Yesterday marked the beginning of the Paralympics. Since I did not know much about them before I got here I decided to do a little research.
The Paralypic Games is the world’s second largest major international multi-sport event, involving athletes with a range of physical disabilities, including mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and cerebral palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which since the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul, South Korea, are held immediately following the respective Olympic Games. All Paralympic Games are governed by the International Paralypic Committee (IPC).
The Paralympics have grown from a small gathering of British World War II veterans in 1948 to become one of the largest international sporting events by the early 21st century. Paralympicans strive for equal treatment with non-disabled Olympic athletes, but there is a large funding gap between Olympic and Paralympic athletes.”
Our first "run-in" with the Paralympic games was before we even made to London. We rode over on the plane with the American Goalball Team! Yeah, it's ok...I didn't know what Goalball was either; but, during one of my many stretching breaks on the plane I ran into one of their coaches who was able to break it down for me.
Each team has three members playing, and it is a game for those who are visually impaired. Now, some of them are not completely blind so for the game, everyone is blindfolded. They play on a court that is similar to a volleyball court that is marked every three meters. The back line is a large net or the "goal." There purpose is to score goals...and there are rule for how you can score. But the coolest part is the ball. The ball is hollow and has bells inside of it so that it can be located on the court.
What is even cooler...the US Team...yeah, they won Gold in Beijing and are expected to win Gold here in London! And so, being as obsessed with the olympics as I am...meeting Olympians has been one of the best highlights so far; and that was only day one.
Flash forward a week to yesterday...the start of the Games! Sam and I were wondering around downtown London trying to figure out how to get to Westminster Abbey. We turned a corner to try to find a bus station when we saw a large crowd of people starting to gather! So naturally, we went to go investigate. And boy, are we glad we did! The crowd of people was gathered around four Paralympians...with torches...waiting! Yep, we ran into the Torch relay!!!! It was unbelievable! We waited for about 20 minutes and then all of a sudden we saw the flashing blue lights...the caravan as it were of police, music, bodyguards...the whole shabang!
And then...they passed the flame RIGHT IN FRONT OF US!!!!!!
Passing of the Paralympic Flame on Monument Street, London!
I find Paralympians to be the most amazing of athletes. Their dedication and determination is incomparable to anything I think I have seen.
There are billboards all around London citing, Meet the Super Humans...so naturally I "Youtubed" it and this is the video that came up. WATCH IT NOW!!!
It is only about 1:30 and it will give you CHILLS!!! And if this doesn't get you excited for more Olympics...I don't know what will!
Here in London the Olympics are still going strong!!! God is Good! Life is Good!!!
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