Certain Paralympians have been whinging because they believe
they merit honours which they did not get; furthermore they argue that
able-bodied Olympians have been favoured by the Honours Committee. According to
the Mail Online, Lee Pearson the disabled equestrian who already has an OBE is
disappointed he was not made a knight.
At one time, knighthood and lesser honours were bestowed at
the favour of UK monarchs. Today our
Queen does not decide who shall receive these accolades. A list is drawn up by
an Honours Committee who considers nominations. Their recommendations are presented
to the Queen. She is the one who officiates at investitures held at Buckingham
Palace, London, Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh or Waterloo Chamber at Windsor.
The Queen in her Christmas Day Speech said, "As London hosted a splendid summer of
sport, all those who saw the achievement and courage at the Olympic and
Paralympic Games were further inspired by the skill, dedication, training and
teamwork of our athletes. In pursuing their own sporting goals, they gave the rest of us the opportunity to
share something of the excitement and drama.”
Her words, ‘own
sporting goals’ showed how she viewed their achievements. Every athlete,
paralympian or able-bodied, had their own personal motivations. In light of
that, if after gaining gold, silver or bronze medals they received further
awards it was not their right, since they were given, not earned. I feel sure that favouritism, prejudice or
discrimination would have played no part in the decision making of the Honours
Committee. Egalitarianism would have been to the forefront.
Links
Honours list is biased against us,
Paralympic stars argue after they got lesser awards than Olympians
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2254897/New-Years-Honours-List-Anger-Paralympians-lesser-awards.html#ixzz2GdloDtLW
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2254897/New-Years-Honours-List-Anger-Paralympians-lesser-awards.html#ixzz2GdloDtLW
New Year Honours list: Stars of
London 2012 given recognition
New Year Honours
2013
The Honours System
The Honours System – Members of Honours Committees
Guide to the Honours
Lee Pearson
Paralympian Josef Craig given new year honour
Investitures
Holyroodhouse
Waterloo Chamber
The Queen’s Christmas Day Speech in Full
Human Rights
Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
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