LONDON - As Oscar Pistorius offered his first defence against a murder charge, the head of the Paralympics tried to reassure members Tuesday that the organization has a strong future even without its star athlete.
International Paralympic Committee President Philip Craven told The Associated Press he has been in a state of "shock and disbelief" since Pistorius was charged with premeditated murder in last week's shooting of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
Pistorius enjoyed a record-breaking Paralympics last year and had been central to plans to maintain the momentum of disability sports. Now, he has pulled out of all future races.
The South African helped generate unprecedented interest in the Paralympics by becoming the first double amputee sprinter to compete at the Olympics. Craven wants to ensure the Paralympics' progress is not damaged by the fallout from Pistorius' high-profile case.
"We've got so many stars coming through that this will not be an issue," Craven said.
"Even since this tragedy happened, it's still been 'London, London, London' and what happened there 鈥� a unique moment in times that still continues in the hearts and minds of people."
And in a letter to IPC members on Tuesday, Craven sought to shift attention from the "difficult and traumatic day" regarding Pistorius to remind how the London Paralympics succeeded in creating "a whole host of young world-class, medal-winning athletes."
Craven pointed to British sprinter Jonnie Peacock, who deposed Pistorius as 100-meter champion at the Paralympics, and Alan Oliveira, who took the 200 title in front of a crowd of some 80,000 in the London Olympic Stadium.
"It's upon their shoulders that the Paralympic movement will be moving forward, and it's still continuing to be the most exciting times after London," Craven said by phone from the IPC winter sports championships in Spain.
Craven has experienced a "roller-coaster of emotion" since being awakened early Thursday with the news of the shooting. Pistorius said at Tuesday's bail hearing he believed she was a robber and the shooting was an accident.
"Shock and disbelief," Craven recalled of his initial thoughts. "I could not believe what I was hearing ... because of this total difference between Oscar, the person I knew 鈥� I won't say very well but I had interacted with him on many occasions in press conferences etc. and seen him compete 鈥� and the Oscar we we're hearing about now in the media and with what happened."
Craven said he had not witnessed any change in Pistorius' mindset at the Paralympics even when the runner created a storm by suggesting rival Oliveira was gaining an unfair advantage by using lengthened blades.
"In the heat of competition 鈥� I remember when I was a wheelchair basketball player 鈥� the redness would come down particularly if I didn't agree with certain refereeing decisions, and I've seen it in other athletes," Craven said. "I think it's something that happens all the time in athletic competitions.
He said the dispute about the blades did not bother him, and "didn't make me think there was anything different in London (with Pistorius) to what there had been before."
Craven has not made contact with the 26-year-old Pistorius since the Valentine's Day arrest. The Paralympic chief has expressed the organization's condolences to the family of Steenkamp, the model and law graduate who was cremated at a memorial service Tuesday in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
