Paralympics – anyone else really looking forward to it?

Got my tickets for the Paralympic athletics, and I’m looking forward to it rather a lot. Disabled or not they’re massively better athletes than I will ever be.

I think it would be great to take your son or daughter to watch. A real early/eye-opener for them. To confront potential prejudices and knock em flat.

Cbeebies received parent complaints didn’t they about the presenter with one memorably saying ‘you will scare my children’. I love how they never hide the fact. No long sleeve tops. Nothing. Awesome.

Anyway…LALALALALALA…it’ll be smashinggreatwonderful….LALALALALALA
And it’s sunny and I’m going out on’t bike… 😀 have a nice day….

getting a wheelchair when she could no longer walk wasn’t giving up, but giving her the freedom she needed

Can’t do youtube at work but if someone could find that link and mail it to me, i want to send it to my mum. It’s a different scenario; she’s 70, and increasingly struggling with arthritis and diabetes. As a result the things she loved to do with her grandaughters just 2 or 3 years ago, like going to Chessington or Legoland, are out of reach because she doesn’t have the energy to walk around for hours at a time, even if the arthritis let her. We’re trying to prersuade her that having a mobility scooter is not giving up; it’s opting back in to having the freedom she once had to do those things.

Would i pity her for having a scooter? Far from it, i pity her for being too stubborn to have one, for everything she’s missing out on as a result.

I get the whole inspirational, much better than etc etc points, I don’t disagree with them. But that doesn’t affect that many people will also feel a little sorry for some of the participants. It is still possible to respect what they have achieved yet still feel a little pity whilst watching some of them.

Perhaps you mean empathy Loddrik, not pity ? Subtle difference. I think you can feel respect for and acknowledge disabled athletes’ travails, without feeling sorry for them.

What are the events worth watching then people, if you want to catch the highlights ??

I want to see the Blind javelin throwing. But then I’m a sick fooker…

theotherjonv – Member

Check out the Arthritic Association. A few small diet changes could make some difference. It’s worked for us.

Edit-spelling again.

I suppose above all else, a Paralympian would want their skill in a discipline or event respected, just in the same way we appreciate a more able bodied athletes ability in the Olympics. What I can’t imagine they’d want, is for their natural talent, application and effort being eclipsed by people patting them on the back for their determination in succeeding with a physical disadvantage … or how they ‘inspire’ others BECAUSE of their impairment – does that make sense (I’m trying to convey my meaning as best I can)? They want to be recognised in exactly the same way as Usain Bolt or Jessica Ennis does, with the added motivation perhaps of tackling bigotry.

When discussing the Paralympics I think we need to guard against covering the participants in syrupy sentiments.

My mate’s daughter is in the GB swim team:

She won 1 silver and 3 bronze in Beijing (aged 16). Her medal/trophy collection so far is mahoosive like you wouldn’t believe.

Doubt I’ll watch as many events as I did recently, but will look out for her and a few cyclists and track athletes mainly.

I’ve got really mixed feelings about it.

At the UK Schools Games this year the cycling had the disabled athletes competing against each other, but as just another race in the same event. i.e. just another athlete who qualifies by dint of right, not a segregated group. That was I feel absolutely the right way to do this. I got quite goose bumpy about Oscar Pretorius in the main event. Absolutely top work after they eventually decided that having no legs probably wasn’t advantageous!

So I can’t help but feel that having a separate event is actually the epitomy of segregation and isolation. In fact they might as well drop the pretence and go the whole hog and just call it something like the “Spaslympics” if you think about it in that context.

Given current legislation on disabled access, and the fact that many of the facilities were not in use for the full two weeks, can anyone think of a valid reason for this segregation?

However, having said that, I also recognise it is a process, and it has moved disabled issues on in leaps and bounds since it first happened. So on balance, I think its better to celebrate the positives while hoping for the negatives to be addressed sooner rather than later, and to that extent I’m very happy that as a nation we are on the leading edge of what is going on and will definitely revel in the achievements we are about to see.

Good points Berm Bandit

I don’t even see a disability to be honest. I think a disability is more of a frame of mind than a physical limitation.

So why are the ‘paralympic’ events separated from the ‘notmal’ olympics then? Why aren’t the olympic games one big inclusive event? Could we not simply have the wheelchair races in the same sessions as running races? Wheelchair basketball at the same time as ‘normal’ basketball? Etc?

I questin why the paralympic events have to be separate from the others. We’ve had the first amputee running in an ‘able bodied’ race, with Oscar Pistorious in the 400m. So why not have paralympic events in the main olympics?

By separating the games, we are not ‘including’ athletes with disability, we are continuing to separate and marginalise them.

Lots of sense talked on this thead, none more than the fact that Loddricks dirty pillow really needs washing 🙂

If you think disability is a ‘frame of mind’ I invite you to spend a day wearing visual-impairment spectacles. Or spend you day in a wheel chair. At the end of the day you will be able to discard your ‘disability’; some of us arn’t that fortunate.

looks like 1/4 of the people who bothered to vote on a local newspaper survey, are just not interested?

I’ll be glued to the TV no matter what:
Blue bar used for ballot results 3%

Whenever I get the chance I’ll tune in:
Yellow bar used for ballot results 38%

I’m sure I’ll catch bits here and there:
Purple bar used for ballot results 35%

None – I’m just not interested:
Green bar used for ballot results 24%

I wonder if these stats stand up nationally?

I think it takes a couple of weeks to reset the venues for the versions of the sports that are in the paralympics. eg: 5 and 7 a side football, are taking over the hockey arena. Goalball is taking over from Handball.

Unless the effort was made to build even more venues so they could run concurrently, i think it’s felt better that all the paralympic events take place in a block, rather than fit the ones in to the olympic schedule where you can and then slot the remainder a week or so later.

Plus, it means we get 4 weeks of high quality sport, more people can attend, and so on.

looks like 1/4 of the people who bothered to vote on a local newspaper survey, are just not interested?

They want to see empty-headed idiots running around a field now kicking a ball instead.

I questin why the paralympic events have to be separate from the others. We’ve had the first amputee running in an ‘able bodied’ race, with Oscar Pistorious in the 400m. So why not have paralympic events in the main olympics?

In a way I agree. But I guess it’s all to do with an advantage. Having no legs is a disadvantage to a sprinter, but using a wheelchair is a distinct advantage in a marathon……

It does smack alittle of second class games however if you held it first would it be a case of warmer-up for the real games or ‘get them out of the way’…

Although you could also apply this to the able-bodied Games.

I just think its more about over coming obstacles, achievement, the spirit etc etc.

Saying that, seeing the tears on winning in the able-body games brings a tear to your eyes. Knowing they wanted it bad. Gave it their all.

This struck me, really sad. A Bad decision IMO

Logistically it would be very difficult to merge it into the Olympics – its not just that there is a Paralympic equivalent event for each Olympic one but that there are several equivalents based on disability and within each disability there are also different categories. It can be quite hard to follow the events when it is a stand alone games, but to merge it into the Olympics would mean everything would be overshadowed.

It is difficult to sound a bit negative about the Paralympics without sounding like a mean spirited bastard and denegrating the athletes involved but when Usain Bolt won the 200 metres it overshadowed perhaps the greatest track final in modern history with David Rudisha winning the 800 metres. Quite apart from the organisation involved if the Paralympic mens 200 metres was on the same night would anyone have paid attention to the winners? There are 13 different varients of it.

I see your point, Omar, but I still think separation is a negative thing, ultimately. And I feel that the name ‘Paralympics’is somewhat belittleing; ‘youre not good enough for a proper Olympic medal, so her’es a consolation prize’.

mike, do you know what paralympics stands for? without googling? i don’t get how that’s belittling

Yes, although it does sound like a mash of ‘Paralysed’ and Olympics, in this context. To me at least. It just has a negative feel to it. Maybe that’s just me though.

But even given it’s real intended meaning, it’s still somehow removed from the ‘main’ olympics, which is why I see it as somehow appearing second-rate. That’s just my own subjective view though.

If a certain sport had made it into the Paralympics I could’ve had the chance to go there as a coach, which would have been amazing. But it didn’t, so I don’t.

Probably won’t see much of it as I won’t have a TV in a few days and I’ll be quite busy with other things, but I’m sure I’ll hear lots about it.

Having worked with disabled athletes you experience a mix of feelings. Sometimes you feel sorry for them – that’s natural, like what loddrik said. Other times you feel inspired. Most of the time you just see them as a normal person playing a normal sport. It is tricky though sometimes – they can give you an excuse for not being able to do something, which might be legitimate due to their disability – or it might just be a “I would ride that but I don’t have my high rollers on” type thing.

Like, I wasn’t born with the lungs of Lance or whatever, so if a pro rider watched me compete – would he feel sorry for me? Would he feel inspired? Or would he just see a normal guy riding a bike?

But even given it’s real intended meaning, it’s still somehow removed from the ‘main’ olympics, which is why I see it as somehow appearing second-rate. That’s just my own subjective view though.

agreed.

I’m looking forward to it even more now as my son was up Snowdon today lighting the Olympic flame with Lord Coe 😆 His brother is going with his School to the Para Olympics.

Telegraph Article

Lobbed Lewis head off on the photo. He on the right of Coe on this one.

spacemonkey

I wish I gave my parents something to be proud of when I was a teenager. 🙂

For me, one of the defining moments of these games was when Kirani James swapped numbers with Oscar Pistorious after the 400m semi-final, and then went on to say how proud he was to compete in the same event as Oscar.

On equal terms, not separate.

Not looking forward to it any more than the olympics as watching Bolt and Farah is great! I do wish they would combine the two events, I’m not expecting a blind man to race and beat Bolt, but a lot of events the disabled athletes could compete at the same level. Having the Paralympics makes them different, which does not sit right with me.

Really looking forward to it, having watched it after the last two or three Olympics. Feel pity? Good God no! Nothing but admiration for people with the fire and determination to train for endless hours to really achieve something purely for the personal satisfaction of having done it. I couldn’t come close to matching what most of those athletes do, except possibly in the archery or shooting, but even then… 😯
I’m firmly with Hels here.
As for running all the games together, I can see what people mean about segregating them, but I honestly don’t think it would be possible to run them together, for purely practical reasons.
Someone mentioned Tanni-Grey; oh, Lordy, got a serious case of the hots for her, she’s lovely. 😳

That there is an element of pity that able bodied people feel whilst watching disabled athletes, there but for the grace of god and all that…

Don’t be such a tit, what a load of silly billy talk. Inspirational is the word I’d use, just as I found Jess Ennis inspirational etc

I loved watching the olympics and am now very excited for the paralympics, I don’t want it all to end! I was very lucky this morning to get a sneak preview of the Oz v spain talent in the wheelchair basket ball, was immense. Didn’t feel sorry for them in the slightest. I did however quite fancy 3 of the Oz team 🙂 Think its the tan and big biceps 🙂 I’ve met a few of the football team and the GB coach so can’t wait to see them in action too. and the shooting.

I am really looking forward to it but then I am a volunteer in the velodrome.
Bring it on [/url]

Going to the velodrome and athletics stadium.
It’s sport but some of the people have the odd limb missing, apart from that they are athletes at the pinnacle of their respective disciplines.
It’s a spectacle that I want to witness but certainly not to point and laugh.

haha, love the little dancing dude MrsPoddy

I imagine many people aren’t interested as they want to watch top athletes that they’ve heard of competing against each other. Also there’s the issue of various versions of the same event to cater for each variation of disability. Not sure if this makes them bad people to be honest I know I won’t watch the Paralympics as much as I did the Olympics.

Im off to Newport velodrome tomorrow to watch the GB squad train ,and its free

We decided to go for a drink this afternoon in the Hilton in Manchester. As we were walking in , some of the Team GB paralympic athletes were checking out. My 8 year old daughter was unbelievably excited and stood there literally in awe of them. There was no difference in her eyes between them and Jess Ennis and Brad.

Maybe sometimes kids have a better appreciation of these things.

Looking forward to it too. The Channel 4 build up has been great and you’re getting to know the character of the athletes before the event. Hopefully plenty more gold post boxes to come

I imagine many people aren’t interested as they want to watch top athletes that they’ve heard of competing against each other. Also there’s the issue of various versions of the same event to cater for each variation of disability. Not sure if this makes them bad people to be honest I know I won’t watch the Paralympics as much as I did the Olympics.

Is it wrong of me to point out also, that amazing as many of the athletes are, presumably (even keeping everything relative), they generally aren’t performing at as high a level as in the standard Olympics? ie there are less people aiming for the spots in teams, and there isn’t as much money available in sponsorship etc which helps fund more extensive training programmes? Could be wrong.

I’ll still enjoy it – but it’s not as big a deal as the regular Olympics for me.