Bring on the Paralympics

[Ghost Dog]

I kind of prefer paralympians to ordinary Olympians. Am I alone?
There is always a bit too much emphasis on swimming in the regular Olympics. And as a side note, our Olympians seemed a bit caught up in themselves this time around. You want to be inspired? Watch the wheelchair basketball! that's hard.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Bring on the Paralympics

Yep agree, the paralympians are the real heroes, so inspiring to watch. Hopefully over time there will be more athletes like Pretorious compete at the Olympics.

[azabob]

Re: Bring on the Paralympics

GD, did you hear that the during the olympic swimming trials earlier this year for able body athletes that were broadcast on channel nine, that the Paralympic athletes actually had their trials on at the exact same time, but where told when to race which was pretty much during the commercial breaks!

It still isn't clear who made that decision channel nine or swimming Australia.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Bring on the Paralympics

Great thread!

I have lots of friends competing in London, and follow them (particularly the basketballers) with interest. And yes GD, wheelchair basketball is a great sport, both to play and watch. Our mens team, the Rollers, have had lots of recent success, and we have a number of first timers suiting up. GO ROLLERS!

[AndrewP6]

Re: Bring on the Paralympics

GD, did you hear that the during the olympic swimming trials earlier this year for able body athletes that were broadcast on channel nine, that the Paralympic athletes actually had their trials on at the exact same time, but where told when to race which was pretty much during the commercial breaks!

It still isn't clear who made that decision channel nine or swimming Australia.

That's terrible. For disabled athletes, the public/commercial perception is a lot better than in the past, but clearly there's a way to go.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Bring on the Paralympics

GD, did you hear that the during the olympic swimming trials earlier this year for able body athletes that were broadcast on channel nine, that the Paralympic athletes actually had their trials on at the exact same time, but where told when to race which was pretty much during the commercial breaks!

It still isn't clear who made that decision channel nine or swimming Australia.

No Azabob, didn't hear that one. That's what you would expect from Channel nine. I think our para-athletes probably have thick skins and not unused to this kind of disrespect; doesn't make it right. Honestly, I haven't watched the Olympics at all - but will be sitting down to the Paralympics. Just seems more interesting.

Andrew, do you play BBall? The chairs must be made of titanium to take that punishment.

I saw this show on the Serbian Volleyball teams. All ex soldiers, landmines etc. You have to keep your bum on the ground. Looked hard.

[westdog54]

Re: Bring on the Paralympics

I kind of prefer paralympians to ordinary Olympians. Am I alone?
There is always a bit too much emphasis on swimming in the regular Olympics. And as a side note, our Olympians seemed a bit caught up in themselves this time around. You want to be inspired? Watch the wheelchair basketball! that's hard.

I'm partial to the wheelchair rugby, aka Murderball. Now THAT'S a sport.

The ABC do a wonderful job of broadcasting the paralympics. Hopefully Adam Hills heads up the broadcast again. By a fair margin my favourite TV personality.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Bring on the Paralympics

No Azabob, didn't hear that one. That's what you would expect from Channel nine. I think our para-athletes probably have thick skins and not unused to this kind of disrespect; doesn't make it right. Honestly, I haven't watched the Olympics at all - but will be sitting down to the Paralympics. Just seems more interesting.

Andrew, do you play BBall? The chairs must be made of titanium to take that punishment.

I saw this show on the Serbian Volleyball teams. All ex soldiers, landmines etc. You have to keep your bum on the ground. Looked hard.

Only stopped playing in 2010, had done for years before that. Most of the basketball chairs are alloy, but you do find some titanium ones (mega-expensive though!)

Unfortunately us disabled athletes are not unused to being looked down upon, but things, as I mentioned, have improved a lot.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Bring on the Paralympics

I'm partial to the wheelchair rugby, aka Murderball. Now THAT'S a sport.

The ABC do a wonderful job of broadcasting the paralympics. Hopefully Adam Hills heads up the broadcast again. By a fair margin my favourite TV personality.

Hills does do a good job. My favourite memory from Beijing's Games, was in the final of the Men's wheelchair basketball, when special comments man Nick Morris, a member of the 1996 gold-medal winning Rollers, shouted in excitement "Australia has just beaten Canadia!!" Nick's a mate, and I still rib him about that!

[Missing Dog]

Re: Bring on the Paralympics

A workmates son jake lappin is competing I the 800 and 1500 he is a great bloke and the dedication he has is just as much if not more than able bodied athletes so get on team jake for a final. I think he has the Aussie record for the 400 but it isn't being competed for in London but watch t his young bloke he is on the rise !!!!

[ledge]

Re: Bring on the Paralympics

A work freind of mine just married the only Cambodian in the para Olympics no idea what she is in though.

[jeemak]

Re: Bring on the Paralympics

Let's not bash up C9 (more than they already have been over the course of the last three weeks) for telecasting the abled bodied athletes over the paralympians during the Olympic trials. Irrespective of what we think is right and wrong, all C9 do is what they research as best for their own commercial interests, and they're bound by law to do that. Unfortunately, the organisation responsible for managing the Paralympians representing Australia have to fall in line with this, and they might actually argue that being placed on the same bill in front of the crowd the abled bodied trials secured is good exposure for their sport (which is a bit of an unfortunate reality).

I'm not going to argue that our society is as readily accepting of Paralympians as they should be, and it's a shame because they are as equally talented, if not moreso when you consider funding and personal as well as associated effort contributed is concerned. I suppose it just goes to show how far our society (which is currently built from a utilitarian perspective) has to go with respect to equality.

[Bornadog]

Re: Bring on the Paralympics

Have a look at this great promo video:

[KT31]

Re: Bring on the Paralympics

Have a look at this great promo video:

Great advert.

[EasternWest]

Re: Bring on the Paralympics

Have a look at this great promo video:

I only just saw this.

Damn good. Pulls no punches, but makes you want to cheer them all as athletes, not as disabled athletes. Brilliant stuff.