Paralympics
The final day then of London 2012, an end to an historic and extraordinary 6 weeks. If in a year or two’s time the Olympic Stadium is hosting football, it will be such a shame.
During my very swift weekend visit back to the UK I found myself in Gatwick, Nottingham, Eastbourne and Chislehurst but what I couldn’t be drawn away from was the London Paralympics.
The gripes about the adverts aside, although trust me after watching US telly for 10 years, the UK’s commercial stations are a lot less disruptive, from what I saw Channel 4 were doing a sterling job of showcasing the most watched Paralympics ever.
American TV has not shown the Paralympics in any form, which I find incredible for such a sport loving nation. Mind you the networks are advertising revenue loving as well. Cynical I know, but whilst every major country in the world is showing daily coverage, all NBC have is a 90-minute roundup show a week after the Paralympics close, and during the afternoon!
Obviously there is not a dickie bird on the Bermudian channels, although the island’s solitary athlete Jessica Cooper Lewis has had a decent amount of publicity unlike the 227 US Paralympians, many war heroes, who have been disowned by their countries media.
NBC showed over 5,000 hours of coverage during the two-week Olympics attracting a record audience of 220m people but in the US there has been a lot of criticism of not just them but other networks as the Paralympics has hardly warranted a mention on any of the major TV channels these past two weeks.
I am cynical by nature but my son was already well into it and together we watched some inspirational performances, and it was the swimmers that awed me the most. The competition amongst the best athletes was ferocious and the courage of those there to represent their countries and to be good enough to be Olympians was compelling. Heroes all of them.
It is probably wrong in these politically correct times to say I was humbled but watching the coverage and since Monday following it online on the trusty BBC has been truly inspirational. I was born in a generation that would point at kids in callipers or laugh about Joey Deacon in the playground but here were remarkable human beings challenging preconceptions and winning hands down.
It has a been a phenomenal Games, and if I think back to how cynical and grumpy most people seemed to be the week before the Opening Ceremony, when I spent a few days in town, London pulled off a remarkable experience to cherish and remember forever. Proud to be a Londoner.
I love your posts.I read every one.All the very best Gerry Adley
Gerry, much appreciated, thank you.
I was in London three days last week and was awed by the pride felt towards the athletes and the games. It was difficult to appreciate the situation from the US as you’ve described but last night my children and I sat around YouTube watching such events as we could with smiles on our faces. Honestly, these seem to be the games that count and to watch Jonnie Peacock win was a refreshing antidote to Usain Bolt’s boasting. Maybe I’m just being British but I love a winner with humility. (C’mon you Reds!!)
You know what SLC we used to love a loser too, but times are changing in GB.
CA, we cried, we shouted we laughed. probably enjoyed the Paralympics marginally more than the Olympics. We have really enjoyed roaring on these heroes, who have daily battles I can’t imagine, let alone the struggle to be the best at their sport.
apart from the gold medal winners there were so many other magical moments. Spiky top Anthony in the wheelchair rugby. the almost daily struggle for the basketball boys. The bittersweet moment for the 4x100m women’s relay team, when the two ladies on the last legs just didn’t know wherther to celebrate the bronze or wait for disqualification.
How do the blind players in five aside football find the bottle to run into the unknown every stride whilst someone waits to hack you down!
SLC Addick has it so right about humility though.
We were lucky enough to go the Olympics Stadium last Monday, where every athelete was clapped and cheered by all in a real family atmosphere (although the Chinese behind us only manged to clap their own..), and every GB athlete was roared on. Saw Devine race to victory in his heat despite being third until the last 200m. Then saw Wier pick up his 5000m gold – the national anthem singing was superb. Saw a lovely celebration by the blind Brazilian sprinter who just couldn’t stop spinning around when she got her gold.
My mate is a BT engineer working at the Olympic media hub – said that usage dropped to 15% during the Paralympics so the USA were not alone in reduced coverage. But until this year I’ve never watched the paralympics before so who am I to complain.
Also got to say how I loved the Channel 4 coverage – the presenters were a joy and Ade and Clare worked really well together.
For me the Paralympics has brought about a massive change in the way I think about the disabled. I watch these heroes with no sight, one of more limbs missing, and I just know they can swim or run faster than me, or play tennis in a wheelchair that I couldn’t compete with.
CA, its been a real blast!
PA – what an absolute brilliant summary of the last two weeks.
PA – My attitudes were adjusted when 20 years ago my girlfriend and I were sharing the Peak 9 lift at Breckenridge with the US Paralympic ski team who were training. Until that point I hadn’t realized that these were athletes who just happened to have disabilities. They were strong, faster than you could possibly imagine and if you have ever had trouble getting on and off a ski lift, imagine doing it with no legs. The determination was humbling.