PARALYMPICS

Yes. Torch better than national flag for this event.

Do you suppose Gransnet had this up their sleeve all along, when they deleted the flag? Crafty oompahs! Very good though.

I will watch as much as I can - I am filled with admiration for all those athletes who achieve so much in spite of their disabilities They must be an inspiration to others. I find the sight of young soldiers particularly upsetting - I had hoped that after the carnage of the two world wars I would not have to witness young lives being mangled again.

I agree with you Greatnan.

Yep - like the much better than the flag J, and also admire the young athletes greatnan ~ the sheer guts it takes to achieve so much against considerable odds is indeed inspiring.

As I don't watch much tv as a rule, this is one occasion when I will try - but have a houseful of guests arriving on Friday for a week - bad timing!

Mr JJ and I have tickets for two sessions in the stadium on Friday - lots of heats of the athletics. I'm so excited that we are going and will actually experience the 'real thing'. Booked our tickets ages ago and they cost the princely sum of £5 each because we are old (nearly 70 in his case)!!!!!

Just hoping its not true that the only food available is McDonalds, which would play havoc with the diet.

Hope you have a great day on Friday, MrsJJ.

Enjoying the opening ceremony so far.

Stephen Hawkins - Big Bang Theory - Atoms - Science - Newton - Learning - brilliant.

Very spectacular - who would have thought umbrellas could be used so imaginatively?

No disrespect to all those taking part but it's a bit too bonkers for me.

I thought it was a bit strange in parts, but on the whole I really enjoyed it.
It even made me a bit tearful in places.

Vonnie

Although I stayed up to watch I agree with merlotgran and Vonnie I just rather felt that it did not 'lend' itself to television. The atheletes, (or paralympians) which is what it is all about, after all, seemed to be having a whale of a time, hope they continue to enjoy themselves.

I found some parts terribly moving, especially the blind soprano, but I felt it tried to compete with the quirkiness of the first opening ceremony and it didn't quite work. Attempts at equality came across as undignified in some parts but as PRINTMISS says, it's all about the paralympians and their supporters.

I loved it, but it was slightly marred by the ad breaks, as are thev games now that they`ve begun. CH4 have a lot to learn about presenting events like this. This morning, during the swimming, they had a discussion, then told us that a swimmer had just set a new world record, then proceeded to show it. Why not have shown it as it happened, or at least have shown it without giving the result away first?

I agree butternut The arts, by their very nature, are so good at blowing their own trumpet. Scientists aren't. Nice to see science in forefront for a change.

Gold, Silver and Bronze ! Great achievements.

Yes, Jess. I have very little education in the sciences, but value highly the place it holds in this world.

I don't know why! But I found the dance by the leg less man rather disturbing. It is strange, more because I'm disabled myself!
What did other people think?

Mrs JamJam re food at the Olympic Park: I had been told you could only get McDonalds (my stomach churned) and you couldn't take your own food in. However, I went to the Park 2 weeks ago and there were lots of different foodstalls. I accepted it would be pricey but the quality was pretty foul, though I was restricted to non-spicey, low fat food & saw more promising places later. They also run out quickly so go early. Stalls near exits are closed down when big crowds are coming in and out of venues. Take an empty water bottle and fill it up early at the water stands. You can take food in as long as it's in reasonable amounts (ie not big picnic bags and BBQs!). I got an M&S roll in without trouble & will take a bit more when I go again next Friday. There's so much going on there's hardly time to feel hungry.
Enjoy yourself - I'll look out for you!

Thank you numberplease for proving to me that it is not only me who finds the 'ads' so disruptive. they seemed to be every few minutes and lasted for ages?
The coverage of the able-bodied Olympics was great being basically uninterrupted.
I appreciate Channel 4 needs the revenue from ads but like you say, they do have a lot to learn as I noticed the craziness of telling us a new swimming world record had been set - then showing us the event. Bit like reading the last chapter of a book before starting it!
What amazing achievements so far and loads more to come - brilliant - well done and good luck to all the competitors

I'm glad you've said that, jeni because so did I. I also didn't like the scene where the man carrying the flame arrived high up on a zip wire, his empty trouser leg flapping in the wind. I hope nobody takes this the wrong way because I'm full of admiration for the paralympians but isn't there a fine line between an amazing spectacle and a freak show? I worried that their eagerness to appear on equal terms with the able bodied competitors would rob them of their dignity.

I didn't find the dance of the legless man disturbing. I think it was amazing the strength he has built up in his arms, to be that controlled in the dance movements. And the spirit he shows in doing it.

I did feel a bit odd about the flapping trouser leg but I guess that's more to do with me than the actual thing.

I think that's the whole point merlot. These people are not 'freaks' and I know you didn't say they were, but many people still see them like that. Baroness Grey Thompson, said that she had been spat at in the street and when she was pregnant had been told 'people like you shouldn't have children'.

The soldier on the wire lost his legs in Afghanistan. I think we are so used to seeing amputees with the modern prosthetics fitted that we are in danger of forgetting that, for example, they go to bed legless. So yes, the flapping trouser legs were disturbing, but a reminder of their very real loss.