The Other Olympics

[mbarrick]

And now for the other Olympics, the Paralympics. The one that will not be widely televised. The one without live bands and beer-halls. The one where none of the sports are tied up with jingoistic nationalism. The one where the athletes are still amateurs and in it for the love of sport, have necessarily overcome adversities, and won't be getting any big endorement deals. Are those crickets I hear? Are you still convinced the Olympics are all about sport and the human spirit and that is what everyone was celebrating last night?

Comments

[seymour-glass.livejournal.com]

that's absolutely spot on...i watched a short film on the paralympics because one of our cbsa employees is on the men's sledge hockey team...it was amazing what some of those guys do...there is one downhill skier who is legally blind and skies at 130km while someone skies behind him to give him directions...that is exactly what the olympics used to be about...though at this point most everyone has bought into the hype...i was reading on the cbc site where the protesters yesterday were met with yells of "get a job" and "take a hike"...and of course everyone on there is agreeing with those sentiments...confusing nationalism/jingoism with patriotism...those that truly support the olmypics will be out at the paralympics as well...it will be interesting to see how the ticket sales go...

[scuttle.livejournal.com]

Once again you put it perfectly.

[(Anonymous)]

The sledge hockey which looks totally awesome and I want to see has stopped having tickets available. I hope this means they are sold out because regular games were $40 and the finals $100. Now, I hate the cult that us hockey with every fiber of my being and saying that: I want tickets to one of those games. There may be some on craigslist and I'm definately looking.

[opium.livejournal.com]

I'm actually more interested in the Paralympics.