Forum Topic

:London Olympics and Paraolympic  Games

Somehow The london Olympics should have been more closely connected to The Para-Olympic games.   Using the Same grounds after 16 Days, and the Closing Ceremony concluded with all that Raza-ma-Taz leaves the Para-Olympics programme slightly out of Focus.  Particularly when the Olympic Flag has left the scene.I believe the Olympic Boquet of Flame too has folded in, and has been extinguished. I hope our Paraolympics are conducted with as much Pomp and encouragement as before. These atheletes are achievers in the true sense of the word.

Os A Whittle ● 4984d6 Comments

There's a drama on this week (Thursday?) about the founding of the Paralympics at Stoke Mandeville.

Susan Kelly ● 4984d

and itll be on Channel4 not the BBCthuis the reason for no publicity

Charles Asante ● 4984d

Just as a matter of interest, the first games weren't held in London but in the grounds of Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire and were called the Stoke Mandeville Games (I was there!). You're right in saying the first international Paralympics (Parallel Olympics) were held in Rome in 1960 though.

Gail Clark ● 4984d

There has been very much a message that 'it's all over now' from the media in the last two days. Will there be Games Makers for the Paralympics? Are they the same people?I see that G4S are doing the security for the Paralympics, which makes me wonder if any of us will manage to get into the stadium to see our events.

Susan Kelly ● 4984d

I thank you for the post Rosa Popham. It was informative and gracious of you to ignore my ignorance . I put it down to the many Senior Moments I suffer from, at the Young age of 80. I am inclined however to argue that if it is referred to as PARA-OLYMPICS it sshould bear a link to the OLYMPICs. I take your point though about the 16 day gap for preparations. Best wishes

Os A Whittle ● 4984d

The Paralympic games are a completely different entity from the Olympics ones. They are also organised and run by different bodies and, in fact, they are not part of the Olympics. Their logo is different, the design of the medals is different. Whilst Olympic games go back to ancient Greece the paralympic games are very much still in their infancy. Although 1948 was the the first time ever that games were held in London with the partecipation of WWII veterans,  the very first international Paralympic games were held in Rome in 1960. As for time lapse between the two, one has to allow enough time to prepare the various venues to be remodelled and refitted with whatever facilities the various partecipants need in order to compete in the games. Let's get behind the athletes and cheer them on just as we have done in the last couple of week and make these games a memorable ones for them, wherever they are from.

Rosa Popham ● 4984d