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Paralympics 2012

By patsylabrador, in The Nesting Box

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patsylabrador Effusive Egg Layer

patsylabrador

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Started watching the sports today. Swimming heats, I didn't expect them to be as exciting and the crowds are glorious again. Channel 4 have an excellent guide to the various categories. It is also interesting watching how these athletes adapt and use their bodies. Somebody said the other day that they don't want to be judged by what they can't do but by what they can do.

I haven't watched the opening ceremony yet, I taped it so I could ff the adverts.

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stu Chicken Eggspert

stu

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I still don't understand why this event has to be run separately from the main olympics.

I 'do' admire anyone who can actually really 'beat' something like a disability, as it shows that person to have a far stronger character than I have.

 

Out of respect for the combatants... I will be treating them exactly the same, and watching as much of this as the 'main' event... hardly any of it.

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Chickendoodle Chatty Chicken

Chickendoodle

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Stu - as I understand it the Paralympics are a parallel games to the Olympics and are not run by the same organisations - hence the different logos. Some countries have not even staged the Paralymics in the same cities as the Olympics and Russia refused to stage it all in Moscow as they said they had no disabled people :eh:

When interviewed, the Paralympians seem to like the games being separate.

The logistics would be pretty difficult if they were staged together - double the size of the village and more venues for the different sports (let alone the size of the athletes parade - they would be parading all night!)

 

Have watched some of the cycling today. Mind blowing seeing cyclists hurtling around the track with one leg or one arm

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stu Chicken Eggspert

stu

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That would all seem fair enough to me then, thanks.

I guess I'm just not that interested in sport, outside of the football.

 

It just sticks out as both a celebration for the athletes, and a little bit of social discrimination too.

 

I might settle down and watch something.

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Seagazer Passionate Poultry Keeper

Seagazer

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My DD was a performer in the Opening Ceremony last night and has a very natty suit with words on hanging up on the door at the moment. They came in with red pods and danced to Spasticus Autisticus. She has thoroughly enjoyed the experience from start to beginning and is a wee bit emotional today that its all over. She was very annoyed to discover that the Sky recording of the ceremony stopped recording before her bit as it was over-running. Luckily the internet has been providing clips of it.

 

If I was clever enough I would put a photo on of her but I've only got one from her FB page and I can't figure out how to do it :roll: I'm sure she'll show me how to get one.

 

I'm sure she'll have some more - I know she had her photo taken with Ian McKellan - she said he was wonderful and gave her a huge cuddle :D She had some red doc martin type boots on which are all apparently going to homeless people, I think that's really nice.

 

Watched a bit of the swimming heats this morning. Absolutely amazing, we were gobsmacked. One of our GB team broke the PR which was brilliant.

 

Hope to watch much more. :D

 

Just seen that we've won our first medal - Silver in the Velodrome for Time Trial :dance::clap::dance:

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sjp Effusive Egg Layer

sjp

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What a shame the BBc are not puting the games live on their website like they did before.

Go team GB :dance::dance::dance:

 

Sage

they don't have the broadcast rights thats why.

Channel 4 have been the UK broadcast partner for quite a number of years but I think this is the first time they have show it live

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Griffin Effusive Egg Layer

Griffin

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I deliberately chose the evening event :lol: We are planning on getting the train quite early though to spend the day sight seeing. It'd be rude not to. Eldest daughter is making a list of places she says we must visit. Apparently I'm going to a Hummingbird Bakery. I'm going to have to buy cakes. Oh the hardship :lol:

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TAJ Chicken Addict

TAJ

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Just got back home after 2 great days at the paralympics - fantastic! We didn't get any tickets for the Olympics and applied for lots of paralympic tickets in the first ballot. So on the first day (Thursday) we spent the morning in the Veladrome - all heats, but the heats for things we then went on to get medals in, so we viewed them getting through to the finals. We then had the afternoon to explore the Olympic park - an amazing exhibition by a company that makes prosthetics and the modern technolgy developments are amazing.

 

We then spent Thursday evening in the aquatic centre and saw 12 finals, including a British gold - the 1st pool gold - non in the July/Aug Olympics (plus other GB swimming medals), so amazing and some classes where absolutely amazing - seeing someone doing breaststroke with no legs and one arm and in a time faster than I could ever do is just such an achievement acievement. I think they showed in the papers some swimmers without arms starting in the water holding a towel in their mouths in a start position, but at that end of the race in the poolyou have to end by touching the sensor at the end of the pool - they do it at full force with their heads!! (see the Chinese winner - I think she was called Lu Dong) It looked very painful to me.

 

Then we were back in the Olympic park today for the mornings atheltics session - saw the GB shotput bronze and the heats for other GB atheletes how went on to medal in their finals this evening.

 

Certainly the paralympics are getting as big an audience onsite as back in July with venues sold out and the atmosphere is fantastic - go Team GB.

 

If you see one of these get one: http://shop.london2012.com/adidas-Phoenix-Battle-Back-women's-t-shirt/adidas-Phoenix-Battle-Back-women's-t-shirt/18100212,default,pd.html - there is a men's version as well and only for paralympics - for each one sold Addidas gives £5 to the Patalympics funding initiative.

 

Can you tell I had a great time?

 

Tracy

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Willow Chicken Addict

Willow

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Went to the equestrian afternoon event today. Saw Lee Pearson win his silver. Amazed by the Japanese rider, he's 57 and only took up riding 4 years ago after an accident. I think you have to ride to appreciate how hard dressage is, so much is subtle but firm muscle movements I can't imagine how you cope disabled. :shock:

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Seagazer Passionate Poultry Keeper

Seagazer

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We got tickets for the athletics this evening - it was fantastic to get on the Olympic Park and brilliant to watch so many fantastic athletes.

 

We especially liked the French triple jumper, he got the crowd going, clapping, cheering and 'ahhing' when he overstep. He got silver in the end.

 

Great evening and once again the gamesmakers, police & soldiers gave it their all. :D

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Janepie33 Chatty Chicken

Janepie33

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Went to the equestrian afternoon event today. Saw Lee Pearson win his silver. Amazed by the Japanese rider, he's 57 and only took up riding 4 years ago after an accident. I think you have to ride to appreciate how hard dressage is, so much is subtle but firm muscle movements I can't imagine how you cope disabled. :shock:

 

We were there too!! :) Amazing wasn't it. :clap:

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