So what does everyone think of the paralympics?

[dave50]

Do they truly test a person's sporting prowess on a level playing field so to speak or are they just a gesture to the disabled so as not to make them feel excluded?

[Sqad]

LOL...whatever they say about you dave....you never duck the topics.

[craft1948]

The paralympics make me feel truly humble, and feel exceedingly lucky (although the competitors would probably disagree with me).

[emmie]

they have to train twice as hard to go half as fast, perhaps you should try it sometime.

[joeluke]

(b)

[johnk]

They seem very competitive

[Mick-Talbot]

Sqad
LOL...whatever they say about you dave....you never duck the topics.


You could not be more wrong Sqad, Dave ducks just about every topic he starts a thread about ..... have a think about .

[Maydup]

They truly test a person's sporting prowess on a level playing field.

If not the participants wouldn't turn up. Disabled people are surrounded by token gestures and partonising circumstances, they'd hardly bother to train hard just for the hell of it.

[Mick-Talbot]

it ^

[gness]

A gesture? Odd question in my opinion. Of course not. Have you looked at how they began?

Paralympians are sports men and women representing their country in their chosen field.

[Sqad]

Mick....he may duck the thread...........but never the topics.

[EcclesCake]

I think they are individuals who are proficient sports men and women representing their countries.

To address the second part of your question if Patronising was an event that attitude would be a sure contender for a gold medal.

[Mick-Talbot]

Mick....he may duck the thread...........but never the topics.

And that tells you all you need to know.
What does Dave think ?

Or is Dave only interested in lighting the fuse and running ?


I myself will probably not watch much of the paralympics.
In many events I don't see a level playing field, I am often thinking 'how can he/she possible compete against him/her'

But that said, I am full of admiration for anyone who makes the best of their lives, rather than wallowing in self pity.

[Arksided]

I think its quite amazing that these athletes have overcome their disabilities whatever it maybe, during the Olympics I saw Mr Beckham with the visually impaired footballers and was not only humbled but really impressed by them.

For the OP, I think it is a prowess of their abilities and simply not a gesture of good will which to me would seem patronising.

[gness]

Light the fuse and run, I guess Mick.

I worked with youngsters with very different abilities and disabilities which is one reason I will enjoy the paras.

Think we can have another bet soon.

[Canary42]

You set up a question, and then only give two alternative answers which reflect your own shallow understanding.

Neither of your answers ring true in my opinion.

[EcclesCake]

Personally, I don't view the Paralympics any differently to the Olympics.

To me they are sportsmen and women.

[gness]

Same here Eccles. My son was chosen to represent his county because he was good......not as a gesture to red-heads.

[dave50]

I am not critisizing the event or the athletes, I have nothing but admiration for them just as much as I admire the athletes from the Olympics we have just seen.
As I said on a similar topic a few months ago, there are so many different disabilities, it must be difficult to find the best athlete in each event, whereas in the normal Olympics (apologies for the word 'normal') for example in a running a event everyone who competes is physically equal. I was trying to ask the question without people getting upset and all emotional about it and think about it logically.

[EcclesCake]

If all athletes were physically equal it would be a dead heat every time.....

[Mick-Talbot]

and think about it logically. ^ there you go Dave