153 replies to this topic

[Saintslass]

I thought I'd start a new thread about the Paralympic Games as the other one went a bit off topic and besides, it's a bit old!

I've just watched the last of Jon Snow's Channel 4 show leading up to the start of the Games, which begin with the opening ceremony tomorrow night (Wednesday) at 8pm on Channel 4. Unfortunately the torch lighting ceremony fell behind time at Stoke Mandeville and so they couldn't show it live, which is a shame, but hopefully there will be something to see in the run up to the opening ceremony.

Not sure Jon Snow is the best anchor for this but hopefully he'll warm into the role!

I learned quite a bit about paralympic sport from the show. I was ignorant of some of the sports - for example blind running, which is incredible really as the guide runner has to tune in to the runner to the degree where they run as one. That must take years of practice and a good relationship with the runner.

One sport I am particularly looking forward to seeing is wheelchair rugby. It looks seriously feisty and I hope that it is shown at a time when I can actually watch it.

I wonder how many medals TeamGB will end up with this time? They were second in Bejing and so they have set the bar really high.

[John Drake]

Really looking forward to this. I've had Olympic withdrawal symptoms since 12th August.

It'll be interesting to see how the coverage differs on Channel 4, but good to know that Clare Balding will be involved.

I've got tickets to the athletics in the Olympic Stadium on the final Saturday night, Sept 8, and while I can't wait to be there, it'll also be quite sad to see the end of the whole London 2012 sporting experience. It has been wonderful so far, and I'm sure the Paralympics will have us all cheering and smiling again for the next week and a half.

Come on Team GB!

[John Drake]

Blog post by Channel 4 newsman Krishnan Guru-Murthy about what to expect from tonight's opening ceremony.

http://blogs.channel...ightenment/2619

[Saint Billinge]

Some amazing people who get on with life in order to challenge themselves. It puts to shame those people who moan about a sniffle or two. I'm looking forward to the opening ceremony as well as following the Games' progress. It appears that all tickets have been sold for tonight.

Edited by Saint Billinge, 29 August 2012 - 04:50 PM.

[Methven Hornet]

Some amazing people who get on with life in order to challenge themselves. It puts to shame those people who moan about a sniffle or two. I'm looking forward to the opening ceremony as well as following the Games progress. It appears that all tickets have been sold for tonight.

Listening to the story about the origins of the paralympic sports, it was indeed the word you choose, "challenge", that was the inspiration. The doctor charged with caring for a group of badly injured/disabled men, a German I think, noticed that the only physical rehabilitation work the patients did was throwing and catching a medicine ball. His idea was that exercise would contribute so much more if it had the element of competitive play about it, and he set about designing and adapting games to suit the various disabilities.

That's a lesson that everyone can learn from: that the exercise that we all so badly need, no matter our age, is so much easier if it is enjoyable: if it is play, and competitive play at that.

I am what you could label as 'able-bodied' but I do suffer from a few conditions that, basically, require me to exercise in order to stay healthy. But when I cycle, run or swim during the week it is so that I can compete more effectively at the weekend. I am not going out on that training run in the pouring rain to stave off illness or ill-health - I am doing it to achieve my own sporting goals, and good physical and mental health is just a beneficial side-effect. That is the guiding principle behind these games.

[Saint Billinge]

Listening to the story about the origins of the paralympic sports, it was indeed the word you choose, "challenge", that was the inspiration. The doctor charged with caring for a group of badly injured/disabled men, a German I think, noticed that the only physical rehabilitation work the patients did was throwing and catching a medicine ball. His idea was that exercise would contribute so much more if it had the element of competitive play about it, and he set about designing and adapting games to suit the various disabilities.

That's a lesson that everyone can learn from: that the exercise that we all so badly need, no matter our age, is so much easier if it is enjoyable: if it is play, and competitive play at that.

I am what you could label as 'able-bodied' but I do suffer from a few conditions that, basically, require me to exercise in order to stay healthy. But when I cycle, run or swim during the week it is so that I can compete more effectively at the weekend. I am not going out on that training run in the pouring rain to stave off illness or ill-health - I am doing it to achieve my own sporting goals, and good physical and mental health is just a beneficial side-effect. That is the guiding principle behind these games.

I hiked for seven miles yesterday through some glorious countryside and felt so free and lucky. Some of the athletes competing cannot do likewise but they do make the most of their talents. I really do admire them for their get up and go attitude.

[John Drake]

Some amazing people who get on with life in order to challenge themselves. It puts to shame those people who moan about a sniffle or two. I'm looking forward to the opening ceremony as well as following the Games progress. It appears that all tickets have been sold for tonight.

I've heard that all the tickets have been sold for every event, not just tonight's ceremony. That's a first for the Paralympics and a credit to everyone involved.

[Futtocks]

There are some tickets held in reserve, which will be released every morning. Those are also expected to sell out almost immediately. Amazing, and very good news.

[Saintslass]

Really looking forward to this. I've had Olympic withdrawal symptoms since 12th August.

Ditto! Life has just not been the same!

Come on Team GB!

Dead right!

[Saintslass]

I've heard that all the tickets have been sold for every event, not just tonight's ceremony.

I read in The Times this morning that wheelchair rugby (murderball) sold out within three days of tickets going on sale, and there is a 12,000 capacity in there. To sell almost 2.5 million tickets is incredible IMO.

btw I don't know what coverage other papers are giving to the Paralympics but so far it seems The Times are doing exactly the same as they did for the Olympics: a wraparound poster, reports at the start of the paper and a pullout section called 'The Games'. Excellent coverage.

[Methven Hornet]

I hiked for seven miles yesterday through some glorious countryside and felt so free and lucky. Some of the athletes competing cannot do likewise but they do make the most of their talents. I really do admire them for their get up and go attitude.

I must admit that would be the thing I would miss the most: having the physical independence to just take off onto open countryside. People can do so much in wheelchairs but travelling over rough terrain is still (as far as I know) not feasible.

[Johnoco]

Heartwarming to see they have allowed the main speech to be done by a Lancastrian. That's true inclusivity.

[Shadow]

Heartwarming to see they have allowed the main speech to be done by a Lancastrian. That's true inclusivity.

Oh, Lancastrian.
I assumed he was foreign as I couldn't understand his accent

[Johnoco]

I see they did a version of Ian Durys' 'Spasticus Autisticus'. I remember that coming out (1980/81?) and it was banned by the BBC. I think it was anyway...there certainly was a lot of controversy. Interesting how times have changed, and in this case clearly for the better.

Edited by Johnoco, 29 August 2012 - 11:10 PM.

[Johnoco]

Oh, Lancastrian.
I assumed he was foreign as I couldn't understand his accent

Something about barm cakes and pudding and chips I hear. Marvelous how these disabilities are accommodated today.

[Jerry the Berry]

Heartwarming to see they have allowed the main speech to be done by a Lancastrian. That's true inclusivity.

[hindle xiii]

Something about barm cakes and pudding and chips I hear. Marvelous how these disabilities are accommodated today.

Oh don't. Thems who I have to work with. *sigh* Luke a cuke buke over thur on that buzz.

[Severus]

Oh don't. Thems who I have to work with. *sigh* Luke a cuke buke over thur on that buzz.

As a southerner with a normal accent its cute when you northerners take the pee out of each others.

[Johnoco]

As a southerner **with a normal accent** its cute when you northerners take the pee out of each others.

Ooo-arr, that be it.

[Futtocks]

Spotted at Camden Town tube station.