PARALYMPICS

Gadabout My sister went up yesterday and I've just had an hour long conversation about her day. Hope you waved a ! I agree that there was so much going on in the stadium it was non stop excitement. What the television doesn't record is the sound of that ROAR............tingling!

I was in the Stadium on Friday evening & saw the marathon on Sunday. I noticed how quickly I forgot the disabilities & just saw competitors as athletes. I actually found watching the Paralympics more exciting than watching the Olympics. Wheelchairs thundering past at speed (even in the marathon) were akin to chariot races. Because of all the ddifferent categories there was much more going on all over the stadium. I became so involved that when I realised my day care of GS coincided with yesterday's Parade through London, I decided to go up & found a good spot near the Mansion House without much waiting. I was amazed by how much bigger and better the Parade & the crowds were than I'd expected. I was surprised by how the hairs on the back of my neck tingled as we came up close to all these amazing people. Most looked so young as well so great hopes for Rio. I've now vowed to be less blase & cynical about these events in future.

eGJ husband said the same as you , the whole atmosphere yesterday was incredible, they loved every minute of it. Shame no medals , but there you go ! [flag torch]

Being there on Thursday evening was absolutely amazing; the whole experience was wonderful The French athlete singing the Marseilles (sorry spelling wonky at this time in the morning) got the whole stadium cheering at her enthusiasm {and I joined in too!!} Unforgettable. Have missed it until Friday as was abroad with little television cvoverage, but have been glued since my visit on Thursday. Hope the Closing Ceremony lives up to your descriptions of the opening one.

All these athletes are so inspiring! I shall be sorry to miss the closing ceremony tomorrow.

Yeah!!!

You are right on themoney there Soop ! It must be thrilling to see them in real life , i couldn"t go . [will the emoticon come up ?]

All the paralympic athletes, regardless of whether they win a medal or not, are testament to the true spirit of gamesmanship. I am in awe of their individual endeavour and achievements.

Just dropped DH off at station to go up to London , where he is meeting DD. SIL, and DG"S to go to the paralympics . Lucky them , they are beyond excited . Thrilling ! [flag torch]

I wonder if the number of medals won, so different from the other Olympic games, tells us something about attitudes to disability in different countries.
Australia is well up the table, and the USA is well down. GB continues to do well. Good on 'em!

What excitement tonight , David Weir winning, Ellie Simmonds yesterday, and the amazing athletes running on those blades at such speeds.
The Equestrian events are so impressive, I have enjoyed both Olympics and Paralympic events more than I ever imagined I would!

I wonder if the paralympics - which I am loving - will help change attitudes to disability? I can't help feeling that the sight of so many people with disabilities excelling on television every day must encourage us all to view those with disabilities as impressive rather than pitiable.

While doing the ironing and managing to put up the hem on a pair of trousers, I have been watching paralympic cycling - fantastic riding from Sarah Storey - and have just swum 400 metres with Ellie Simmomds. What a swimmer! They are trying to interview her at the moment and she is trying so hard to control the tears. I wish they would give her a few minutes to collect herself!

Channel 4 is a pain with its adverts and poor production values. There are too many talking heads and not enough action.

I just wish is was on the BBC, so that I could sit and enjoy it feeling that the two events were being presented as true equals - different, but of exactly the same value.

I think that's the whole point merlot. These people are not 'freaks' and I know you didn't say they were, but many people still see them like that. Baroness Grey Thompson, said that she had been spat at in the street and when she was pregnant had been told 'people like you shouldn't have children'.

The soldier on the wire lost his legs in Afghanistan. I think we are so used to seeing amputees with the modern prosthetics fitted that we are in danger of forgetting that, for example, they go to bed legless. So yes, the flapping trouser legs were disturbing, but a reminder of their very real loss.

I didn't find the dance of the legless man disturbing. I think it was amazing the strength he has built up in his arms, to be that controlled in the dance movements. And the spirit he shows in doing it.

I did feel a bit odd about the flapping trouser leg but I guess that's more to do with me than the actual thing.

I'm glad you've said that, jeni because so did I. I also didn't like the scene where the man carrying the flame arrived high up on a zip wire, his empty trouser leg flapping in the wind. I hope nobody takes this the wrong way because I'm full of admiration for the paralympians but isn't there a fine line between an amazing spectacle and a freak show? I worried that their eagerness to appear on equal terms with the able bodied competitors would rob them of their dignity.

Thank you numberplease for proving to me that it is not only me who finds the 'ads' so disruptive. they seemed to be every few minutes and lasted for ages?
The coverage of the able-bodied Olympics was great being basically uninterrupted.
I appreciate Channel 4 needs the revenue from ads but like you say, they do have a lot to learn as I noticed the craziness of telling us a new swimming world record had been set - then showing us the event. Bit like reading the last chapter of a book before starting it!
What amazing achievements so far and loads more to come - brilliant - well done and good luck to all the competitors

Mrs JamJam re food at the Olympic Park: I had been told you could only get McDonalds (my stomach churned) and you couldn't take your own food in. However, I went to the Park 2 weeks ago and there were lots of different foodstalls. I accepted it would be pricey but the quality was pretty foul, though I was restricted to non-spicey, low fat food & saw more promising places later. They also run out quickly so go early. Stalls near exits are closed down when big crowds are coming in and out of venues. Take an empty water bottle and fill it up early at the water stands. You can take food in as long as it's in reasonable amounts (ie not big picnic bags and BBQs!). I got an M&S roll in without trouble & will take a bit more when I go again next Friday. There's so much going on there's hardly time to feel hungry.
Enjoy yourself - I'll look out for you!

I don't know why! But I found the dance by the leg less man rather disturbing. It is strange, more because I'm disabled myself!
What did other people think?

Yes, Jess. I have very little education in the sciences, but value highly the place it holds in this world.

Gold, Silver and Bronze ! Great achievements.

I agree butternut The arts, by their very nature, are so good at blowing their own trumpet. Scientists aren't. Nice to see science in forefront for a change.

I loved it, but it was slightly marred by the ad breaks, as are thev games now that they`ve begun. CH4 have a lot to learn about presenting events like this. This morning, during the swimming, they had a discussion, then told us that a swimmer had just set a new world record, then proceeded to show it. Why not have shown it as it happened, or at least have shown it without giving the result away first?