2012 Olympics: Who are you following?

[Lamplighter]

OK, this post is NOT meant to about wounded vets, handicapped kids, or killing puppies.

I am uninformed about how decisions are being made with regards
to the Olympics, maybe and other sporting events.

To wit:


USA TODAY
By David Leon Moore,
8/9/12

Oscar Pistorius, South Africa back in the relay

LONDON —Oscar Pistorius, South Africa's double-amputee quarter-miler known as The Blade Runner,
is experiencing the full gamut of emotions at his first Olympics.<snip>

Disaster seemed to strike, however, Thursday morning when South Africa
failed to finish its opening heat because of a collision between one of its runners,
Oftense Mogawane, and a Kenyan runner during the second leg.
Mogawane was knocked down, and Pistorius, who was slated
to run the third leg, never got the baton.

OK, I'm ignoring the pun about running the third leg.

Now, consider this 2 minute video...



My first thought:
Is Pistorius being given special entry and consideration to events ?
That is, if a different team had failed to complete the race, would they also have been advanced in the standing ?

My second thought:
Where is this Mechanically-Assisted Athelete (MAA) development going in sports ?
That is, will winners have an * in the record books ?
Will MAA spread to other events, such as floor-exercise
Will MAA spread to arms (still rings) and feet (swimming)
Will there be completely new events (MAA-marathon)

In previous posts, I've poked fun at Syncronized Swimming and Beach Volleyball,
as being exhibitions and not really athletic competitions.
So be it.

But right now, I am needing some education or else I'm having a real problem
with the idea of MAA in direct competition with non-MAA.