Pistorius's key day

By Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson

Pistorius is now hoping to set a Beijing Olympics qualifying time

The decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to lift the IAAF ban on South African double amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius competing in all able-bodied events has come as a bit of a surprise.

I think most athletes expected that he would be allowed to compete in Grand Prix events but he would stay banned from the Olympics.

But the decision is really positive for Oscar. Well done to him for wanting to go out and run in the Olympics although he still does not have the individual 400m qualifying times but I'm sure South Africa will want a strong relay team.

He's probably going to be the first Paralympian who will be globally recognised and it's a very important day for him.

I think he could well be the pin-up of the Paralympic sporting movement. He has got huge worldwide recognition and when he was running in some Grand Prix races last year he really put himself out there.

The way he runs is so different to any other athlete and while I think he has a disadvantage at the start, it is probably fairly even in the middle of the race and there is possibly an advantage by the end.

Most of the mainstream athletes I've spoken to don't really have an issue with him competing in able-bodied races because he is a good athlete.

They don't treat him any differently because he is a double leg amputee.

However, the Cas decision is not just about Oscar - it's about where his event goes from here in the Paralympics.

I do think it's slightly awkward if Oscar does make it to the Olympics to then have his event in the Paralympics.

If Oscar is the only double amputee who makes it to the Olympics then the rest of the guys who run in that event at a Paralympics might look like a B final.

I think a wider discussion should take place if he does qualify for the individual event to see what happens with his Paralympic event.

Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson was speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live