No person I know with an ounce of sensitivity would describe it that way to the actual participants. What a moron!
Have you ever watched the Paralympics? There's nothing pitiful about those athletes. They are kicking ass and it's nothing but awe-inspiring.
But I can see how a certain type of highly insecure person who always has to promote himself might only see the disabilities -- the kind of man who would be afraid of his bald spot and the natural color of his own skin.