27 replies to this topic

[Apparelyzed]

So the Paralympics have finally begun at last.

Whats your favourite sport, what will you be watching?

In the UK we are lucky as the BBC is showing quite a lot of it, and there are no adverts!. I hear it's getting poor coverage in the USA though, as advertisers don't feel the ratings warrent their sponsorship.

Simon

[Joed]

Simon~

You probably have heard right. I've not heard of any mention of the Paralympics here, even though I don't usually watch much tv anyway. But what a shame that 'value of content' isn't equally weighted with the ratings.

I'll make a point to look for some coverage on this tomorrow and let you know.

How many events will be competed in?

[Apparelyzed]

As far as I am aware, these are the sports in which you can compete in the Paralympics.

Summer Sports
Archery
Athletics
Basketball ID
Boccia
Bowls
Cycling
Equestrian
Football 5-a-Side
Football 7-a-Side
Goalball
Judo
Powerlifting
Sailing
Shooting
Swimming
Table Tennis
Volleyball
Wheelchair Basketball
Wheelchair Dance Sport
Wheelchair Fencing
Wheelchair Rugby
Wheelchair Tennis
 
Winter Sports
Alpine Skiing
Ice Sledge Hockey
Nordic Skiing
Wheelchair Curling

I wouldn't mind having a go at something, but I have no idea which sport I'd pick. Probably something like Wheelchair Swingball, oh, that's not there is it, hey, maybe they could add it to the list for us quads! :-)

What sport would you like to see added?

Simon.

[Joed]

Wow! That's a lot of events!

I'd like the archery and shooting. I attended an archery class in college and did fairly well, and I used to skeet shoot many years ago.

How would one go about getting involved and entering these events? I'm wondering too if it would be very costly?

I have been intermittently scanning the sports channels here in the US, and I've not seen any coverage on the Paralympics yet. But I very well could have missed the times they've been airing them too, so I'll keep looking.

~Joed

[Wheels43]

Hello Simon,

Yes you are right I live in the United States, and they only showed a hour of it for the 2004 Paralympics. I get e-mails all the time about it and I have written to them asking if they will show the winter Paralympics this year in 2005.

I think and I told them that those games are just important in fact I think it has more vaule because there are disabled atheletes.

So I hope that they show it this year, and as for me I am a woman and I love the olympics and Paralympics and not just every four years it is every 2 years for me..



Jaime

[AHolland]

Hi Joed,

I thought I would direct this post at you in particular because you listed two sports that is do, do (do-do?? mmm does'nt sound right). Archery and Shooting.

Since my accident T4/T5 complete severe, I have taken up these two sports. Yes I have some difficulty because of my bad balance, however there is some hope. For archery, my son pulls me back into the backrest of my wheelchair so I have more stability. In that condition, I can outshoot both my son and a friend who originally got me into it. I'm still not good, but why not give it a try.

As for shooting, I can hold my own. Originally I use to shoot down at one of the military ranges. I got out of it for a while, but again since my accident, I have gotten back into it. I have started with airguns which is both cheap to do and often does not require a sepcial license. People would be amazed at how accurate sirguns really are. A good airgun will consistantly hit within a 5mm ring at 25 meters. Even a cheaper gun like my Diana model 24 can hit within a 1 cm target at 25 meters.

What is also nice is that for shooting competitions, handicapped people are allowed different supports and braces depending on the degree of handicap. If you are ever interested I will dig you up some pictures of these. I shoot over here in Canada, and the shooting matches take place all over north america. For the UK folks, here is a nice link.

http://www.ssra.co.uk/links.html

Getting back to the topic of the paraolympics.

Canada's athlete of the year was a handicapped female wheelchair sprinter. I'm sorry if I can't remember her name at this time. Thumbs up to recognise a handicapped person as a true athlete. In typical political fashion, they then later gave out another similar award to a "normal" athlete. This took away the special moment for this great handicapped person and she handed back her award. My hats off to her for doing so and my anger at the politicians who spoiled the moment.

Over here, coverage of the special olympics is hard to come by. It's all the ratings game. Pity that our tax dollars go towards supporting the CBC which then has limited coverage and promotion of these events.

[Jilly]

Apparently shooting isn't in the Paralympics. My boyfriend left for Australia this morning to compete in a competition ( cant remember the name of it!)with a bunch of able bodied shooters Part of the trip is to try to get shooting to be a paralympic sport. If not he's going to aim to qualify for the Olympics! He's complete T5. I'm pretty proud of him!

[hillarymcarter]

I had never even heard of the paralympics before Bruce's injury. I wish they would show it here in the U.S. because Bruce has been looking for a sport to get involved in. I think it would help if he could actually see them. If anyone finds out if they are showing it in the U.S. let me know please!
On another note, hunting season starts tomorrow and Bruce will be going for the first time since the injury. I'm pretty excited for him. I've always hated hunting but this year I really hope he kills something. He has worked hard to get his four wheeler handicap accessible. He did some pretty inventive things to it.

[wheelie182]

Hi Hillary,

I watched the paralympics for the first time last year, and it was good, some parts of it i really liked such as the basketball and the racing, and others parts i thought were pretty boring, because theres a lot of athletes playing that look as if theres nothing wrong with them, so its not all that interesting its just like watching the normal races and stuff, but of course there are things wrong with them, they suffer from things like mental balance, or the difficulty to control all four limbs at the same time, even though to look at they are completly able bodied,

but i like watching the sports where there are clearly disabilities like guys running with both knee amputees, people swimming with no arms !!!!

theres some really dedicated and strong disabled athletes,

you may not of seen to much as i did hear that the coverage over in America was very poor,

[hillarymcarter]

Yeah...I did a search for it on my TIVO but nothing turned up. That really stinks. Once Bruce is a famous lobbyist/politician we will get a bill passed that makes them show the paralympics on ABC!!!!
Bruce still isn't back from hunting....I'm getting nervous.....He was so happy to be going hunting and doing something normal again. I cried after he left because I haven't seen him so happy in a least an hour or two (he's a happy guy)!

[hillarymcarter]

YAH, YAH!!! Bruce killed two deer this morning. This was the first time he's been hunting since the accident! I am sooooo proud of him! When I get the pic developed I will post it!

[wheelie182]

Quote

YAH, YAH!!!  Bruce killed two deer this morning. This was the first time he's been hunting since the accident! I am sooooo proud of him! When I get the pic developed I will post it!

cruel some of a bitch......

I hope it was quick

There are so many other hobbies he could try, that don't involve death such as knitting or tomatoe plant growing,......i here thats way out there, to the xtreme!!!

[hillarymcarter]

I don't agree with hunting...but, if it will get Bruce out there and get him independent I am all for it! Yesterday was the first time I've seen the real "old Bruce" in a year. As bad as it sounds, I was actually happy for him when he told me he didn't have time for me yesterday! I used to cry when hunting season came because I never got to see him, now I am excited that he is doing something that he loves to do by himself. I'm sure the excitment will wear off and I'll start crying when he leaves again! Actually, hunting isn't so bad because we eat the deer meat. At least he isn't just killing stuff to kill.

[wheelie182]

I totally agree with you, if it gets hime back out there ....

......but give the knitting a mention to him though.......you never know

[hillarymcarter]

yeah...he may take up knitting so he can make himself a new pair of hunting trousers!!! The possibilities are endless....actually he would probably be more interested in killing something with the knitting needles!

[hillarymcarter]

I'm starting a new topic on hunting so this thread doesn't get hijacked by me!!!
Back to paralympics everyone!

[Jilly]

Im sooooo proud.....My darling man won a GOLD MEDAL in the Olympic trap event in the Oceanic championships in Brisbane yesterday!!!!!! shooting against able bodies shooters!!! Yippee!!!

[hillarymcarter]

That is amazing! Congrats to him!

[Joed]

Jilly....

Woooooo-Hoooooo!!!!

Tell him congratulations for me!

You both must be bustin' at the seams.

[Jilly]

Thanks guys, I havent actually spoken to him yet...as he's in Australia still and Im not!!! he sent me a short e-mail to tell me the news. He is coming home Friday.....I cant wait!!!

[steveB.O.P]

another proud kiwi, well done to your man jilly.
i will be watching the wheel blacks kick a55 in the rugby.

[Texaswheelz]

wow, old thread we have here. I seem to remember hearing or seeing something somewhere that there was going to be more coverage this year in the US. I'm hoping so, after meeting a couple of guys this year I wanna be able to see them do their best.

[BJK]

Would love to see rugby, field events and shooting.

[Murray]

Pushed a half marathon (Avenue of The Vines, Lodi, CA) in my TiLite TR a couple months back. Met Rocky Robinson at the event. He rolled his hand cycle. He's been doin' great recently. Placed second at the last Boston Marathon. He's won a bunch of others and was just invited to the Paralympics training camp in Colorado. He's a helluva guy, doin' some great work on behalf of us gimps. Wish him luck at the next Paralympics. (Google him.)

[deb]

We are going to the Paralympics, flying Saturday 6th September and will be there until 25th as we are going to do some sight seeing as well. We are primarily going to watch the rugby but will be watching the swimming, athletics, volleyball, cycling and basketball too.

We are staying at the Novotel Xin Qiao, Chongwenmen

My husband's China phone number is 13439060937 so give us a ring - it would be great to meet people and, just possibly, have a drink??!!

[ems]

Paralympics on the BBC

BBC television coverage of the Paralympics will be more extensive than ever before, action will be streamed live for six hours a day through the red button and via broadband.

There will be live terrestrial/red button coverage at the weekends and the opening and closing ceremonies will also be broadcast live including the handover to London moment on the final day

Daily midweek programmes on BBC2 between 1900 and 2000 will be available on high definition (HD) and on iPlayer.
Clare Balding and Steve Cram will present the programmes from the Bird's Nest stadium.

There will be more live coverage than from Athens 12 different sports in all and there will be two BBC roving crews to record additional material.
Athletics, swimming, cycling, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby will comprise the backbone of the BBC's TV coverage throughout the Games, but will be supplemented by coverage of other sports, particularly those in which Paralympics GB have strong medal hopes like wquestrian and wheelchair tennis.
GB have two football sides competing and adaptive rowing is a new Para sport.
Commentators and reporters include Paul Dickenson, Bob Ballard, Eddie Butler, Ronald McIntosh, Nick Mullins, Eddie Butler, Phil Jones, Rishi Persad and Lizzie Greenwood-Hughes.

They will be joined by ex-Paralympians Tanni Grey-Thompson, along with Ade Adepitan and Marc Woods as guest commentators.
All the coverage will be streamed on the BBC's award-winning Disability Sport website, where there will also be a daily blog written from Beijing as well as reports and photos on all the main action, results and medal table bbc.co.uk/paralympics.

BBC Radio 5 Live will bring all the news throughout the Paralympic Games with a dedicated team of reporters in Beijing. There will also be live commentary from some key events featuring strong British interest.
Other programmes covering both Paralympic stories include: News, Olympic Diaries, Blue Peter and Radio Five Live to name just a few.





PARALYMPIC GAMES @ 14th August 2008

NETWORK AND INTERACTIVE TIMINGS SEPT 6TH - 17TH

Please note this is a rough guide of sports that are likely to be broadcast each day however for either editorial or schedule changes this is not a definitive list and is liable to change

Saturday 6th

BST Local Sports

BBC1 1250-1630 1950-2330 Opening Ceremony
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday 7th
BST Local Sports include

BBC2 1330-1530 2030-2230 Wheelchair Basketball
Men GB v China
Women GB Australia
Track Cycling and Swimming
Judo/ Football 5-a-side/ Shooting
Interactive
Schedule
1000-1300 1700 2000 Track Cycling/Swimming
W/C Basketball M GB v China



Monday 8th

BST Local Sports include

BBC2 1900-2000 0200-0300

Interactive 1000-1600 1700-2300
Schedule Track Cycling/Swimming/Athletics
W/C Basketball M GB v Australia
Judo/Equestrian/ Rowing Heats

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tuesday 9th

BST Local Sports include


BBC2 1900-2000 0200-0300


Interactive 1000-1600 1700-2300 Track Cycling/ Swimming/Athletics
W/C Basketball W GB v Brazil
LIVE B/Ball M GB v USA
Rowing Heats Equestrian, Boccia Judo/Tennis/Powerlifting/Table Tennis







Wednesday 10th

BST Local Sports include

BBC2 1900-2000 0200-0300

Interactive 1000-1600 1700-2300
Track Cycling (Last day)
W/C Basketball M GB v Brazil
Athletics/Swimming Finals, Rowing
Table Tennis/Wheelchair Tennis
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday 11th

BST Local Sports include

BBC2 1900-2000 0200-0300

Interactive 1000-1600 1700-2300
Athletics and Swimming Finals
W/c Basketball M USA V Australia
Rowing Finals/W/c tennis/Equestrian
Table tennis/Powerlifting/Shooting




Friday 12th

BST Local Sports


BBC2 1900-2000 0200-0300

Interactive 1000-1600 1700-2300
Swimming and Athletics Finals Wheelchair Rugby GB v NZL
Wheelchair B/Ball W Q/F GB?
W/c tennis/Boccia (last day)/ Footy
Road Cycling, Shooting




Saturday 13th

BST Local Sports


BBC 1 1300-1630 2000-2330 Shared with World Athletics Final

Athletics/Swimming (Best of Finals)
W/c B/ball GB Men QF
Tennis, Sailing Final Day, Powerlifting
Wheelchair Rugby - GB v Germany


Interactive 1000-1230? 1700-1930

Swimming/Athletics
Wheelchair Rugby Live GB V Germany
Or WC B/ball GB in QF? Road Cycling


Sunday 14th

BST Local Sports


BBC 2 1300-1630 2000-2330
Athletics/Swimming - Best Finals
Wheelchair Rugby GB v Australia W/C Rugby GB v Aust//Tennis/
W/C Bball SF, Road Cycling

Interactive 1000-1230 1700-1930
Swimming/Athletics
Basketball Wheelchair Tennis
Archery/Powerlifting/Fencing

Monday 15th


BST Local Sports


BBC2 1900-2000 0200-0300

Interactive 1000-1600 1700-2330
Swimming Finals (last night)
Athletics
W/C Rugby S/F and Tennis Finals
Wheelchair B/Ball Womens Final
Archery/Fencing/Powerlifting/T/Tennis


Tuesday 16th

BST Local Sports



BBC2 1900-2000 0200-0300

Interactive 1000-1600 1700-230
Final day of track and field Athletics, Wheelchair Basketball and Wheelchair Rugby medal matches
Round Up P/lifting/Fencing/Table Tennis
7 a side footy



Wednesday 17th

BST Local Sports


BBC 2 1250-1600 1950-2300

Closing Ceremony starts at 1300 2000


BBC2 1900-2000 0200-0300

Highlights of Closing Ceremony, Marathon, Blind Football final, Fencing and review of Games

Edited by ems, 03 September 2008 - 07:48 PM.

[Murray]

Didn't read entire string - does anyone know if the damn US is going to televise any of the Paralympics? I Googled it and saw a headline saying "NO" - Is this true?

-one pissed off Yank gimp

[Squirrel]

I have been watching the dressage, Lee Pearson is awesome, he is such a fantastic rider. In the Paralympics he is classed as a grade 1 which is the most disabled but he also competes in able bodied BD comps too at Grand Prix level and regularly beats them too!
He has a condition where he cannot use his legs at all and rides his horse just using his hips and seat, he puts most riders to shame.
I used to ride and since being diagnosed with MS was looking to be picked to become a para rider, but then had my accident, so it wasn't possible.