Brandon Twp.- Controversy and protests over China’s human rights policies have made headlines recently as the country prepares to host the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Some have even called for a boycott of the games.
But Roger McCarville, who campaigns for the rights of the disabled and will travel to Beijing to broadcast the Paralympic Games as host of the PBS show, ‘Disabilities Today,? says this is an opportune moment.
‘Civil rights and human rights are important,? said McCarville, 72. ‘Maybe having the Paralympics there will be a good example and show them human rights in action. I don’t believe we should boycott.?
McCarville traveled to Greece in 2004 to cover the Paralympic Games and he and his PBS team were the only national broadcast crew for the event.
He and two crew members from ‘Disabilities Today? will cover the 2008 Paralympic Games, scheduled for Sept. 6-17 in Beijing. The games, McCarville explains, have almost every major sport represented that the Olympics do, with the exception of boxing. More than 4,000 disabled athletes will compete, representing countries all over the world.
McCarville and his crew will follow disabled athletes including amputees, paraplegics and quadriplegics, as they compete in track and field, tennis, basketball and more. They will also have a special focus on two Michigan athletes, Cheryl Angelelli, a swimmer from Roseville who took two bronze medals in Greece; and Mary Stack, a weightlifter from Ann Arbor.
Athletes must first qualify for the Games through state and regional competitions. McCarville himself has been involved in wheelchair sports for more than 30 years, following a boating accident that severed both his legs. He has played wheelchair basketball and continues to compete in track and field and swimming.
He is excited to travel to China to cover the Paralympic Games and while there, will also tape tourist attractions for ‘Disabilities Today,? showing how the disabled can travel.
‘China’s a long way to go,? he said. ‘I don’t know if I should do it at my age, but I’m gonna… Who ever thought we would go to China??
The Paralympic Games will be broadcast on ‘Disabilities Today? in November. The PBS show airs at 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday.