Paralympic Bloggers

Fifty athletes will write their own blogs!! See the story below.


["Samsung Paralympic Bloggers
The blogs will help to bring 'Everyone's Games' to life with exclusive behind-the-scenes accounts of 50 Paralympic athletes as they take part in the London 2012 Games.

Whether it's life in the Village, training with their coach or what inspires them, throughout the London 2012 Paralympic Games athletes from 18 countries and 16 sports will be using a Samsung GALAXY Note to capture their thoughts.

The programme forms part of Samsung's 'Sport Doesn't Care Who You Are' campaign, designed to challenge the public's attitude towards Paralympic athletes and sport, and to encourage a focus on ability not disability.

London 2012 Organising Committee Chair Seb Coe said: ‘This project will provide a unique opportunity to get a behind the scenes look at the Paralympic Games through the eyes of the athletes themselves.' "]

http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/news/articles/athlete-blogs-give-behind-the-scenes-glimpse-the-games.html

Exciting news to me. I've never heard of this being done before. Maybe we'll get a chance to read some of the fifty blogs. What do you think about this??

2012 Paralympic games

NBC provided 5535 hours of Olympic coverage. US Paralympians get 10 daily video high light package on Youtube. Seems like a pretty big variation. And this makes it very difficult for little observers like myself.

I've heard so much enthusiasm and doubt if the lack of coverage will defeat the spirit. Many people over here are big fans and so we'll see. I may have to rely on the fan's postings to get the best views of the games. Until then, I offer a unique video I found.


http://youtu.be/kKTamH__xuQ

In our world...

I watch the water cover my feet
the sand between my toes is neat...
The foam at play and I am smitten
by wondrous coast that is Great Britain...

The boats I sail along the shore

caught by the wind and waves of yore...

Are found by boys that love the sea

And soon they sail them back to me...

In my dreams are thoughts of agility

to conquer life through my ability...

My strength is stronger than the labels

of those who fear a life disabled...

So one may swim, one may sail,

one may ride into the gale...

Yet we are here to give our best...

and give the word, disabled, a happy rest...

In our world... we are the normal.

Has the Post gone postal?

Ben Ainslie fan arrested for painting post box in honour of Olympic hero

http://www.metro.co.uk/olympics/908247-ben-ainslie-fan-arrested-for-painting-post-box-in-honour-of-olympic-hero#ixzz24TZ3HTRB

Jessica Ennis's golden postbox vandalised with graffiti in Sheffield 

http://www.metro.co.uk/olympics/907873-jessica-enniss-golden-postbox-vandalised-in-sheffield#ixzz24TYn7mxs

Royal mix-up gives Laura Trott double gold postbox recognition 

http://www.metro.co.uk/olympics/907536-royal-mix-up-gives-laura-trott-double-gold-postbox-glory#ixzz24TZGicNo

Come on, just a little fun!!

Look what we found...

http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/360pictures/Day18/360-henry-stuart-closing-ceremony-15/tour.html

Britain's got talent (again)

That talent is coming from all parts of the world descending upon London very soon. Very soon you and I will find ourselves even more amazed by the determined spirit of  'these games'. Experiencing what they experience is not quite possible, unless we have a similar existence. But we are able to understand emotions, mental fortitude, and physical pain. So clear your mind and watch the games!!

Meanwhile, I will offer tidbits of information and photos that simply amaze. Thanks for reading ~


The London 2012 Paralympic Games are the second largest sporting event in the world, after the Olympics, and begin August 29th. Four thousand elite disabled athletes will compete in 20 sports. Many of the sports are familiar, like swimming, biking, but others — like boccia and goalball — are unique to the Paralympics.

Our host country: There will be 301 athletes competing for Paralympics GB next week; 186 men and 115 women. Seven of the athletes are under 16 while 10 are over 50.

Sitting Volleyball World Championships 2010: Britain!

Side note: The Games will mark an interesting debut for the Rwandan sitting volleyball team. It has been set up by two disabled athletes who both lost limbs fighting against each other on opposing sides of the Hutu against Tutsi war and subsequent genocide in the 1990s. Ironic!

Okay let's post ~ more another time.

The Paralympic Games

The Paralympic Games begins Wednesday, August 29, 2012, and ends Sunday, September 9, 2012.

www.London2012.com

 'The Paralympic Torch

During the 24 hour Paralympic Torch Relay, the five team members will each carry their own Torch, passing the Flame between one another, as they complete their section of the  Relay. The Torch has been created to represent modernity and innovation, with a mirrored finish reflecting the light of the Flame and teams of Torchbearers that carry it.
On Wednesday 22 August, with just one week to go to the Games, four Flames will be lit at the summit of the highest peaks of the four UK nations on Wednesday 22 August.
Groups of disabled and non-disabled Scouts will ascend Scafell Pike (England), Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa (Wales), Ben Nevis (Scotland) and Slieve Donard (Northern Ireland) where they will use the traditional technique of rubbing flint to create sparks and kindle a flame.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: ‘By creating the four Flames through human endeavour at the four highest peaks in the UK we will ensure that the spirit of each home nation is represented in the Paralympic Flame.’
The Flames will then be transferred to each nation’s capital city where they will each become the focus for a day of Paralympic celebrations. On Tuesday 28 August the Flames will be united in Stoke Mandeville – the spiritual home of the Paralympic Movement – to create the London 2012 Paralympic Flame.
At 8pm that evening, the Paralympic Flame will embark on its 24-hour Relay, with 116 teams of five Torchbearers set to carry the Flame on its journey to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford."

Note from dc: This photo makes a great screensaver!!

Photo post ~ no words ~ could be your favourite!!

Halt! Who goes there?

A very quiet day ~ just the day before.

No wind, no rain; just lovely stars above. Crash!
No telephone, no television, no internet for four days. 
With that, no Olympic Closing Ceremony.

Still we had a great time with everyone! 

Hope you enjoyed our silly posts!

Most sincerely,

The "dcrelief Olympic News Crew"

News Flash!

@ 2 a.m., my beloved tree took a dive across the front yard! It's the tree in the very middle of the photo. Wow! I'm really grateful it had more limbs on the side toward the street than towards the house. All the way across the yard, across the street and into my neighbor's yard and power lines... it crashed.

Unfortunately I did not have enough hot dogs and hamburgers to treat everyone who came.

These people deserve gold medals for their promptness and service. Thank you.
The local police department.
The local energy dept.
The local cable service
The local telephone service
The local city dispatch service
The local tree cutters union # 74

Okay, so I'm being nice... and already wondering about that bill. Hmm?

no mystery here

Could it be...

...modern day blimps?

Almost... Time to say... la-la-la

Almost... time to say goodbye...
...but first there's the weekend events to drive us wild!

My four years of my life, and (&^%) years of Dixie's life... and neither of us know the words to the song for the Olympic closing ceremony. Do you know the real lyrics to this song?
We are not addressing those who speak Italian; you already know! We are addressing those who would like to learn it. Then you can sing along come this Sunday. Unfortunately that's closing time... we'll get to that subject later. Enjoy!

~ Alistair Cookie

Goal tending

Oh why haven't I thrown around the total golds, silvers and bronzes of the US team? Where is that old time Yank arrogance? Come on you know... every red bloodied American wants  to beat everyone! It's not that I'm disinterested in medals; I find it meddlesome to worry about  the count. My approach has been very different.

The Olympic experience is so large, yet many countries do not attend for various reasons. Still there is no reason why we cannot cheer on the greatest athletes sent to challenge themselves. Yes, that is their greatest challenge. Only 'the rule' and 'corporate thug-bunnies' make it obscene. My goal has been to applaud every person who crosses a finish line, a balance beam,  a judo throw, a jumping horse, a vollied ball, and many, many other accomplishments.  After all I am here for the spectator's table seat. What these athlete's bring to the table is hard work  and desire. Most are grateful to qualify to attend. Should, couldn't, wouldn't I be too? I think so.

For this post I thank the host for the most fun, so far!!

Lost narrator; 27 inches tall; 37 pounds...

The previous message we received from Alistair Cookie, esquire and great narrator, was from the Equestrian Event. He rubbed elbows with the 'Royals,' hob-nobbed with the Rolling Stones, got the autograph of Sir Paul McCartney, and was dazzled by the tiny grand-daughter the of Olympic Ceremony's Director.

His latest dispatch was delivered by a wayward pizza-guy who road a glorious bike, wore a spectacular helmet, and displayed "GBR" on a white placard pinned to his chest. Like a boomerang in Australia, he flipped a smallish envelope into the air, turning seven times and lightly touching down upon the ground. What now? 

Dear dcrelief Olympic Reporting Team:

My dear tiny friend has invited me to the mall. Not that I enjoy window shopping but she promises it to be more exciting that the 88th ride of "The London Eye." Whatever it is, it is free, and that's for me! Besides she has cookies... I think I'm in love.

Oh well, if you've seen one mall you've probably seen them all. I'll let you should I come across any sales. Got to go, our bikes are here. Must be a big mall if it requires a bike to get around. Ta-ta & toodles. ~Al.

Can't wait to hear how the shopping went!(smile) Seriously, have the London stores and businesses been busy there? I'm hoping it boosts the economy!

Full House

Though I wasn't schooled in all of the athletic skills that occurred here, I found myself amazed by the sheer determination of the competitors. And still there are continuing daily. I hope some of my blog pals got to see some of the events; it would be nice to have some inside knowledge.

Meanwhile, Alistair is heaps in love; we may never see him until the closing, if even then. The cameraman... I believe I've informed you of his taking up and off with the Brazilian Volleyball Team; we're reasonably sure it was the women's team.

And me? So many things to see... I'll let the pictures explain what I'm ignorant of.(smile).

Is it just me, or does this photo resemble a whale's mouth about to swallow the viewers? And a giant blowhole. I think I must be tired or daft. What do you see?

Winlock & Mandeville

According to 'legend' they came from the last girder placed in the Olympic Stadium. They represent two tiny drops of steel. Is that for real? 2012's mascots for the London Olympics and Para-Olympics.

Okay.

The flying squirrel

Oh wow!

Ring around the moon

A magnificent moon peers through the Olympic rings on Friday, August 03, 2012.

A new sport category...

As if James Bond and HRH could be topped?
What say ye, England?