Paralympics 2012, 29/8 - 9/9: Information, News and General chat

[Sallydaisy]

http://www.andymurrayfanforum.com/images/olympics/London2012_para.png



The Paralympics are coming 'home' ...
It all began at Stoke Mandeville, Bucks, during the 1948 London Olympic Games.
You can read more about it on the Paralympic website here. (http://www.paralympic.org/TheIPC/HWA/HistoryoftheMovement)

The British Paralympic website is here (http://www.paralympics.org.uk/gb)(TeamGB).
The Olympic Park is currently being adapted (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19241331) ready for the Paralympics.
There is quite a lot of information on the BBC website under the heading Disability Sport (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/disability-sport/) and including schedule (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/disability-sport/14662054) information and who is competing for Great Britain (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/disability-sport/18306674).

This is Mandeville - named for the founding venue of the Paralympics.
http://www.buckspct.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/mandeville-300x224.jpg


Dates
The Summer Paralympics 2012 starts here in Great Britain on Wednesday 29th August and ends on the 9th September 2012. Many of the venues will the same as those for the Olympic Games whilst some will be adapted for specialist Paralympic sports.

Opening and Closing Ceremonies
More details to follow, Coldplay are booked for the closing ceremony ...

[Sallydaisy]

Sports and Venues

The Paralympics event is being held at the Olympics Park in East London.
It's another opportunity to visit the venue and be part of the Games.

Many of the stadia are being adapted for disability use - we'll add information as it becomes available.

Here's the sports which will be taking place.


Archery (http://www.paralympics.org.uk/sports/archery)
Athletics (http://www.paralympics.org.uk/sports/athletics)
Boccia (http://www.paralympics.org.uk/sports/boccia)
Cycling (http://www.paralympics.org.uk/sports/cycling)
Equestrian (http://www.paralympics.org.uk/sports/equestrian)
Football 5-a-side (http://www.paralympics.org.uk/sports/football-5-a-side)
Football 7-a-side (http://www.paralympics.org.uk/sports/football-7-a-side)
Goalball (http://www.paralympics.org.uk/sports/goalball)
Judo (http://www.paralympics.org.uk/sports/judo)
Powerlifting (http://www.paralympics.org.uk/sports/powerlifting)
Rowing (http://www.paralympics.org.uk/sports/rowing)
Sailing (http://www.paralympics.org.uk/sports/sailing)
Shooting (http://www.paralympics.org.uk/sports/shooting)
Sitting Volleyball (http://www.paralympics.org.uk/sports/sitting-volleyball)
Swimming (http://www.paralympics.org.uk/sports/swimming)
Table Tennis (http://www.paralympics.org.uk/sports/table-tennis)
Wheelchair Basketball (http://www.paralympics.org.uk/sports/wheelchair-basketball)
Wheelchair Fencing (http://www.paralympics.org.uk/sports/wheelchair-fencing)
Wheelchair Rugby (http://www.paralympics.org.uk/sports/wheelchair-rugby)
Wheelchair Tennis (http://www.paralympics.org.uk/sports/wheelchair-tennis)

[Sallydaisy]

TV and Radio Coverage
Channel 4 is the official Paralympic TV broadcaster - see their website here. (http://paralympics.channel4.com/)
BBC is giving Radio coverage - see here coverage on live radio. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/disability-sport/19118962)

[Sallydaisy]

The Paralympic Flame

The Paralympics are taking a different approach to their flame lighting to involve the 4 parts of Great Britain. Starting on mountain tops the flames will then be transported to the 4 major cities.

Four separate teams are scaling the highest peaks of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to create the Paralympic flames. The teams are made up of scouts, mountain guides and people with disabilities, and are expected to take about four hours to reach the peaks.

Once at the summits of Scafell Pike, Snowdon, Ben Nevis and Slieve Donard, they will strike flint against steel to spark fire. The flames will then be carried down in lanterns ahead of celebrations in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.
Each city has a Festival planned to celebrate the Paralympians who will also light 'cauldrons' :-




London, 24 August - Trafalgar Square
Belfast, 25 August - City Hall and Stormont
Edinburgh, 26 August - The Mound and Meadowbank Sports Centre
Cardiff, 27 August - City Hall and Roald Dahl Place


The flames will then unite in the home of the Paralympic movement, Stoke Mandeville, (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14896781) ahead of a 24-hour torch relay (http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/torch-relay/route/) which starts at 20:00 BST on 28 August and travels overnight to London.

Over the 24hrs the Paralympic flame will be carried 92 miles by 580 torchbearers (http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/torch-relay/torchbearers/), working in teams of five, from Stoke Mandeville Stadium through Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and all six of London's host boroughs to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford.


The Paralympic Games opening ceremony takes place on Wednesday 29 August.


Extract from the BBC website - read more here (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19333610)

[cazza99]

The Slice ‏@TheSliceTweets

The #Paralympics start tomorrow! Listen to some #TeamGB well-wishes from the Murrays, James Ward, Leon Smith and... Mo! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrBaf2K0z0E&feature=g-u-u

[Sallydaisy]

The Paralympics Flame began its' run to London yesterday.
More details here on the BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19407807).


Thousands of people have turned out to welcome the Paralympic flame which is en route to the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony of the Games.


Crowds have lined the route of the 24-hour torch relay (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19406329) which began in Stoke Mandeville on Tuesday night. The flame arrived in north London almost two hours late but organisers said they were now making up the time.


The Queen and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are due to attend the opening ceremony which starts at 20:30 BST.

Crowds gathered in the market square in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, to watch the start of the relay and thousands more turned out overnight along the route to cheer on the torchbearers.

[cazza99]

Opening Ceremony is going on at the moment.

[RoastLamb]

We're getting it on our tv at 9 p.m. our time.

[JAMES4578]

I'd say it's worth watching!

[Linda]

France have got a huge team! :shocked:

[traveller7]

Opening ceremony has had some lovely music in it tonight
Song from handel anyone know what is called? Sung by the soprano in a gold dress!

[cazza99]

I ended up switching over to watch Laur abeat Kim. Its a shame they were on at the same time as the opening ceremony.

[Sallydaisy]

Some incredible scenes at the Paralympic opening ceremony! A rather more 'classical' event and it was nice that the athletes came in ahead of most of the 'entertainment' so they were part of it all.

I liked that they've used the same flame cauldron as for the main Olympics and the Beverley Knight rendition of "I am what I am" was very appropriate.

London doing everyone proud again!
:thumbup:

[traveller7]

We have won 7 medals today already, 3 in the pool which levels with what we achieved in the main Olympics including a gold.

[RoastLamb]

We watched the opening ceremony this morning. So nice. I had goosebumps for most of it.

[cazza99]

I do hope they repeat it after they finish. I missed the last half as I switched over to watch Laura beat Kim.

[RoastLamb]

They had this massive sculpture of a pregnant woman with no hands or legs. Very poignant. Based on an artist. Wonder if her baby was fully formed.

And I loved the song "I am what I am" at the end.

[traveller7]

Yes the sculpture is quite famous over here

[traveller7]

We have 16 medals with 3 golds so far on Day 2, 3rd on table behind China and Australia.

[RoastLamb]

Wowee that's good. We got a gold on the first day (yesterday) and a silver and I was so chuffed seeing as we only got one gold through the Olympics and that was on day 8.

[karanga]

Opening ceremony has had some lovely music in it tonight
Song from handel anyone know what is called? Sung by the soprano in a gold dress!

Eternal Source of Light Divine from Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne (Handel).

Incredibly beautiful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9qAYNKAi54&feature=related

[traveller7]

Eternal Source of Light Divine from Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne (Handel).

Incredibly beautiful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9qAYNKAi54&feature=related

Thanks, I managed to find out as the singer is part of a choral group called 'The Sixteen' who I did a workshop with last year and who are a favourite of mine. It is so moving a piece.

[traveller7]

As it stands
GBR have 53 medals = 15 GOLD 24 SILVER 14 BRONZE
Most of them have come from the cycling and swimming so far!
We are behind China and just in front of Australia in the overall medals table.

[JAMES4578]

Yes doing very well,some great performances! Glad that the games have been well supported, though everyone won't be interested to the same extent as in the Olympics.

[super8]

Esther Vergeer has made it to the semi finals of the tennis here.

Ok, not big news. But her winning streak in singles?

468 matches! Hasn't been beaten since 2003.

42 Grand Slam titles
3 singles gold medals from previous Paralympics

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9519109/Paralympics-2012-Dutch-legend-Esther-Vergeer-must-be-the-most-dominant-champion-in-sporting-history.html

Possibly not the most dominant champion in sporting history, but probably in tennis.

Oh, and I think that the prize money for winning a slam title is about $10,000.

[traveller7]

Medal count

GOLD 20 SILVER 28 BRONZE 21 = 69

Gone past how many the main Olympians won now!

[-J-]

Medal count

GOLD 20 SILVER 28 BRONZE 21 = 69

Gone past how many the main Olympians won now!kind of irrelevant stat kinda like comparing apples n oranges

[JAMES4578]

Medal count

GOLD 20 SILVER 28 BRONZE 21 = 69

Gone past how many the main Olympians won now!


kind of irrelevant stat kinda like comparing apples n oranges

We've been stronger in the Paralympics for some time, GB had 102 medals in Bejing with 42 being Gold.However, obviously on course for a fantastic games! Great to see David Weir with the double last night,he's been pretty awesome!

[rondun]

Quad doubles final is just about to start- GBR v USA :GBflag:
(although we're getting gubbed by the US in the wheelchair rugby)

[traveller7]

I am just in awe of them all superb athletes.

[-J-]

We've been stronger in the Paralympics for some time, GB had 102 medals in Bejing with 42 being Gold.However, obviously on course for a fantastic games! Great to see David Weir with the double last night,he's been pretty awesome!stronger? how on earth do you come to that conclusion. as inspirational as the parras are they are hardly as competitive as the real Olympics.

[JAMES4578]

stronger? how on earth do you come to that conclusion. as inspirational as the parras are they are hardly as competitive as the real Olympics.

I'm not comparing the performances but stating that GB have consistently won more medals in the paralympics so the currently tally was largely expected as not sure Traveller7 realised this.

[traveller7]

Yes I did realise - just stating a fact even it means nothing in terms of competitiveness.

[JAMES4578]

Yes I did realise - just stating a fact even it means nothing in terms of competitiveness.

ok, nonetheless think there have been some amazing performances!

[traveller7]

Indeed - mind blowing how they compete when they are blind and limbs amazes me.

[-J-]

I'm not comparing the performances but stating that GB have consistently won more medals in the paralympics so the currently tally was largely expected as not sure Traveller7 realised this.sorry, just a pet hate of mine

[Lizzim]

To be honest whether the Paralympics compare in terms of competition doesn't matter to me......the things that these athletes have to overcome makes their achievements even more impressive!

[-J-]

To be honest whether the Paralympics compare in terms of competition doesn't matter to me......the things that these athletes have to overcome makes their achievements even more impressive!100%

[Linda]

We are all absolutely thrilled by the achievements of the paralympic athletes.

So I was particularly sickened by an article in yesterday's newspapers. It was reported that they now have an improved prenatal test for Down's syndrome, so they can 'eradicate' Down's syndrome. Of course they have not got a cure for down's syndrome. What they are going to do is to 'eradicate', by abortion, Down's babies. So it seems that 'sub-standard' human beings are not appreciated after all but are to be 'eradicated'. We are as bad as the Nazis.

[-J-]

We are all absolutely thrilled by the achievements of the paralympic athletes.

So I was particularly sickened by an article in yesterday's newspapers. It was reported that they now have an improved prenatal test for Down's syndrome, so they can 'eradicate' Down's syndrome. Of course they have not got a cure for down's syndrome. What they are going to do is to 'eradicate', by abortion, Down's babies. So it seems that 'sub-standard' human beings are not appreciated after all but are to be 'eradicated'. We are as bad as the Nazis.would be terrible if its forced on parents if they are given the choice then seems fine horrible choice but fine

[Sallydaisy]

Very different closing ceremony .....

[JAMES4578]

Yes but certainly impressive closing cermony! Games ended on a high with 4th Gold for David Weir as he took marathon title whilst Shelly Woods took the silver in the women's event. Britain finished 3rd behind Russia and China in the end though we won 120 medals in total compared to Russia's 102.

[VamosVixs]

Loving Coldplay! :thumbup:

[traveller7]

I am soo sad its over, still more time to focus on tennis now I guess!

[Sallydaisy]

I've heard that there is going to be an annual Paralympic event at the Olympic Park - not had time to check it out yet.

I've watched quite a lot over the last 10 days and it's been quite incredible (and emotional).
Just so much heart out there with all those Paralympians.

London has achieved far far more for the Paralympics than any other nation so far.
Long may it continue!

[traveller7]

I didnt watch much the first couple of days but just got addicted to it like the main Olympics, cheering the Brits on it was superb and I do hope the legacy continues. We did Britain proud.

[xenon21]

Will miss this all so much! It surpassed any of my expectations and I was lucky enough to have many amazing memories from it. Some of my faves being the incredible sound when Ellie Simmonds won gold, especially the first one; watching wheelchair tennis with the British quads doubles winning silver. Being in the Olympic stadium for super Thursday! Peacock, peacock, peacock! That chant was incredible with 80,000 chanting it! Andi course weir and Hannah!

Also got to try out wheelchair basketball and even play with a Canadian player which was a once in a lifetime treat! Inspired? I sure am! Has given me a whole new perspective on disabilities! Superhumans!

[RoastLamb]

Watched the closing ceremony last night with my daughter. Loved it esp. Coldplay. London did an amazing job hosting both events.