villa4europe Posted September 8, 2016 Posted September 8, 2016 Can't see a thread... just watched firth smash the WR and win gold in the backstroke 200m, absolutely brilliant, I'll be honest and say I still get the lingering question that I'm looking at her seeing that it's S14 and not knowing what's going on but the buzz from watching her compared to watching mo is no different think we've won 5 golds on the opening day... Been reading a lot about it in I paper all week, we really do sound like world leaders, our support of the games seems to blow everyone else out of the water, even the yanks, saw NBC are putting the majority of the games on their cable channel meaning the viewing figures will be piss poor and the suggestion that the Los Angeles 2024 bid will include a drive to increase the support for these game stateside...whilst were apparently on the brink of putting next year's world championships at London ahead of the abled body games...we just seem to get it when no one else seems bothered 1
mikeyp102 Posted September 8, 2016 Posted September 8, 2016 So much for these guys, some of it is truly amazing
choffer Posted September 9, 2016 VT Supporter Posted September 9, 2016 I don't think you can underestimate the impact The Last Leg has had on para sport and people's attitude toward it either. I can't stand Anne Widdecombe's son but that show is so enjoyable and has broken down so many barriers in the last few years.
Seat68 Posted September 9, 2016 Posted September 9, 2016 Is Sarah Storey disabled enough? She pisses over everyone and I wonder if her disability is really a massive handicap in her chosen sport.
villa4europe Posted September 9, 2016 Author Posted September 9, 2016 1 hour ago, choffer said: I don't think you can underestimate the impact The Last Leg has had on para sport and people's attitude toward it either. I can't stand Anne Widdecombe's son but that show is so enjoyable and has broken down so many barriers in the last few years. I think channel 4 in general helps because they give it a big push, they've been advertising it like mad, probably because it's the only sport they show it doesn't get treated like an afterthought I think the guy from breaking bad who's commentating for them summed it up in an interview the other day people here are no longer looking at these guys thinking ahhh haven't they done well for themselves...they're starting to be looked at as athletes off that, I think there's a German long jumper with a prosthetic leg who this year has beaten the distance that won gold last month 1
Tegis Posted September 9, 2016 VT Supporter Posted September 9, 2016 40 minutes ago, villa4europe said: off that, I think there's a German long jumper with a prosthetic leg who this year has beaten the distance that won gold last month Like putting springs on your shoes in a cartoon
sharkyvilla Posted September 9, 2016 Posted September 9, 2016 They've taken Countdown off for it though
Chindie Posted September 9, 2016 VT Supporter Posted September 9, 2016 RJ Mitte wore the worst suit ever made by human hands on the coverage of the opening ceremony, and that's the extent of my Paralympic viewing so far. 1
Xela Posted September 9, 2016 Posted September 9, 2016 6 hours ago, Seat68 said: Is Sarah Storey disabled enough? She pisses over everyone and I wonder if her disability is really a massive handicap in her chosen sport. I was thinking that. I wonder how her times compare to the able bodied members of the British cycling team
sharkyvilla Posted September 9, 2016 Posted September 9, 2016 24 minutes ago, Xela said: I was thinking that. I wonder how her times compare to the able bodied members of the British cycling team Wiki says one of her 2012 times would have made the top 8 in the Olympics and she has competed at the Commonwealth Games, so she isn't far off.
villa4europe Posted September 9, 2016 Author Posted September 9, 2016 34 minutes ago, Xela said: I was thinking that. I wonder how her times compare to the able bodied members of the British cycling team i think that too with pretty much every event just watched the 2012 archery final on youtube, a bloke who was ex military and had i think a traumatic head injury, a perforated ear drum and a metal plate in his leg after being shot vs a bloke with no arms...
mjmooney Posted September 9, 2016 VT Supporter Posted September 9, 2016 Sorry, not remotely interested. I expect that makes me a bad person.
Rodders Posted September 9, 2016 Posted September 9, 2016 Not at all. Likewise. I find it all rather odd, and I'm not entirely sure why. Seems to be hard to avoid the questions as raised above, how disabled are certain competitors versus others etc.
mjmooney Posted September 9, 2016 VT Supporter Posted September 9, 2016 (edited) They have a special games just for deaf people - the Deaflympics. I know this, because one of my running club friends represented Team GB in them in Taiwan a couple of years ago - and got bronze in the marathon. Even she said it was a bit embarrassing, given that being deaf hardly affects her ability to run. The testing was quite funny though - apparently officials were sneaking up behind athletes and speaking to them to see if they reacted. Quite a few got sent home for cheating - my mate was paranoid that she might not be 'deaf enough'. Edited September 9, 2016 by mjmooney
veloman Posted September 9, 2016 Posted September 9, 2016 9 hours ago, Seat68 said: Is Sarah Storey disabled enough? She pisses over everyone and I wonder if her disability is really a massive handicap in her chosen sport. She was in the "non para" squad for the Team Pursuit in Beijing. In the end, they picked another rider which may well have been justified 'cos the women won Gold . Yep, you don't pull on the bars much in time trials and I guess the same goes for pursuit (I have never ridden a pursuit though) . She certainly is a hell of a rider. 1
Chindie Posted September 9, 2016 VT Supporter Posted September 9, 2016 I don't mind the Paralympics but I just turned it on and there's something not quite right, sporting wise, when you've got dwarves, limb amputees and a variety of limb disability sufferers are in the same race. I understand the idea is the disabilities even out, but still... It doesn't quite seem right. I think it's a perception problem the games will never quite overcome. And that's before they try to get past the problem of people wanting to see what they perceive as the pinnacle of sport, which the Paralympics just isn't viewed as.
Seat68 Posted September 10, 2016 Posted September 10, 2016 I dont mind the paralympics. In relative terms its 5th on a list of shit sporting things I dont want to watch. 1. Cricket 2. Womens football 3. Wrestling 4. Rugby 5. Paralympics
mjmooney Posted September 10, 2016 VT Supporter Posted September 10, 2016 1 hour ago, Seat68 said: I dont mind the paralympics. In relative terms its 5th on a list of shit sporting things I dont want to watch. 1. Cricket 2. Womens football 3. Wrestling 4. Rugby 5. Paralympics Throw in boxing and golf, and you've got it.
RunRickyRun Posted September 10, 2016 Posted September 10, 2016 23 hours ago, Xela said: I was thinking that. I wonder how her times compare to the able bodied members of the British cycling team 3 time national champion at 3km track pursuit. She is also a former medalist in swimming. The athletes are categorised by disability so she does not have an unfair advantage over her competitors.
mikeyp102 Posted September 12, 2016 Posted September 12, 2016 What a swim there. Now for Simmonds to follow suit... Balding earlier gutted she offered a teddy to a child, thinking they wouldn't want to keep it
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