Amputee runner wins right to try for Olympic spot

SHOTLIST AP Television Milan, Italy - 16 May 2008 1. Tilt-up of double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius arriving at Grand Hotel Visconti in Milan surrounded by media 2. Pistorius approaching poster reading (Italian) "Towards success with 'Oscar' determination" 3. Tilt-up of Pistorius posing for photographers 4. Photographers, pan right to Pistorius posing 5. Photographers taking shots of Pistorius 6. Close-up of Pistorius 7. Wide of Pistorius at news conference, surrounded by media 8. Pistorius at news conference seated next to his manager Peetr Van Zyl (right on screen) and his lawyer Marco Consonni (farther right) 9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Marco Consonni, Lawyer of Double-amputee Sprinter Oscar Pistorius: "CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) has issued the decision today which is favourable to Oscar. The decision had immediate effect and Oscar is admitted to compete in the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federation) competitions from this moment with Cheetah Flex-Foot prosthetic device. The decision is very clear in stating that there is no evidence that the Cheetah Flex-Foot give any sort of advantage to Oscar." 10. Tilt-up from Pistorius' shoes to face 11. Cutaways of cameras 12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Oscar Pistorius, Double-amputee Sprinter: "I think this day is going to go down in history for the equality of disabled people. I think it's such a significant day in sports. As I said, I am so happy about that. The last two days have been very stressful but the outcome has been one of the best days of my life." 13. Cutaway camera 14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Oscar Pistorius, Double-amputee Sprinter: "I am very happy with the outcome of the case. When we found out in December that we were ruled against it was a very difficult time, the last couple of months. But now that the outcome has been definitely said, the truth has come out, and I am relieved and we have the opportunity once again to chase my dream of participating in an Olympics, if not in 2008 then in 2012." 15. Cutaway media 16. SOUNDBITE: (English) Oscar Pistorius, Double-amputee Sprinter: "The Paralympics are coming up this year as well. And then next year's season. But I think the time period at the moment is just very short. Obviously I've got the opportunity and I am not going to let it go but it's a very short time. It is going to be very difficult to get my times up." 17. Wide news conference FILE: AP Television Pretoria, South Africa - January 2008 (exact date unknown) 18. Pistorius running on carbon fibre blades during training session 19. People watching 20. Pistorius running on carbon fibre blades 21. Man watching 22. Pistorius walking on carbon fibre blades 23. Close-up of Pistorius' carbon fibre blades STORYLINE: Double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius won his appeal on Friday and can compete for a place in the Beijing Olympics. The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that the 21-year-old South African is eligible to race against able-bodied athletes, overturning a ban imposed by the International Association of Athletics Federations. "I think this day is going to go down in history for the equality of disabled people," Pistorius told reporters in Milan, Italy. CAS said the unanimous ruling goes into effect immediately. "We have the opportunity once again to chase my dream of participating in an Olympics, if not in 2008 then in 2012." Pistorius must still reach a qualifying time to run in the individual 400 metres at the August 8-24 Beijing Games. However, he can be picked for the South African relay squad without qualifying. Pistorius appealed to CAS, world sport's highest tribunal, to overturn a January 14 ruling by the IAAF which banned him from competing against able-bodied runners. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/624c95e35c960178a497e3c78366e0ae Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork