class is the difference between big results and no results. And then, with the intention to try to deceive the classifiers, well honestly, there have been cases.Ó (OUT 33:20)

BUTT TO 00:36:58

ÒWinning means recognition and not that the Paralympic games has evolved so much, but it also can mean economic benefits. So I think thatÕs why people cheat.Ó (OUT 37:11)

Markus Rehm UGC long jumping

MARKUS REHM ZOOM IV

Getty images x2

VO: MARKUS REHM IS A GERMAN LONG JUMP CHAMPION.

MARKUS REHM ZOOM 00:12:26

ÒThere was often the question, how can we go into this category? But the correct question would be, is this the right category for me? Or do I just want to join there because then I could win a medal. Um, but, but this is a problem. I mean, people trying to cheat if, uh, if, if, if there's a result for them.Ó

0:39 Olympic rings LIB 060320 RTV OLYMPICS 2020 VENUES_SBS_ID_8417963

Pond 5 under GFX

Pond 5 medals here

VO: Being an Olympics or Paralympic athlete can be a financial struggle. But not if you win.

In the US, Paralympians now receives the same medal bonuses as Olympic medallists -- more than $50,000 for gold, $30,000 for silver and $20,000 for bronze.

Jess Long Superbowl ad

GETTY IMAGE OF JESS LONG USED HERE

POND 5 OF MEDALS HERE Ð any good?

VO: And Paralympic superstars attract lucrative sponsorship deals

Advert upsot ÒHer legs will have to be amputatedÓ

VO: Like 13 times gold medallist Jessica Long, who featured in this Toyota Superbowl ad

GVs Brisbane swim meet

Jess Long statement GFX

GETTY IMAGE Ð JESS LONG USED AS PLATE

NEED 1 MORE IMAGE Ð MAYBE I USE A STILL FROM QLD

GETTY IMAGE Ð AMY MARREN USED AS PLATE

VO: There are claims the financial rewards are creating more incentive for people to cheat the system in order to win goldÉ something Jessica Long has herself spoken out against.

In the lead up to Tokyo sheÕs called out a cheating epidemic thatÕs ruining the sport she loves.

A raft of athletes have also quit, citing classification as their reason.

Like, British former world champion Amy Marren, who said Òthere is a long way to go before it becomes a level playing field.Ó

Kat and Mel

4 mins

BRISBANE PARA SWIM MEET, DE-IDENTIFIED GVs, BLURRED SHOTS, WHEELCHAIR and CANE GVs

VO: BUT IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE THAT PEOPLE ARE GAMING THE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM Ð OR IS IT JUST RUMOUR?

KAT MASTER ZOOM IV

DARREN: (44:16)

ÒDuring your career, did you see any attempts to manipulate classification?Ó

KAT DOWNIE: (44:20)

ÒI confronted somebody who quite proudly said that they took cold showers before classification, uh, cold showers for cerebral palsy athletes means that, um, your conditions are intensified. They're worsened.I saw, um, management, making athletes with neurological impairments, do giant test sets.Ó

DARREN: (46:25)

ÒWhat would one of these tests do to your performance, with your disability and then going to classification?Ó

KAT DOWNIE: (46:39)

ÒTwo hours of physically intense training would make you weaker would make you less coordinated.  you would certainly appear far more disabled than you would if you hadn't have trained like that before.Ó

GVs blurred Zoom IV cutaways of Kat

VO: Kat says she saw people use impairment assistance during classification, like wheelchairs and canes, when they otherwise would not be needed

KAT DOWNIE: (51:14)

Òthat means that the classifiers have to tick a little box that says that you required assistance.Ó

INT Ð PERTH APARTMENT - DAY

GVs blured shots of Kat on couch holding phone

KAT THOUGHT TRACK

13:33:34

I got these text messages in 2014 from a teammate

KAT ACTUALITY

ÒThis is the first time that I had somebody openly  admit to it.Ó

SMS GFX SHOWING MESSAGES AS KAT READS THEM

HIM:KAT DOWNIE: (13:38:05)

he said, well, a lot of people say unfair classification is for the benefit of the team.

HIM: KAT DOWNIE: (13:38:15)

Then he said, it's gold medals

KAT DOWNIE: (13:38:33)

That's the reality, but not what it should be.

KAT DOWNIE: (13:34:36)

He said, uh, that one of the management staff BK told me to do a lot of things and I didn't want to him off by not doing what he asked.but yes, I have done it. I was too na•ve to think it was a bad thing.

KAT DOWNIE: (13:36:35)

And he said, it's unfortunately, that's the culture of the sport. Look at cycling. People say, you can't win the tour de France without drugs. It's the same thing.

GVs blurred shots of Kat holding phone

KAT MAIN ZOOM IV

VO: KAT SAYS THE PERSON WHO SENT THOSE TEXT MESSAGES IS STILL INVOLVED IN SWIMMING

KAT GRAB

ÒWhich is really alarming again, that they have just allowed him to continue...to be involved in the sportÓ

GVs Brisbane para swim

Athletes de-identified

VO: Dateline spoke to former and current athletes who TOLD US THEYÕVE seen and heard of athletes intentionally misrepresenting their disabilities

WE HEARD SEVERAL CLAIMS THAT ATHLETES TAKE COLD SHOWERS OR ROLL IN SNOW TO TIGHTEN MUSCLES,  OR THAT THEY OVER-TRAIN TO WEAKEN THEIR ABILITIES

SOME MENTIONED taping limbs to reduce mobility

...and  WE HEARD claims at least one athlete has faked an entire disability.

BUT MANY ARE RELUCTANT TO SPEAK ON THE RECORD

KAT MAIN ZOOM IV

KAT DOWNIE: 01:02:19

ÒBecause we still haven't reached that, that equality, um, people find it very difficult to discuss that people with disabilities can also be people who cheat.Ó

KAT MAIN ZOOM IV

GVs Brisbane para swim

Athletes de-identified

VO: BUT KAT SAYS THEREÕS ANOTHER REASON WHY PEOPLE STAY QUIET ABOUT IT

KAT DOWNIE: (01:11:40)

ÒEveryone feels like it, there will be repercussions if they, if they do speak out about it.Ó

GVs Brisbane para swim

Athletes de-identified

VO: SWIMMING AUSTRALIA asks athletes to sign classification agreements, which includes an obligation to NOT SPEAK ABOUT OTHER ATHLETESÕ CLASSIFICATIONS

KAT MAIN ZOOM IV

KAT DOWNIE: (01:02:59)

ÒSome of the repercussions I, I got from this speaking out about this, uh, I lost positions on teams. I lost funding. I lost friends. I lost coaches. I eventually lost jobs from this.Ó

DARREN: (01:03:39)

ÒHow can you know that it was connected to your push for more transparency?Ó

KAT 01:03:50

ÒMy mother received, uh, an email saying that if she doesn't stop, my career will be effected.Ó

GVs Kat doing laps

VO: KAT WAS TRAINING AT THE INSTITUTE OF SPORT IN CANBERRA.

WEEKS BEFORE TOKYO TRIALS SHE SAYS SHE WAS VERBALLY TOLD HER SCHOLARHSIP WAS TERMINATED BECUASE SHE WAS UNLIKLEY TO WIN A MEDAL. SHE CLAIMS SHE NEVER RECEIVED AN OFFICAL REASON FOR THE TERMINATION

(BREATH)

KAT DOWNEY HAS NOW RETIRED FROM SWIMMING

KAT MAIN ZOOM IV

KAT DOWNIE: (01:15:39)

It was just, I had lost my passion for the sport. I had lost the love for it, um, I kinda, it got to that point where I, I couldn't sacrifice any more of my mental health, my physical health, um, for the sport, because it just, it wasn't the sport that I fell in love with it wasn't the sport that I wanted it to be anymore.Ó

GVs Kat doing laps

GFX 1

(Can we make the font smaller and fit all this in?)

Swimming Australia supports and abides by the current classification process for Paralympic athletes, which is devised and conducted by the International Paralympic Committee.

GFX 2

The thorough and extensive process is undertaken by an independent classification panel, and involves assessment by medical professionals and international classification experts.

GFX 3

Any suggestion that Swimming Australia is aware of misconduct relating to intentional misrepresentation through the classification process is refuted in the strongest possible terms.Ó

VO: Dateline contacted Swimming Australia who refuted all of Kat Downie's claims

They said the organisation abides by the current classification process for Paralympic athletes.

The extensive process is undertaken by an independent classification panel, medical professionals and experts

AND Any suggestion that Swimming Australia is aware of misconduct relating to intentional misrepresentation through the classification process is refuted in the strongest possible terms

Gfx 1

Miniscule number of cheating allegations

No claims supported by substantive evidence

Gfx 2

Never condoned cheating

No knowledge of misconduct

Any claims to the contrary are refuted

VO - We also contacted Paralympics Australia who said whilst they're aware of a miniscule number of cheating allegations - no claims have been supported by substantive evidence.

They said:

Paralympics Australia has never condoned cheating; has no knowledge of misconduct related to classification. Any claims to the contrary are refuted in the strongest possible terms.

AD BREAK

IMPROVING THE SYSTEM

2mins

LOCATION GFX

Drone shots of University of Queensland

QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

INT Ð UQ LAB - DAY

GVs of Emma Beckman and Sean Tweedy walking towards lab

VO: At the moment, itÕs virtually impossible to prove beyond doubt that a PARALYMPIC ATHLETE COULD BE cheating the system. At the University of Queensland, thereÕs a world leading research team trying to change that.

Sequence as Emma and Sean set up their lab and prep devices

EMMA THOUGHT TRACK

01:12:46

ÒOur research team has actually been working together for a really long time.Ó

BUTT TO 00:41:47

ÒThe process that we're trying to undertake here is to create systems that are based on data and evidence that can actually differentiate between when someone's giving maximal effort and when someone's not.Ó

Emma explains test rig

ACTUALITY UPSOT 01:14:59

ÒSo this is our strength rig and it was purpose built.So predominantly what we're interested in is the force that the athletes are pushing through the centre.Ó

We see Luke arrive in the lab and greet Sean and Emma

VO: And today Emma and Sean will be testing wheelchair rugby player Luke to answer a complex question

UPSOT greetings

00:16:30

EMMA: ÒIf I tell you to pull your hand toward your shoulder, as hard as you can. And I say, oh, no, you're not trying hard enough. Try harder. And you say, you are. And I say, you're not, where do we go from there?Ó

SEAN: ÒIn classification it's so important to get that maximum effort.Ó

Luke transfers from wheelchair to rig

ACTUALITY

027 00:18:03

LUKE: ÒItÕs a bit cold this morning so my legs are really tight ÉÓ

SEAN THOUGHT TRACK

00:44:36

SEAN: ÒIt's not because we're such mean-spirited people and we want to catch these cheaters out. We also know from the, uh, from the studies that if we come up with a system that's really foolproof, people are less likely to try to cheat it.Ó

EMMA MAIN ZOOM IV

DARREN 01:38:47
ÒOne word that repeatedly comes up when discussing classification is fairness. Do you think you can make the system fairer?Ó

EMMA BECKMAN: (01:39:31)
ÒFairness sometimes, people think about it making everything equal. Elite sport isn't about making it equal. It's about finding the elite athlete. It's about finding the best in the world for their level of disability or impairment. So the only way to do that is to have a valid, transparent, reliable classification system that can actually show you, hey, this person won a para sport event because they are the most well-trained, they're the most talented.Ó

INT Ð UQ LAB - DAY

GVs Luke conducts test with Emma and Sean pushing him on

ACTUALITY UPSOT 043 00:31:44
EMMA: ÒOk hands in the middle. Ready? Okay. Start pushing, push harder, harderÉ. And relax. Beautiful. GoodÓ

GVs Emma and Sean pointing at graphs

ACTUALITY UPSOT

067 00:57:41

EMMA: ÒSo the part where I got you to build up your force really slowly, you can see this, this ramp up of the curve, so nice.Ó

BUTT TO EMMA 01:08:59
ÒSo the research on intentional misrepresentation could actually be a game changer, not just for the integrity of the system, but also for the confidence that everyone can have in making sure that people are

LUKE: even the athlete themselves.

SEAN: Yeah

EMMA MAIN ZOOM IV

DARREN 01:43:14
ÒDo you think that the very future of Paralympic sport is on the line here? If this system can't be sorted out?Ó

EMMA 01:43:23
ÒI think that the process of moving towards evidence-based classification systems is absolutely an imperative part of the future of the movement.Ó

BUTT TO 01:53:15

ÒWe don't have a funding agreement in place for, um, beyond 2021.Ó

BUTT TO 01:45:51

ÒSo it requires investment from the IPC. If we're going to have the shining light, that is the Paralympic games. Classification is absolutely fundamental.

GVs Emma and Sean in lab

VO: THIS GROUND-BREAKING TECHNOLOGY ISNÕT YET AVAILABLE ACROSS THE BOARD

BUT

Some countries have tried to ADDRESS intentional misrepresentation.

Andre

4 mins

Overlay taken from the UK inquiry Ð 3^rd party sourced from DCMS website

https://old.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/digital-culture-media-and-sport-committee/inquiries/parliament-2017/sports-governance-17-19/

VO: In 2017, a UK government inquiry heard allegations of cheating were still common in Paralympic sport. And athletes faced repercussions for speaking out.

Upsot from UK inquiry

Baroness Grey-Thompson (25:30)

ÒWe need to absolutely ask the questions: whether it is fair; whether it is transparent; whether athletes have the ability to make an appeal; and, whether they can do that in an open and tolerant forum.Ó

MARKUS REHM UGC

RICARDO UGC

VO: UNDER INTENSE SCRUTINY, SOME SPORTS TOOK ACTION BY REVISING THEIR CLASIFICATION SYSTEMS

EXT Ð SAO PAOLO - DAY

GVs of Sao Paulo busy streets

VO: But some athletes claim these efforts to counter classification cheating have only made a bigger mess.

LOCATION GFX

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL

INT Ð INDOOR POOL - DAY

GVs Sequence with Andre Brasil walking to pool and diving in

BRAZILIAN THEME MUSIC

ANDRE THOUGHT TRACK:

00:47:12

ÒSwimming, it's my life. It's the most important thing that happen in my life.Ó

UPSOT AUDIO YOUTUBE RIO PARALYMPICS RACE

00:00:58 Commentator: Andre Brasil. Gold medallist 2008, Gold medallist 2012

ANDRE THOUGHT TRACK

01:26:08

ÒWhen I was a child, I had polio, and I had a short foot with a short leg on my left side.Ó

ANDRE THOUGHT TRACK

01:28:30

ÒWhen I'm in the pool, I feel like a predator.Ó

ANDRE THOUGHT TRACK

ÒWhen IÕm thinking about the first Paralympic Games, I just remember my mum and my uncle  in the crowd just give me that family power to win.Ó

GFX USING SHOT OF ANDRE IN POOL AS PLATE

VO: As an S10 swimmer, Andre won 14 Paralympic medals including 7 gold, 32 world championships medals and set four world records

Slo-mo GVs as Andre gets out of the pool and sits on a starting block

VO: IN 2017 WORLD PARA SWIMMING CHANGED THE WAY ATHELETES ARE CLASSIFIED USING AN ELIGIBILITY SCALE OF ZERO TO 300 POINTS.

ANDRE NEEDED 285 POINTS or less TO REMAIN IN HIS CATEGORY BUT HE SCORED 286 Ð MISSING OUT BY ONE POINT.

HE WAS TOLD HE WAS NO LONGER DISABLED ENOUGH TO COMPETE AT ALL

ANDRE MAIN ZOOM IV

01:21:22

ANDRE: ÒThat one point would just kill all my dream.Ó

BUTT TO 00:56:36

ÒAfter almost 15 years swim with the Paralympic guys, they said me that the new system just kick me out from the sport.Ó

BUTT TO 01:10:46

ÒIt's hard when you compare different disease, and trying to classifying, but I'm pretty sure that I'm not different with all my friends who's still at the system. What they classify is just show me, as a human being.Ó

ANDRE CRYING

DARREN: ÒTAKE YOUR TIMEÓ  (AUDIO ONLY Ð KEEP SHOT ON ANDRE)

Andre 01:12:23

ÒThey show me that I'm nothing.Ó

BUTT TO 01:13:30

ÒIt's almost two years, by the way, it's two years when I was heat classifier, or classified. And I'm still working with my therapist, and by myself how mentally standup and keep moving. 

REBUTTAL

1mins

GVs close up pool clock from Brisbane swim meet

Close up pool lanes, lane ropes

GFX IPC right of reply

VO: The IPC has strongly refuted accusations that the classification system is broken or not fit for purpose.

Dateline reached out to them for comment and they told usÉ AndreÕs reclassification Òwas confirmed by two independent panelsÓ and a board of appeal. ÒLegal proceedings are ongoing.Ó

The IPC says classification Òis designed to ensure consistency Éacross the Paralympic MovementÓ and itÕs Òcontinually looking to improveÓ the system.

And when it comes to cheating, they say they take all claims seriously.

TALENT CONCLUSIONS

RICARDO TEN UGC

ALLYSA SEELY UGC

ANDRE SWIM GVs

VO: The Paralympics movement remains a powerful reminder that living with a disability doesnÕt mean you canÕt be an elite athlete.

PARA_BRAZIL_4K

Andre: (58:20)
I'm still a dreamer,

BUTT TO: Andre: (53:25)

just the possibility to give your 100%, to show your skill, and show the people it's possible do something when you work hard.

MARKUS REHM UGC

RICARDO TEN UGC

VO: As another collection of athletes prepares for Tokyo, the question remains:

CAN THE PARALYMPICS LIVE UP TO ITÕS VALUES OF EQUALITY AND INCLUSION?

KAT DOWNIE: (01:30:15)
ÒI feel that it's, it's, it's really important for us to get this classification system, right, because the Paralympic movement and what that represents  it's inspiring. it's taking down barriers. It's, it's taking away stereotypes.Ó

ÒI believe that it can be fixed. I believe that it is important that it should be fixed. I believe that it should be a priority.Ó

NEXT WEEK ON DATELINE

WE GO TO RUSSIA - TO A MILITARY CAMP FOR KIDS.

AND ASK WHY 10 YEAR OLDS ARE PREPARING FOR WAR?

AND UP NEXT...THE FEED