Sport is made up of individuals who have different genetic ability and come from different environments. That’s not equal and yes, sport is unfair. Nothing is equal in life.
But the differences that exists within the spectrum of ‘able-bodied’ cannot be altered thus fairness is predicated upon having rules which facilitate competition fairly. That means all athletes run on the track, have generally two arms and two legs and are not disabled etc or rely on ‘non human means’ to make them run.
Your second point about “empowering” people is moot in my view. The Paralymics cater to disabled people. That’s what they were invented for.It’s a case of whether the rules can be applied equally to everyone. In this case they cannot as Oscar requires fake legs to run whereas no other athlete can use artificial aids which are exclusive to them.
Whatever way this issue is sliced and diced, Oscar Pistorius gets to use technology which no-one else can.That’s unfair as per application of the rules. Imagine if a a hurlder got to use shoes with springs in them because they were small and no-one else got to do that – would that be fair?
What if Asafa Powell says “wait man, I want to use those blades too because Oscar is using them…” – will he be able to? No he won’t.
The IAAF is now facilitating rules which EXCLUDE most athletes in order to facilitate Oscar Pistorius’s inclusion in able-bodied sports.
If a disabled athlete had blindness like Marla Runyan, but were good enough to compete in able-bodied races then that is fine because that athlete doesn’t get to race with technology that ONLY THEY CAN POSSESS.
Best of luck to Oscar but he has fake legs and thus has an aid (whether they are better than real legs or not) which no other athlete can use thus he gets a rule made especially for him.Not fair imo.