| Does Oscar Pistorius Have An Advantage Over Able-Bodied Athletes? ESPN’s E:60, Good Morning America and Nightline Investigate. Features to air on April 15th. |
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April 9, 2008 (Aliso Viejo, California) – One of the most talked-about sports stories of the past year is the controversy surrounding Oscar Pistorius, the bi-lateral amputee sprinter who is trying to make a bid for the Olympics and is appealing the IAAF’s ruling that he has a technical advantage. Ossur, the maker of those Cheetahs, invites everyone to form their own opinion based on new information as presented by ESPN’s E:60, Good Morning America, Nightline, and ESPN Magazine. Looking for insights into this game-changing issue that raises scientific, ethical and philosophical questions, and for the past three months, ESPN’s investigative journalists have travelled the globe to learn more. They interviewed Oscar, his family, coach, prosthetist, friends, competitors, lawyers, and Ossur, too. They also interviewed Prof. Bruggemann, the German doctor who originally tested him on behalf of the IAAF. What to see on April 15th:
In addition, ESPN Magazine’s April 21st cover story will delve into Oscar’s case. Background: The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), and Professor Bruggemann, who was commissioned by the IAAF to conduct a two day study on Oscar’s running style, say “yes.” Ossur, the maker of those prosthetic feet - the Cheetah - says “no, the study reached conclusions based on insufficient information.” People from all over the world have been following this story with interest. At stake: whether Oscar and all other amputee athletes will be able to compete at IAAF-sanctioned events, and ultimately, on the greatest athletic stage of all, the Olympics. Oscar has appealed the IAAF’s decision, and the Lausanne-based international Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), will review the case on April 29-30. More info: What is the difference between passive prosthetics and bionics? On April 22, ESPN’s E:60, will look into “Bionic Technology and How it Relates to Sports.” It’s important to keep in mind that the Cheetah Flex-Foot is a passive foot and not bionic at all. A bionic foot is artificially intelligent and motor-powered, as opposed to the Cheetah which is a J-shaped high performance carbon composite foot. But will Bionics have their day in sports? Meanwhile, even though the technology used in the Ossur’s Cheetah Flex-Foot has existed since 1997 - and has not experienced any significant updates since that time - thousands of amputee athletes have used it to compete at an international level of sport over the past decade. In fact, every medalist in the 100m, 200m and 400m races at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens was wearing a Cheetah. Ossur Ossur (Icelandic Stock Exchange: OSSR) is a global leader in non-invasive orthopaedics that help people live a life without limitations. Its business is focused on improving people’s mobility through the delivery of innovative technologies within the fields of braces, supports, prosthetic limbs and compression therapies. A recognized “Technology Pioneer," Ossur invests significantly in research and product development; its award-winning designs ensuring a consistently strong position in the market. Successful patient and clinical outcomes are further empowered via Ossur’s educational programs and business solutions. Headquartered in Iceland, Ossur has major operations in the Americas, Europe and Asia, with additional distributors worldwide. www.ossur.com Contacts:
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