As the London 2012 Paralympic Games close, it is worth reflecting on the power they have to make us reflect on our stereotypes or prejudices. The Olympics and Paralympics provide important lessons to us all, which reach far beyond the sporting sphere.

These two events bring together athletes from more countries than the United Nations and immerse them in a cauldron of intense physical and mental competition, which is heightened by fierce rivalries and underpinned by passionate nationalistic pride.
Despite these provocative elements, the participants all seem to get along.

A world-wide audience observes this spectacle, absorbing the fact that it is possible for people from a myriad of races, ethnicities, religions, cultures, genders, sexualities, ages and abilities to come together and produce the best of human performance and spirit.

We witness courage, dignity, elation, despair and relief; character traits and emotions that are universal, which we can understand and relate to because they make us human.

Nineteenth Century social commentator William Hazlitt wrote: ’Prejudice is the child of ignorance.’ Nothing much has changed — the small steps of understanding we take away from the games can reduce our ignorance and assist us to overcome prejudices and stereotypes we may hold onto.

Just think of some of the people and stories that this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games have thrown forward to make us reconsider our stereotypes or prejudices. How could you not challenge your preconceptions of people with a disability after watching the efforts of the inspirational ‘Blade runner’, South African Oscar Pistorius, one of the few disabled athletes to compete at an Olympic Games?

The Paralympics also challenge the way we think about disability. Check out two new videos available online: one featuring Australian Paralympic swimmer Matthew Cowdrey by Play the Rules (an Australian initiative to promote safe, fair and inclusive sport) and the other featuring Paralympic athletes titled 'Meet the Superhumans' by BBC 4. As the BBC video says: ‘forget everything you thought you knew about strength’ and you’ll see ‘a world with no barriers’.

Sport is supposedly based on the ethos of ‘play, competition and opportunities being fair and equal’, but we all know this isn’t the case. Many of the athletes who competed in London at the Paralympic Games this year have overcome structural and institutional barriers, discrimination, exclusion and gross inequality of chance, choice and facilities throughout their careers. The reality is no playing field is equal. The fact that these competitors have still reached the top despite these barriers makes their achievements all the more worthy of our respect and understanding.

Time will tell whether this understanding can break the barriers of discrimination and inequality in sport – and society at large. As I listened to John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ playing to the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, the optimist in me dared to dream. The realist in me can only hope.

Paul Oliver has more than 20 years experience in the sport and human rights area, including as a sports journalist/editor, media advisor and Communications Director at the Australian Human Rights Commission. In 2006, Paul wrote the report ‘What’s the Score?  A Survey of Cultural Diversity and Racism in Australian Sport’. Paul is currently the National Manager of Play by the Rules and is also undertaking PhD research through Curtin University into the power of sport to break down cultural barriers and build social bridges.