Entry tags:
\o/
Went to the Paralympics yesterday.
Had a fabulous time.
More later.
(Haven't seen DW yet.)
ETA: Just watched David Weir win the Marathon (and his fourth gold medal) with cheering crowds all the way down The Mall. What the TV presenter said really struck me:
"If you're watching this, and you've just started Secondary school and you're in a wheelchair - get down to your nearest athletics centre. They will find you a chair, and maybe one day this could be you."
It is just... astonishing the way these games have changed attitudes and perceptions. The Paralympians are sporting heroes, plain and simple.
(I bought a small commemorative athletics figurine of a wheelchair racer yesterday - they had 30 different ones, both Olympic and Paralympic - but this one was the obvious choice. We saw 2 of the heats for the relay (4x400) and they're just damn impressive!)
Had a fabulous time.
More later.
(Haven't seen DW yet.)
ETA: Just watched David Weir win the Marathon (and his fourth gold medal) with cheering crowds all the way down The Mall. What the TV presenter said really struck me:
"If you're watching this, and you've just started Secondary school and you're in a wheelchair - get down to your nearest athletics centre. They will find you a chair, and maybe one day this could be you."
It is just... astonishing the way these games have changed attitudes and perceptions. The Paralympians are sporting heroes, plain and simple.
(I bought a small commemorative athletics figurine of a wheelchair racer yesterday - they had 30 different ones, both Olympic and Paralympic - but this one was the obvious choice. We saw 2 of the heats for the relay (4x400) and they're just damn impressive!)
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We have just ordered a football with a bell in so we can play blindfolded football at youth club, which pre-Paralympics might have seemed tasteless. Now, it's simply a response to seeing a sport that looks challenging and fun, and aspiring to an example set by sportspeople showcasing the best of themselves.
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We applied for both the Olympics and the Paralympics, and just got lucky!
although I did make it to the park which was wonderful.
It was wonderful, wasn't it? And so big!
You must have had a fantastic day!
It was absolutely amazing, and we felt very lucky. The girls had those Union Jack blow-up hands to wear, and we all had Paralympic T-shirts and the girls had Olymic baseball caps. Oh and a Union Jack which they took turns to wear. :) It... sorta felt unreal? And with the athletics there was so MUCH to watch at the same time. Plus there was a new World Record every few minutes I'm sure!
I was glued to the TV coverage and am still missing it like - I was going to say a lost limb, but somehow, it doesn't seem like a good example of a thing you'd miss anymore.
Heee. I know what you mean though. If only we could have Olympics regularly every few weeks...
We have just ordered a football with a bell in so we can play blindfolded football at youth club, which pre-Paralympics might have seemed tasteless. Now, it's simply a response to seeing a sport that looks challenging and fun, and aspiring to an example set by sportspeople showcasing the best of themselves.
*nods* It's the Cherub's birthday on Sunday, and her party (Saturday) is Olympics themed. :)