The Paralympics Opening Ceremony at Bird's Nest
and the spectacle began.
being the lesser-known other half, the Paralympic Games is a parallel competition held alongside the Olympic Games. first held in Rome in 1960, the Beijing Games had about 4,200 participants from 147 countries. while the Beijing Olympics boasted grandeur and splend0ur that exceeded ordinary expectations, the Beijing Paralympics shared a genuine and heartfelt love that transcended the extraordinary.
i was privileged enough to have a taste of the Paralympics spirit because dad sits on the Asia Oceania Committee Volleyball for Disabled (AOCVD). With an official tag that allow you access into any sporting venue and VIP lounge, playing unofficial interpreter and tour guide has given me an insight into the Games and allowed me to meet many inspiring people from around the world. technical directors who stress over the most minute details because they want to create a flawless flow of events, competition managers who devote themselves to organising everything but still find time to show you around, and sports officials who are passionate about their respective sport.
more importantly, the Paralympics athletes, whose zest for life has gained them more respect than any able-bodied athlete. among the lessons learnt while watching Paralympians compete is that you first have to have self-respect before others can respect you. acceptance of your own strengths and shortcomings can go a long way in making dreams come true.
福牛乐乐 at the Games Village
i was privileged enough to have a taste of the Paralympics spirit because dad sits on the Asia Oceania Committee Volleyball for Disabled (AOCVD). With an official tag that allow you access into any sporting venue and VIP lounge, playing unofficial interpreter and tour guide has given me an insight into the Games and allowed me to meet many inspiring people from around the world. technical directors who stress over the most minute details because they want to create a flawless flow of events, competition managers who devote themselves to organising everything but still find time to show you around, and sports officials who are passionate about their respective sport.
more importantly, the Paralympics athletes, whose zest for life has gained them more respect than any able-bodied athlete. among the lessons learnt while watching Paralympians compete is that you first have to have self-respect before others can respect you. acceptance of your own strengths and shortcomings can go a long way in making dreams come true.
福牛乐乐 at the Games Village
the First Lady at the Malaysian Embassy 
Opening Night inside Bird's Nest
athletics: 800m on wheels
some of us volleyball regulars 
Malaysian delegation!
Malaysian delegation!
Sports Minister & KL Mayor in Beijing's Kedutaan Malaysia
swimming at the Water Cube
traversing the Juyongguan Great Wall with a helpful volunteerwheelchair basketball at Wukesong Stadium
dinner with close friends at 花家怡园
gold to China
Closing Night outside Bird's Nest
it has been the week of a lifetime.
a memorable end to my chapter here in Beijing, and a good start to a new Shanghai journey.
The Paralympics Closing Ceremony at Bird's Nest
the flame fades under the fireworks extravaganza
Posts
2 comments:
just wondering.. u know whereas the olympcs is the just a battle of the best, fittest, strongest.. with no limits or constraints whatsoever, how does it work for the paralympics.. i think everyone has a differing level of disability.. one might have a limb amputated at the ankle, another at the knee, another visual impairment, etc. so how do they level the playing field? just thought u might know, since you seem to have quite a keen interest in the paralympics.. =)
good question isaac:)
for paralympics, there are different classes of disability for each sport. they may compete in the same race (Eg swimming 100m breaststroke), but within that same race, a few gold medals may be given out (hence, there are actually more medals to be given at the Paralympics than the Olympics).
every team has a classifier (a doctor with license to classify disability) who will ensure the different classes of diability is categorized into their respective groups. in sports like sitting volleyball, only two athletes with MD (minimal disability) are allowed on the court at any one time. muscular disability is a form of MD that is not noticeable physically, but impedes someone's ability to play as well as an able-bodied.
hope that helps!
Post a Comment