Paralympics

[Always hopeful]

Went to the opening session of the athletics yesterday with my family in that there London.

I'm normally quite critical of most things, but I must say that we had a great time and couldn't fault anything; from the volunteers, the security, the facilities and the actual athletics itself. It just goes to show that when we put our minds to it, our country still has what it takes to pull off something to a very high standard.

What was equally impressive were the crowds. The stadium was sold out, which for an opening session of an Olympics would have been incredible, but for an opening day of the Paralympics was unprecedented. Wandering around the packed olympic park afterwards also showed that most, if not all of the other venues were also sold out.

A great day out. Well done to everyone involved.

Come on Team GB!!

[TANGODANCER]

Will follow some of it, but I'm lost in admiration and full of the greatest respect for all those participating.

[Harry Genshaw]

Am full of admiration for the competitors but I just cant summon any interest for it. To me it's like watching reserve team football. Thankfully I'm in the minority - glad you enjoyed it though AH

[BL3]

To me it's like watching reserve team football.

Think you're confusing the Paralympics with the Olympic football tournament.

[BL3]

Gold medal and a new world record for Ellie Simmonds in the swimming. A better performance than most of our swimming team managed in the Olympics.

[Harry Genshaw]

To me it's like watching reserve team football.

Think you're confusing the Paralympics with the Olympic football tournament.

No. My fault for not being clearer but the Paralympics to me is like a lesser version of the main event i.e. the Olympics

[Always hopeful]

To me it's like watching reserve team football.

Think you're confusing the Paralympics with the Olympic football tournament.

No. My fault for not being clearer but the Paralympics to me is like a lesser version of the main event i.e. the Olympics

I know what you mean Harry (see what I did there?), but I think the trick is to try and not compare the two events. If you think of the Paralympics as a completely separate stand alone event, then I think you'd be completely blown away with it, as would most people. As it is, the main problem is that it comes on the back of the Olympics and consequently, any event could tend look second best in comparison.

[keveh]

I personally didn't see anything in the Olympics that was as good as Richard Whitehead today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df67gHjSNnE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Incredible

[Always hopeful]

I personally didn't see anything in the Olympics that was as good as Richard Whitehead today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df67gHjSNnE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Incredible

He's also the world record holder for the 1/2 and full marathon!!!!!!!

[Montreal Wanderer]

I personally didn't see anything in the Olympics that was as good as Richard Whitehead today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df67gHjSNnE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Incredible

That's very unusual. The competitors seemed to have different blades, different starting techniques, etc. Whitehead looked dead in the water and then came along jet-assisted with prufrock boots. It is certainly not a level playing field as a sport, but as an exemplar for young people triumphing over difficulties it is great to see.

[TANGODANCER]

I personally didn't see anything in the Olympics that was as good as Richard Whitehead today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df67gHjSNnE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Incredible

That's very unusual. The competitors seemed to have different blades, different starting techniques, etc. Whitehead looked dead in the water and then came along jet-assisted with prufrock boots. It is certainly not a level playing field as a sport, but as an exemplar for young people triumphing over difficulties it is great to see.

They apparently have a grading system based on degrees of difficulty in doing certain things. It's supposed to equalise things. How far it does I've no idea.

[a1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9Wlp1sTnoY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

he'd like some cheese with his whine.

:/

[keveh]

I personally didn't see anything in the Olympics that was as good as Richard Whitehead today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df67gHjSNnE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Incredible

That's very unusual. The competitors seemed to have different blades, different starting techniques, etc. Whitehead looked dead in the water and then came along jet-assisted with prufrock boots. It is certainly not a level playing field as a sport, but as an exemplar for young people triumphing over difficulties it is great to see.

They apparently have a grading system based on degrees of difficulty in doing certain things. It's supposed to equalise things. How far it does I've no idea.

Yep, there won't just be one 200m competition, they have multiple based upon the limit of your abilities. The blades that runners wear are based upon what their height would be if they were to have legs, so it's not like a 5ft guy can have huge blades.

Either way, there were other double amputee's in that race and they didn't do what he did.

[thebish]

it seems cameron and osborne's hopes of some reflected feelgood from the paralympics didn't really work! Both got booed yesterday - cameron at the aquatic centre as his picture appeared on the giant screen sat with the swimmers - and osborne as he gave out medals...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqM0Ube0oLs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

it takes a special kind of guy to get yourself booed at such a feelgood happy event

I mean - what on earth have people at an event for disabled people got to boo the coalition for?

[Gary the Enfield]

it seems cameron and osborne's hopes of some reflected feelgood from the paralympics didn't really work! Both got booed yesterday - cameron at the aquatic centre as his picture appeared on the giant screen sat with the swimmers - and osborne as he gave out medals...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqM0Ube0oLs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

it takes a special kind of guy to get yourself booed at such a feelgood happy event

I mean - what on earth have people at an event for disabled people got to boo the coalition for?

Proposed cuts to disabled sports budgets?

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... NLaSeb40pw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[thebish]

it seems cameron and osborne's hopes of some reflected feelgood from the paralympics didn't really work! Both got booed yesterday - cameron at the aquatic centre as his picture appeared on the giant screen sat with the swimmers - and osborne as he gave out medals...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqM0Ube0oLs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

it takes a special kind of guy to get yourself booed at such a feelgood happy event

I mean - what on earth have people at an event for disabled people got to boo the coalition for?

Proposed cuts to disabled sports budgets?

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... NLaSeb40pw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

it was kind of a rhetorical question - but - yes! - that and the new Dept for Work and Pensions "fitness to work" tests that paralympians were protesting about recently...

[bobo the clown]

it was kind of a rhetorical question - but - yes! - that and the new Dept for Work and Pensions "fitness to work" tests that paralympians were protesting about recently...

... as ever, it's all in the detail.

You have to deal with sad cases who are feeling hemmed in & in despair ...... while at my end I'm dealing with lazy-arsed fckwits who will abuse any opportunity to avoid doing some work.

Both exist & both need dealing with.

[thebish]

it was kind of a rhetorical question - but - yes! - that and the new Dept for Work and Pensions "fitness to work" tests that paralympians were protesting about recently...

... as ever, it's all in the detail.

You have to deal with sad cases who are feeling hemmed in & in despair ...... while at my end I'm dealing with lazy-arsed fckwits who will abuse any opportunity to avoid doing some work.

Both exist & both need dealing with.

you're so trusting of tory good intentions! bless!

[Gary the Enfield]

it seems cameron and osborne's hopes of some reflected feelgood from the paralympics didn't really work! Both got booed yesterday - cameron at the aquatic centre as his picture appeared on the giant screen sat with the swimmers - and osborne as he gave out medals...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqM0Ube0oLs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

it takes a special kind of guy to get yourself booed at such a feelgood happy event

I mean - what on earth have people at an event for disabled people got to boo the coalition for?

Proposed cuts to disabled sports budgets?

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... NLaSeb40pw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

it was kind of a rhetorical question - but - yes! - that and the new Dept for Work and Pensions "fitness to work" tests that paralympians were protesting about recently...

Aah, missed that.

[a1]

snarky political statements about the slightly right.

theres a career in that.

probably in print form.

i'dve hulk hogan-ed the boos, doing the spin up thing he does with his hand before cupping his hand to his ear.

probably while singing "i am a real american"

for the lolz.