paralympics 2012

[strummer77]

Though this is another reason the whole thing doesn't appeal - just how much is down to the athlete and how much down to the blades (and their length...)

[windy_miller]

If these blades are so much better, why doesn't he wear them? Rules are there for him as well. Sour grapes because he has ran that time before, even in the heats.

As for not appealing, surely these 'fairness' factors come into play in the olympics too? Standard of bikes, quality of horses etc. In fact, the quality of coaching and enhancement programmes available to certain athletes due to their wealth and/or background makes a huge difference and gives certain athletes huge advantages in both the Olympics and the Paralympics. That isn't as obvious as its a long-term factor, but it is a massive obstacle and arguably more important than any equipment deficit which can be overcome at any given moment.

Anyway how can you not love this?

[strummer77]

Can someone please explain to me why Oscar Pistorious gets to run in 2 different 100m events?

Edited September 6, 2012 by strummer77

[lharris92]

great day of everything, made good tv

[themuel]

London, and by extension the UK, has absolutely nailed the Olympics and Paralympics. A proper triumph for all the world to see.

[strummer77]

London, and by extension the UK, has absolutely nailed the Olympics and Paralympics. A proper triumph for all the world to see.

[windy_miller]

He doesn't does he? He lost in the 200m and is tonight racing in the 100m.

[Spindles]

So true and this is coming from somebody who was very cynical about the whole thing from the moment it was announced until the moment I stood in Hyde Park to help steward round 1. I'm typically cynical and I don't like being wrong but I was.

Fair play to everyone that organised it. London 2012 was and is absolutely fantastic.

[themuel]

I don't want it to end :-(

[Spindles]

+1 to that. Was a great celebration from start to finish, I quite enjoyed the sport as well

[LondonTom]

That was so awesome, the 2nd best of the 4 ceremonies I thought! Even with coldplay given most of it!

We saw the best of britain and london this summer!, it's been amazing! The build ups been wierd and full of moaning by locals...but my oh my I wouldn't change any of it! It's been brilliant!

Lets just hope the legacy brings the goods now!

[pink_triangle]

That was so awesome, the 2nd best of the 4 ceremonies I thought! Even with coldplay given most of it!

[lharris92]

As for the coverage it was generally a thumbs up for me, for all their faults it was unprecedented for a station to devote so much time to paralympic sport. I also thought some of the presenters with disabilities were excellent and my hope is that we see more of them. If able bodied people can commentate on paralympic sport, theres no reason why people with disabilties cant commentate on able bodied sport. The presentation wasnt as slick as the BBC but it was a big improvement from the world championship last year, so progress is being made. The only big low point for me was the poor marathon coverage yesterday where they only showed the last 200m, Im unsure if this was planeed or there were technical problems but it was disapoointing for an event with 2 gold medal contenders for GB.

[eFestivals]

a joke that isn't intended to be funny...?

there's a novel concept

what I'm saying is that it's a joke if you find it funny. I'm not thinking that everyone would find it funny, cos some people are humourless idjuts, as TGT got to prove.

Edited September 10, 2012 by eFestivals

[Ed209]

I thought last night's closing ceremony was better than the other x-factor style one... but Chris Martin's voice was flippin' hard work some of the time. Half the tunes were good, half of them were just gash. The spectacle was pretty impressive.

And Seb Coe's speech was quite good until he fell at the last hurdle by mentioning the "Made In Britain" thing. Why can't we just celebrate humanity?

I also thought the taster for Brazil's Olympics made Britain's 'attempt' at the Bejing closing ceremony look as daft as it was. It'll be an all-singing all-dancing carnival in Rio.

[the_hedge]

Why shouldn't there be a bit of national pride in how these games were put on? The feeling of inclusiveness brought on by the fact we do multiculturalism better than pretty much any country in the world, the sense of humour and fun we bought to it, the enthusiasm of the crowds, the way we embraced the paralympics. These games were excellent, but also they were very british, and they embodied a mindset that we create collectively.

I doubt you would begrudge the guy at Rio the opportunity to say "Made in Brazil" if they put on an all-singing all-dancing carnival.

[LondonTom]

I hope Channel 4 take the ball and run with it regarding paralympic sport, however Im slightly concerened that all the talk is about Rio. I have become fascinated by the stories of Peacock, Cockcroft etc and want to be able to follow up these stories in 2013 and not wait 4 years. The trouble is that I am unsure what the event circuit is like for paralympic sports outside the oympics and dont feel they have taken the oppurtunity to inform the public on this.

[themuel]

I think national pride can be misplaced, but last night it wasn't. The 'Made In Britain' stuff was fine by me. It's ok to give yourself a pat on the back sometimes.

[Ed209]

well I had nothing to do with anything, so I don't understand why I should be proud about anything to do with it

apart from a possible pride in humanity, that 'we' are capable of lots of things

[Spindles]

Nicely put.

[Ed209]

why does a national mindset of inclusiveness and acceptance sound scary to you? its true

while we are all individuals who have our own ideas and emotions, we are also a product of our surroundings and a contributor to other people's surroundings

[Ed209]

Seriously? This is neither a particularly challenging or controversial idea

[Ed209]

a general and collective set of beliefs held by a population of people,

e.g. America has a different national mindset towards gun ownership than we do

Edited September 13, 2012 by Ed209

[Ed209]

that's just silly

some Americans have a different mindset to some people from other countries

what's the uk mindset?

Most people want pretty much the same things, all over the world. Any differences are just cultural.

Edited September 13, 2012 by Ed209

[Ed209]

it's a cultural mindset. People from the uk - on the whole - would bring back capital punishment if they had the chance. It's nothing to do with anything what most people want. Tell people they'll get more money if they vote for whoever, and most people wil vote for them.