paralympics 2012

[thetime]

quite suprised theres no love or interest in the paralympics on here, especially as people were creaming themselfs over the olympics.

Looking forward to these remarkable athletes, opening ceremony on now.

[pink_triangle]

Im excited about it but don't have love for ceremonies! Hard to discuss much as only know a handful of names but will be glued to it over the next couple of weeks.

[lharris92]

would be glued to it but starting work there tomorrow so involved anyway.

think it will turn out to be better than the olympics just have a gut feeling.

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

I have a feeling the word "inspiration" is going to be the theme of these games.

[Spindles]

I am very much into it, but was creaming myself watching the ceremony with my daughter and discussing it with her rather than on here. I loved orbital collaborating on the Ian Dury cover and commented that the ceremony had a punk sensibility undertone.

[Spindles]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/disability-sport/19354687

I am not someone who is a fan of dressage, personally, but this bloke is pretty damned inspirational. Unusually for the BBC there is more detail than they normally go with and his story is told from the perspective of those who love him rather than bland facts or unknown commentators.

Suffice to say I will be watching the dressage.

[TheGayTent]

I have no interest in it whatsoever.

I would guess, given I had 8 lots of Olympic tickets, I am one of those you referred to as creaming themselves over it.

[Spindles]

Just because people aren't posting on here doesn't mean they aren't into it...

Thought the opening ceremony was dull... Which was a shame...

But looking forward to watching the sport

[the_hedge]

I've found some of the coverage/news a bit patronising to be honest...

[dingbat2]

John Snow is a buffoon, hope he doesn't do any sporting coverage. Ade Adepitan is brilliant though

Cant believe Alex Zanardi is there, wow, I remember watching his crash only a few years ago which sliced both his legs off. impressive to now be in the Paralympics

[fred quimby]

I have no interest in it whatsoever.

[TheGayTent]

why? just interested nowt else

[fred quimby]

Lots of reasons.

If you take my favourite Olympic sport - swimming - it's partly because I don't believe that the best swimmer necessarily wins. Swimmers are tested and then classified into one of 10 classes. 1 being the most severe, and 10 being the most "normal" (for want of a better word). There are borderline cases all the time, whereby a swimmer may be put in the S4 class and win by a street, but then get re-classified 6 months later and get nowhere in the S5 class.

The complication in itself doesn't help. The fact that races are nowhere near as competitive in terms of closeness between the competitors makes races less appealing to me too.

I could go on but I won't.

[Spindles]

..and the well reasoned explanation, which seems perfectly valid.

One thing that is very clear is that the classification system is a complexity that the un-knowing outsider coming to this was most likely unaware of.

Still watching myself though. I do find it inspirational, besides, I'm stuck off work for a few more weeks.

[TheGayTent]

I miss much of it anyway. Will be in the US/Mexico

[bunique]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/disability-sport/19354687

I am not someone who is a fan of dressage, personally, but this bloke is pretty damned inspirational. Unusually for the BBC there is more detail than they normally go with and his story is told from the perspective of those who love him rather than bland facts or unknown commentators.

Suffice to say I will be watching the dressage.

[thetime]

I miss much of it anyway. Will be in the US/Mexico

[TheGayTent]

You mean you will come back all relaxed and a smile on your face?

Fantastic.

[thetime]

No, I will come back even more pissed as I will no longer have a holiday to look forward to.

[dingbat2]

Lots of reasons.

If you take my favourite Olympic sport - swimming - it's partly because I don't believe that the best swimmer necessarily wins. Swimmers are tested and then classified into one of 10 classes. 1 being the most severe, and 10 being the most "normal" (for want of a better word). There are borderline cases all the time, whereby a swimmer may be put in the S4 class and win by a street, but then get re-classified 6 months later and get nowhere in the S5 class.

The complication in itself doesn't help. The fact that races are nowhere near as competitive in terms of closeness between the competitors makes races less appealing to me too.

I could go on but I won't.

[thetime]

Fair play. Once thing which I found a disappointing last night when I watched the opening ceremony were the references to the equipment. Poorer countries have more 'basic' wheelchairs because they cannot afford to supply more expensive ones, whereas the richer countries have the most expensive / lightweight / aerodynamic wheelchairs, so get a distinct advantage straight away. I assume each competitor has to use their own wheelchair in competition? Seems a bit unfair on the poorer countries, I would have thought they could all use the same types of wheelchairs, etc. Not sure if that's possible at all, or does each chair have to be designed to fit a specific person, and hence this would be impractical

I suppose its not much different to he Olympics which tend to favour the countries who can 'afford' to plough lots of money getting the best sport scientists, nutritionists, facilities, etc

[Spindles]

Fair play. etc..

[fred quimby]

Good point. I wonder why this hasn't been addressed, since such an inclusive event should surely desire the most level playing field it can provide.

[TheGayTent]

Better bikes than the Senegalese maybe, but no reason why the French, Australians, etc couldn't use the same technology.

[LondonTom]

Better bikes than the Senegalese maybe, but no reason why the French, Australians, etc couldn't use the same technology.

Edited August 30, 2012 by LondonTom