Football is a disabled sport.

Or better: a handicap.

Actively moving a ball from one end of a field to the other, there are better ways to do this than just using your feet.

With arms and hands you would get through the opponent's bulwark more rationally and efficiently.

But the use of arms and hands is restricted by regulations.

Ten out of eleven kickers do not need the upper limbs from a purely technical point of view.

The Paralympic team disciplines are similar.

The rules that exist hinder physical functions: In goalball, sight, in sitting volleyball or wheelchair basketball, footwork.

These days, wheelchair basketball is being hosted by the massive ashlar construction of the Ariake Arena on the 'East Cloud Canal' Shinonome Unga, where Germany's “R-Baskets” face the USA in a five-versus-five.

If the pairing were set with the Olympic basketball players, that would be a pretty safe bet against black-red-gold thanks to the NBA millions and skill madness.

But the world of wheelchair lay-ups is different.

In fact, the German delegation is early and comfortably in the front.

It's not dominance, control would be too much to say, but self-confidence does.

When the first half came to an end, they were six points ahead.

At the break, friendly groups of Japanese first graders wave from the stands.

The journalists and delegations in the opposite stand are far less organized.

But overall there is still space, far too much space.

The spectacle on the field deserved so much more 'Aaahs' and 'Oooh'.

Catlike change of direction

The athletes' spins are impressive, almost BMX-like artistic, the changes in direction feline. In the third quarter, center Aliaksandr Halouski in defense grabs the opponent's pass, balances on a wheel, continues to play the ball in this limbo, falls and rolls, heaves himself up and storms forward. So energetic, the sport would actually fit very well into the Olympic action sports rejuvenation concept.

Nevertheless, the game develops into a defense game.

"Our defense was okay, the Americans didn't hit much," said Center Halouski after the match.

Defense, that's literally tough work.

Body contact is not permitted in the R-Basket, but wheelchair contact is desirable.

It crashes everywhere, the taxiways of the opponents are actively blocked.

Anticipating the opposing route is a key element in the game.

Would Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel do well here?

Spin game

On the other hand, Matt Scott excels in the stronger American team. In the last quarter, the German lead has already melted to two points. In one scene, Forward Scott storms back to prevent the German counterattack. With a colleague he wedges the German attack and quite literally levered it out. Even in the countermovement, Scott sees the free gap to the teammate in the three-meter area: quick pass, targeted throw, two points - and leadership. The American guys spin the game.