In Zurich, Switzerland preparations have already begun being made for the Cybathlon. The Cybathlon is a sporting event for athletes with disabilities who use advanced technology, like prostatic legs and exoskeletons, or athletes who use robotic technology, like powered wheel chairs.
“Professor Hugh Herr, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is currently in negotiations with health care professionals to get the bionic limbs more widely available to those who need them,” BBC News said.
Often though there was a disconnection between technology and patients, event organizer Professor Robert Riener said.
The competitor, also known as the pilot, will have the opportunity to win an award as will the company who made the technology they are using during the races.
Cybathlon 2016 is being organized by Swiss National Competence Center of Research and is designed to promote the advancements in technology. Another goal of the Cybathlon is to allow people to compete who have not had the opportunity to do so.
“It’s a really cool advancement. If you think about it there are a lot of really good athletes who may not be able to compete due to the rules of the Olympics,” junior Trip Sorensen said.
