Main content

29/05/2012

Athletes with intellectual disabilities are for the first time since 2000 allowed to take part in the Olympics. Claudia Hammond finds out who will be eligible to compete.

At the 2000 Sydney Paralympics ten members of the Spanish basketball team were stripped of their gold for pretending to have a learning disability. For the first time since that scandal athletes with learning disabilities can compete again in this year's games. British psychologist, Professor Jan Burns is the Head of Eligibility for the International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability. She tells Claudia which sports and which athletes will be eligible.

In 2007 the Harvard political scientist, Robert Putnam published a paper stating that ethnic diversity in a community is associated with more mistrust. His paper was influential with governments, both in the UK and the US. Claudia is joined by one of Britain's leading social psychologists, Professor Miles Hewstone from Oxford University, about his new research which finds Putnam's bleak conclusions about society are wrong.

Clinical microbiologist, Graham Rook from University College London is hopeful that one day there might be a vaccination against depression. He's basing his ideas on two things: the finding that some people with depression are found to have higher levels of inflammation in the body and the idea that inflammation could be controlled by our exposure to contact with certain worms and bacteria - the so-called hygiene hypothesis. Professor Rook tells Claudia why he thinks with more research there could one day be a vaccine. The link between depression and inflammation in a proportion of people with depression is established, but is a vaccine for all really possible and would it be a useful avenue to explore for preventing the condition? Nick Craddock is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Cardiff and explains why he is critical of the idea.

Producer: Pam Rutherford.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Wed 30 May 2012 15:30

Chapters

  • Athletes with learning disabilities in the Paralympics

    Athletes with learning disabilities are competing in this year鈥檚 Paralympics for the first time since the Sydney games in 2000. Jan Burns explains how eligibility is assessed and in which sports.

    Duration: 09:27

  • New research on how prejudice is reduced in ethnically diverse groups

    One of Britain鈥檚 leading social psychologists Professor Miles Hewstone, on his new research which challenges the idea that ethnic diversity in a community is associated with more mistrust.

    Duration: 07:40

  • Could there one day be a vaccination for depression?

    A link between depression and inflammation in some people with depression is known, but is a vaccine based on the immune system really possible? Nick Craddock and Graham Rook discuss.

    Duration: 09:38

Broadcasts

  • Tue 29 May 2012 21:00
  • Wed 30 May 2012 15:30

The All in the Mind Awards 2025

The All in the Mind Awards 2025

Find full details and how to submit nominations for the Awards.

How to Manage Your Worries

How to Manage Your Worries

A quick and easy guide on how to cope with the things you worry about.

Podcast