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Blind runner not allowed run with guide in WMM

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    #2
    ultraman1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,742 ✭✭✭ultraman1


    gerard_65 wrote: »
    http://www.the42.ie/visually-impaired-runner-womens-mini-marathon-1986440-Mar2015/
    prob deserves a thread if its own...


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    #3
    Ososlo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,420 ✭✭✭Ososlo


    gerard_65 wrote: »
    http://www.the42.ie/visually-impaired-runner-womens-mini-marathon-1986440-Mar2015/

    That is truly unbelievable. I'm really taken aback after reading that...
    Definitely deserves a thread of its own.
    Fcuking disgraceful.


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    #4
    robinph
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,075 Mod ✭✭✭✭robinph


    Daft decision from the WMM.


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    #5
    kit3
    Registered Users Posts: 2,677 ✭✭✭kit3


    The WMM is acting in contravention of the Equal Status Acts - for the purpose of this run her guide would not be seen as a runner but rather as an aid. It is discriminatory not to allow her this aid. Disability is one of the nine protected grounds under the Equality legislation - very straightforward imo - she should talk to the Irish Human Rights & Equality Authority for advice on how to proceed


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    #6
    PaulieYifter
    Registered Users Posts: 701 ✭✭✭PaulieYifter


    Words fail me


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    #7
    Ososlo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,420 ✭✭✭Ososlo


    I think anyone thinking of doing that race should boycott it.


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    #8
    gerard_65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 763 ✭✭✭gerard_65


    I'd imagine it'll be over-turned very quickly. Someone was told 'no male entries will be accepted' but didn't understand what a guide runner does. Already comments criticising the decision on the wwm facebook page.


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    #9
    annapr
    Registered Users Posts: 3,936 ✭✭✭annapr


    Sickening. And ridiculous, when men run it in drag, etc. Are they even allowed to stop men entering?


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    #10
    kit3
    Registered Users Posts: 2,677 ✭✭✭kit3


    annapr wrote: »
    Sickening. And ridiculous, when men run it in drag, etc. Are they even allowed to stop men entering?

    Interesting question - gender discrimination - also one of the protected grounds !


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    #11
    rovers_runner
    Registered Users Posts: 2,648 ✭✭✭rovers_runner


    Womens Mini Marathon limited is a company only concerned with generating money for DSDAC.
    The fact the event has taken on a life of it's own is down to the people who run it year on year and not the people with their eye on the bottom line...

    They only see the euros adding up, which is surprising given they already bought that site on the bottom of the mountains two years back....

    http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/from-the-stands-dundrum-club-snap-up-bargain-new-home-29637648.html


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    #12
    menoscemo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,915 ✭✭✭✭menoscemo


    I was waiting for the annual 'can me run the WMM' thread but this is a bit different.
    Having seen how John and Sinead teamed up at the Donadea 50k, I am not surprised she deosn't want to run with another guide.


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    #13
    kit3
    Registered Users Posts: 2,677 ✭✭✭kit3


    menoscemo wrote: »
    I was waiting for the annual 'can me run the WMM' thread but this is a bit different.
    Having seen how John and Sinead teamed up at the Donadea 50k, I am not surprised she deosn't want to run with another guide.

    Agreed, and reading his blog about Donadea reinforces this


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    #14
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 50,630 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I'm genuinely disgusted by this.

    I don't know what else to say really.


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    #15
    kit3
    Registered Users Posts: 2,677 ✭✭✭kit3


    Would be interesting to see what the sponsors of the event think - no company likes to be associated with bad publicity


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    #16
    robinph
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,075 Mod ✭✭✭✭robinph


    The Facebook feed for the event has been bombarded with criticism over the last couple of hours. Wonder if they will have a change of heart by the morning?


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    #17
    kit3
    Registered Users Posts: 2,677 ✭✭✭kit3


    robinph wrote: »
    The Facebook feed for the event has been bombarded with criticism over the last couple of hours. Wonder if they will have a change of heart by the morning?

    If they have any sense they will - would have to do something special to sort this I would think


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    #18
    Ososlo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,420 ✭✭✭Ososlo


    In a statement issued to The42 late Wednesday evening, the organisers of the Women’s Mini Marathon said:
    “We are reviewing the individual case that has been flagged and we will do everything we can to find a solution that works for the athlete in question.”
    Originally published at 8.40pm.

    I'd tell them where to go if I was her.

    Women, please tell your friends/family etc not to do this race.
    Stinks....


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    #19
    Clearlier
    Registered Users Posts: 4,454 ✭✭✭Clearlier


    It would be a hilariously bad decision if it weren't for the impact on the runner. Even in the paralympics blind female runners are permitted male guides.

    Having done a bit of guiding I'm not entirely sure that I buy the need for an experienced guide but it's irrelevant as a guide is not generally considered to be a competitor and should automatically have been included.

    I imagine that the organisers will claim that offering a female guide is a reasonable adjustment. It would be a misunderstanding of the reasonable adjustment guideline though IMO.

    WMM need to very quickly take their finger out, say that they were wrong, apologise and rewrite their policy to ensure this kind of screw up never happens again.


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    #20
    Hard Worker
    Registered Users Posts: 1,170 ✭✭✭Hard Worker


    kit3 wrote: »
    The WMM is acting in contravention of the Equal Status Acts - for the purpose of this run her guide would not be seen as a runner but rather as an aid. It is discriminatory not to allow her this aid. Disability is one of the nine protected grounds under the Equality legislation - very straightforward imo - she should talk to the Irish Human Rights & Equality Authority for advice on how to proceed

    Doesn't apply in this case.
    However, under the rules of competition, Sinead is quite entitled to have a male guide if she so wishes. This will be overturned in the morning I'd imagine. They don't have a choice.


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    #21
    RayCun
    Registered Users Posts: 15,704 ✭✭✭✭RayCun


    joined the chorus of posts on the facebook page and sent in an email.

    Far too early I think to talk about boycotting the race or complaining to sponsors, the organisers still have time to rethink their decision.


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    #22
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 50,630 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    RayCun wrote: »
    joined the chorus of posts on the facebook page and sent in an email.

    Far too early I think to talk about boycotting the race or complaining to sponsors, the organisers still have time to rethink their decision.

    I've done the same.

    I think that the talk of boycotting is if they don't reverse their decision. Which is fair enough.


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    #23
    Peterx
    Registered Users Posts: 2,116 ✭✭✭Peterx


    In the spirit of the event it would be cool if a former winner could do the guiding instead of John. Assuming a former winner is available et cetera..

    And in the spirit of all publicity being good publicity maybe it will help reduce the amount of dragsters as well.


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    #24
    Chivito550
    Registered Users Posts: 7,695 ✭✭✭Chivito550


    Talk of boycotting such a large event is silly. It won't make any sort of difference, as they can fill their 40.000 slots with ease.

    Bombarding the facebook page until the decision is reversed (which no doubt it will) is a far more productive way to deal with this.


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    #25
    ultraman1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,742 ✭✭✭ultraman1


    Today fm at 9:15....


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    #26
    plodder
    Registered Users Posts: 7,139 ✭✭✭plodder


    Wow. That escalated quickly. The guide was interviewed in Morning Ireland just there, and made a good case. There seemed to be signs that the WMM were relenting, but he wants the rule changed rather than an exception made. I can understand where the WMM are coming from. They want to keep the women only vibe, which is what makes it unique. Every year, there are men on here, wanting to assist their girlfriends, partners etc. But, they should be more on top of what the sport already permits.


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    #27
    Pherekydes
    Registered Users Posts: 16,115 ✭✭✭✭Pherekydes


    Peterx wrote: »
    In the spirit of the event it would be cool if a former winner could do the guiding instead of John.

    It would be cooler if Sinead could have her regular guide guide her. By far the simplest solution.


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    #28
    Peterx
    Registered Users Posts: 2,116 ✭✭✭Peterx


    Pherekydes wrote: »
    It would be cooler if Sinead could have her regular guide guide her. By far the simplest solution.

    Yes of course.
    I do like the idea of a strong female role model doing the guiding in a woman's only event though.


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    #29
    kit3
    Registered Users Posts: 2,677 ✭✭✭kit3


    Pherekydes wrote: »
    It would be cooler if Sinead could have her regular guide guide her. By far the simplest solution.

    +1 - if you read John O'Regan's blog about Donadea (can't link on the phone) there's quite a bit involved and they have this work already done in terms of trust, signals, knowing how each other works & what is needed. She shouldn't have to change guides just because he's male.


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    #30
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 50,630 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Peterx wrote: »
    Yes of course.
    I do like the idea of a strong female role model doing the guiding in a woman's only event though.

    Sinead can be that strong female role model.


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    #31
    walshb
    Registered Users Posts: 54,676 ✭✭✭✭walshb


    What's the big deal? The race has rules, and the runner doesn't fit the rules. A replacement was offered. If so, then a female guide is needed.


This discussion has been closed.
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