The survey also indicated that the Paralympics should be scraped and combined with the Olympics to create a fully integrated event but Hollingsworth says he completely disagrees with the findings of Scope.

"The claims made [by the Scope survey] suggested there was genuine concern that the Games would not provide the right platform for disabled people either to be involved, engaged or inspired," wrote Hollingsworth in an exclusive article for insideworldparasport.

"From that was extrapolated a view that scrapping a separate Games in favour of combining with the Olympics was preferable – not a view I agree with at all.

"This isn't - and mustn't be – an event that is celebrated only by and for disabled people.

"It is an event that demonstrates inclusivity at the highest level – where non-disabled people turn up in their hundreds of thousands to watch elite sport being played by disabled athletes.

"It is the quality of the sport that ensures non-disabled people connect with disabled people though the common language of sporting endeavour.

"This language is one that everyone is familiar with – the highs and lows and drama of sport that plays out every weekend up and down the country."

Hollingsworth continued that the Paralympics can act as a starting point to get people to reappraise their attitudes towards disability, which he says can only help in creating societal change.

"Those uninitiated in Paralympic sport may expect that spectators feel sympathy for 'brave' athletes – which may lead to some disabled people who don't understand the nature of the Paralympics to feel that they are patronising," he said.

"Nothing could be further from the truth – sympathy is the last emotion anyone at a Paralympic event feels – respect yes, admiration for athletic endeavour absolutely, but sympathy certainly not.

"This is because spectators are engaged and enthralled by the quality of the sport itself, not by the fact that they are watching disabled athletes.

"The power of the Paralympic Games lies not in the gathering together of more than 4,000 disabled people, it lies in those people being elite athletes taking part in thrilling sport.

"That is why I was disappointed the Scope survey.

"It chose to highlight sensationalist headlines suggesting that the Games should be scrapped and that a small proportion of disabled people find the Games patronising.

"To use the Paralympics as some sort of stick with which to beat wider society to further the cause of disabled people strikes me as an own goal.

"I did not think it was helpful, at the time that the second round of tickets came on sale, to have to defend the Paralympics and its right to be a standalone event, rather than being subsumed into the Olympic Games.

"So whilst we ultimately share the same ambition with many disability organisations for a better world for disabled people, we are very clear in our view on the role the Paralympics can play within to help make this happen.

"Through elite sport I believe we can get people to reappraise their attitudes towards disability, surely the start point for any societal change."

To read the piece in full, click here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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December 2011: Hollingsworth hits back at results of Scope's Paralympic Games survey