tag:theconversation.com,2011:/columns/team-blog-23Team Blog – The Conversation2012-09-09T23:09:01Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/94332012-09-09T23:09:01Z2012-09-09T23:09:01ZWhat is the half life of a Paralympic legacy?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15208/original/3467wxnr-1347230699.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">DSCN</span> </figcaption></figure><figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15208/original/3467wxnr-1347230699.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15208/original/3467wxnr-1347230699.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15208/original/3467wxnr-1347230699.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15208/original/3467wxnr-1347230699.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15208/original/3467wxnr-1347230699.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15208/original/3467wxnr-1347230699.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15208/original/3467wxnr-1347230699.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">Trafalgar Square.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Tracey J Dickson</span></span>
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<p>According to the world of Wikipedia a half life is ‘the time required for a quantity to fall to half its value as measured at the beginning of the time period’. </p>
<p>I watched the Paralympic closing ceremony from Trafalgar Square with an enthusiastic crowd cheering the words of Lord Sebastian Coe and Sir Philip Craven about how great the Paralympics were and what a life changing event it was. I too applauded their words and hoped that the Paralympic glow would continue and grow.</p>
<p>How long did that feeling last for me? About 10 minutes before an overly aggressive (paid) steward at the BT Live Site abused me for wanting to take a photo when the show was over. Time was up and he wanted us to leave. No lingering to soak up the atmosphere, and reflect upon the experiences, creating that last shot for my ‘scrap book’ of memories. Just move on, you’ve had plenty of time to take photos ….</p>
<p>For there to be a lasting legacy for London there must be louder voices and actions to overcome the nay-sayers, the cynics and the down-right grumpy! As a glass-half empty person I know that it is easy to point out the problem. The real work is in identifying and implementing the solution.</p>
<p>It will take a ‘village’ to raise a legacy from the London 2012 Games. That will need to involve individuals, groups, organisations and governments working together to bring about and maintain change. </p>
<p>Eleven days of great sporting performances, world records, and incredible back-stories, can only ever be the catalyst. The work really begins now for London if they want the ‘best Paralympics ever’ to be more than a feel-good memory with a short half life.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/9433/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
According to the world of Wikipedia a half life is ‘the time required for a quantity to fall to half its value as measured at the beginning of the time period’. I watched the Paralympic closing ceremony…Tracey J Dickson, Associate Professor, Centre for Tourism Research, Faculty of Business, Government and Law, University of CanberraLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/94312012-09-09T21:40:43Z2012-09-09T21:40:43ZInspired, Dazzled, Moved - part 11<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15218/original/q2f59w57-1347234894.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">EPA JONATHAN BRADY</span> </figcaption></figure><figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15218/original/q2f59w57-1347234894.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15218/original/q2f59w57-1347234894.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=331&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15218/original/q2f59w57-1347234894.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=331&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15218/original/q2f59w57-1347234894.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=331&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15218/original/q2f59w57-1347234894.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=416&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15218/original/q2f59w57-1347234894.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=416&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15218/original/q2f59w57-1347234894.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=416&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">Japan’s Yasuhiro Tanaka celebrates after winning gold in the men’s 100m SB14 breastroke final.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">EPA/Jonathan Brady</span></span>
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</figure>
<p>The running title for my blog posts during the Paralympic Games was prompted by a line from Seb Coe’s opening speech at the Games.</p>
<p>Over 11 days of competition I have been inspired, dazzled and moved. As with the 2012 Olympic Games the availability of <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/2012paralympicgames.htm">high quality broadcast images</a> has transformed the representation of athletic performance and the mediation of our experience. My daily reviews tried to capture some of these moments. </p>
<p>On the final day of competition David Weir of Great Britain won an epic <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athletics/event/men-marathon-t54/phase=atm760100/index.html">T54 Wheelchair Marathon</a> in the closest of races from Marcel Hug (Switzerland) and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Fearnley">Kurt Fearnley</a>. The Australian <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_national_wheelchair_rugby_team">Men’s Wheelchair Rugby team</a>, the Steelers, won gold in the final of their event.</p>
<p>Throughout the Games there have been some very special performances. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacqueline_Freney">Jacqueline Freney</a> won eight gold medals in eight races at the Games and was the leading medal winner at the Games. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Cowdrey">Matt Cowdrey</a> won eight medals too, 5 gold, two silver, one bronze. </p>
<p>Many of my memories from these Games will not be about medal winners. I do think that London has seen the coming of age of the Paralympic Movement. They have been the most attended and viewed Games in history. They have been a social media Games too. </p>
<p>However, it is a medal ceremony that embodies my sense of the power of the Games … <a href="http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/sports/T120907003567.htm">Yasuhiro Tanaka</a>’s absolute delight with the flowers awarded at his medal ceremony for the <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/swimming/event/men-100m-breaststroke-sb14/index.html">SB14 100m Breaststroke</a>. At all Paralympic medal ceremonies there is an award of a medal and flowers. Two dignitaries perform the medal ceremony, one presents the medal the other the flowers. Yasuhiro saw the flowers and took them off the presentation tray and started smelling them. His delight was my delight too. </p>
<p>I am off to get some sleep after eleven days of competition in London!</p>
<p><strong>Previous instalments:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-1-9214">Part 1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-2-9240">Part 2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-3-9242">Part 3</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-4-9246">Part 4</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-5-9292">Part 5</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-6-9321">Part 6</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-7-9353">Part 7</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-8-9393">Part 8</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-9-9427">Part 9</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-10-9428">Part 10</a></li>
</ul><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/9431/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
The running title for my blog posts during the Paralympic Games was prompted by a line from Seb Coe’s opening speech at the Games. Over 11 days of competition I have been inspired, dazzled and moved. As…Keith Lyons, Professor of Sport Studies, National Institute of Sports Studies, University of CanberraLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/94282012-09-09T10:17:55Z2012-09-09T10:17:55ZInspired, Dazzled, Moved - part 10<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15215/original/35vmh5bt-1347234267.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">EPA FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA</span> </figcaption></figure><figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15215/original/35vmh5bt-1347234267.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15215/original/35vmh5bt-1347234267.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=723&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15215/original/35vmh5bt-1347234267.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=723&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15215/original/35vmh5bt-1347234267.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=723&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15215/original/35vmh5bt-1347234267.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=908&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15215/original/35vmh5bt-1347234267.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=908&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15215/original/35vmh5bt-1347234267.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=908&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">China won four gold medals on the penultimate day of competition.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">EPA/Facundo Arrizabalaga</span></span>
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</figure>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/news/articles/preview-400m-battle-highlights-day.html">Day 10</a></strong> was the penultimate day of competition at the <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/">Paralympic Games</a>. There were 56 medal events in nine sports. At the end of the day 497 out of the 503 medals events at the Games had been completed.</p>
<p>China was in the final of all four remaining team events in <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/table-tennis/schedule-and-results/">Table Tennis</a> and won four gold medals. Oscar Pistorius won the <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athletics/event/men-400m-t44/phase=atm440100/index.html">T44 400m</a> in a Paralympic Record time. Brazil won the gold medal in the <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/football-5-a-side/event/men-team/match=fbm400101/index.html">5-a-side Football</a>. Bosnia and Herzegov won the <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/sitting-volleyball/event/men/match=vsm400101/index.html">Men’s Sitting Volleyball</a> final.</p>
<p>Australia won eight medals on Day 10. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evan_O%27Hanlon">Evan O'Hanlon</a> (T38 200m) and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prue_Watt">Prue Watt</a> (SB13 Breastroke) were gold medallists. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rheed_McCracken">Rheed McCracken</a> (T34 100m), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angie_Ballard">Angie Ballard</a> (T53 400m) and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_men%27s_national_wheelchair_basketball_team">Gliders Men’s Basketball</a> team won silver medals. There were three bronze medals too: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Beikoff">Georgia Beikoff</a> (Javelin F37/38); <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athletics/event/men-4x400m-relay-t53-t54/phase=atm896100/index.html">the Men’s 4x400m T53/54 Relay</a>; and the <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/swimming/event/men-4x100m-medley-relay-34-points/phase=swm952100/index.html">Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay</a> team. </p>
<p>Evan won his event in a World Record time and Prue her race in an Oceania Record time.</p>
<p><strong>Previous instalments:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-1-9214">Part 1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-2-9240">Part 2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-3-9242">Part 3</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-4-9246">Part 4</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-5-9292">Part 5</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-6-9321">Part 6</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-7-9353">Part 7</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-8-9393">Part 8</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-9-9427">Part 9</a></li>
</ul><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/9428/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
Day 10 was the penultimate day of competition at the Paralympic Games. There were 56 medal events in nine sports. At the end of the day 497 out of the 503 medals events at the Games had been completed…Keith Lyons, Professor of Sport Studies, National Institute of Sports Studies, University of CanberraLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/94292012-09-08T13:53:20Z2012-09-08T13:53:20ZParalympics vs Olympics coverage: uneven at best<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15220/original/ftb7tdtc-1347236239.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">d d d d b</span> </figcaption></figure><figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15220/original/ftb7tdtc-1347236239.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15220/original/ftb7tdtc-1347236239.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=416&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15220/original/ftb7tdtc-1347236239.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=416&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15220/original/ftb7tdtc-1347236239.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=416&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15220/original/ftb7tdtc-1347236239.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=523&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15220/original/ftb7tdtc-1347236239.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=523&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15220/original/ftb7tdtc-1347236239.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=523&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The coverage given to the Paralympics was, in some countries, only 10% of that dedicated to the Olympics.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">The Department for Culture, Media and Sport</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This is my last blog piece about the Paralympics and so I should finally look at the media coverage. Sitting in North America is was nearly a non-event given the invisibility in the traditional media. <a href="http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1025401/follow-your-team-canadian-paralympic-committee-announces-complete-broadcast-schedule-of-2012-paralympic-games-coverage">The below is a summary of the Paralympics television coverage in Canada:</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>The Games will kick-off with a two-hour Opening Ceremony extravaganza on August 29, which will be carried live on RDS2 beginning at 3:30 p.m. EST (plus an encore presentation on RDS on August 30 at 6:30am EST), and later in the day at 9 p.m. EST on TSN2 and on AMI with described video.</p>
<p>CTV will also air the Opening Ceremony on Saturday, September 1 at 1 p.m. (2 p.m. in Saskatchewan). Félix Séguin and Canada’s Chef de Mission Dr. Gaétan Tardif will call the Opening Ceremony on RDS2 while Paul Romanuk and Canada’s Assistant Chef de Mission Elisabeth Walker-Young will provide English language commentary.</p>
<p>A daily highlights show showcasing the day’s performances, medal winners, athlete interviews and event features will be hosted by Romanuk and broadcast from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. EST August 30th to September 8th between TSN2 and Sportsnet ONE. AMI will provide the highlights with description service. Séguin will host RDS2’s daily highlights for francophones also at 11 p.m. EST most days.</p>
<p>Viewers will also be able to watch a repeat of the previous day’s show on RDS at 8:30 or 10 a.m. EST daily. Complete coverage of the Closing Ceremony on September 9, will also be available on Sportsnet ONE and AMI at 9 p.m. EST with Romanuk and Walker-Young again providing commentary. Séguin and Tardif will also team up once more on RDS for the Closing Ceremony airing at 2 pm one day later on September 10.</p>
<p>Additionally, two of the features from the Consortium’s Difference Makers series will feature Paralympians. Hosted by Rick Hansen (English) and Chantal Petitclerc (French), the series asks elite athletes to reveal inspiring stories of those who made a difference in their lives.“</p>
</blockquote>
<p>In summary very little live coverage took place on TV in Canada.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/five_ring_circus/2012/09/07/paralympics_2012_espn_s_lack_of_coverage_is_totally_indefensible_.html">The situation in the US</a> was just as bad if not worse. ESPN’s main sport channel in the US did not cover the Paralympics.</p>
<p>For younger people who look more at streaming media on the internet the situation was better because events were streamed at Paralympic.org and as well on YouTube but this method of dissemination only reaches a very particular sub-group of the population.</p>
<p>As for newspapers, of roughly 300 Canadian newspapers present in the academic database "Canadian newsstand” from August 28-September 07, 200 news articles covered the Paralympics. </p>
<p>5,488 articles appeared during the Olympics (July 26-Aug 12) in the same 300 newspapers. Although the Olympics was spread over more days than the Paralympics numbers indicate that the coverage of the Paralympics was less than 10% of the Olympics.</p>
<p>In Germany it was reported that the coverage was roughly half of the Olympics, in the UK it was even higher. </p>
<p>If one does a comparison between all countries one will find huge differences of coverage which I submit is very problematic.
How does one achieve equality in coverage? I leave that to the reader to answer. </p>
<p>To come back to the <a href="https://theconversation.com/superhip-to-supercrip-the-trickle-down-effect-of-the-paralympics-9009">trickle-down effect or the lack of it I covered in one of my analysis pieces</a> as part of the Paralympic coverage of the Conversation.</p>
<p>It will be interesting to perform some studies down the road to see whether there is a correlation between level of coverage of the Paralympics and how they were covered (internet vs newspapers vs TV) and a change in attitude towards disabled people and how if at all sport participation of disabled people on all levels changed.</p>
<p>Does media coverage has any influence especially long term? I covered a few surveys performed in the UK before the Paralympics (<a href="https://theconversation.com/expectations-of-the-paralympics-9127">covered in a blog piece</a>) that covered attitude reality and expectations. Question is, if people are interviewed again in a year will their expectations have been met and will their attitude towards disabled people have changed for the better?</p>
<p>Question is whether being a spectator in the Paralympics leads one to become an activist joining disabled people; or were the spectators at the Paralympics reflecting the activist already in existence? </p>
<p>Many studies can be and should be performed to really get a good empirical understanding on the impact of the Paralympics and its coverage on the lives of disabled people.</p>
<p>I want to close this blog piece by thanking the team at The Conversation for asking me to blog my thoughts.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/9429/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
This is my last blog piece about the Paralympics and so I should finally look at the media coverage. Sitting in North America is was nearly a non-event given the invisibility in the traditional media…Gregor Wolbring, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of CalgaryLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/94272012-09-07T22:10:02Z2012-09-07T22:10:02ZInspired, Dazzled, Moved - part 9<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15213/original/pwqd4c3h-1347233845.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">fabd f b</span> </figcaption></figure><figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15213/original/pwqd4c3h-1347233845.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15213/original/pwqd4c3h-1347233845.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15213/original/pwqd4c3h-1347233845.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15213/original/pwqd4c3h-1347233845.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15213/original/pwqd4c3h-1347233845.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15213/original/pwqd4c3h-1347233845.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15213/original/pwqd4c3h-1347233845.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The Netherlands’ Esther Vergeer hasn’t been defeated since January 2003.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">robbiesauras</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>On <strong>Day 9</strong> of the Games there were 12 sports on the program with <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/schedule-and-results/today-medals.html">51 medal events in 9 sports</a>.
One of the medal events was the final of the Women’s Wheelchair Tennis Singles. <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athlete/vergeer-esther-5515021/">Esther Vergeer</a> won the event. <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/wheelchair-tennis/event/women-singles/index.html">All the medals</a> in this event were won by the Netherlands. Esther has not been defeated in 470 matches, since January 2003. This is her fourth consecutive Paralympic Tennis Singles gold medal. </p>
<p>At Brands Hatch, <a href="https://theconversation.com/back-on-the-track-9361">Alessandro Zanardi</a> won his second gold medal in the H4 class. This time in the <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/cycling-road/event/men-individual-h-4-road-race/phase=crm014100/index.html">road race</a>.</p>
<p>China had another successful day at the Athletics Stadium. There were five gold medallists. One of them was won by <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athlete/wang-zhiming-5507460/">Zhiming Wang</a> in the <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athletics/event/men-javelin-throw-f40/phase=atm673100/index.html">Men’s F40 Javelin competition</a>. At one point it looked like Iraq would win all three medals until <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athlete/wang-zhiming-5507460/">Zhiming Wang</a>’s last throw. He broke the World Record by 4.68m to win gold. Ih has been quite a Games for Zhiming, a twenty-year-old athlete. He won all three throwing events in the F40 class with World Record performances.</p>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todd_Hodgetts">Todd Hodgetts</a> won a gold medal in the Men’s F20 Shot Put with a new World Record throw. Later in the evening <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Reardon">Scott Reardon</a> won a silver medal in the T42 100m. </p>
<p>After a week of intensive competition, the Women’s Wheelchair Basketball team, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_women%27s_national_wheelchair_basketball_team">the Gliders</a>, won a silver medal in the <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/wheelchair-basketball/event/women/match=wbw400101/index.html?v=1012012090721">final</a> of the competition.</p>
<p>It was another golden night for Australia in the Swimming Pool. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Cowdrey">Matt Cowdrey</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellie_Cole">Ellie Cole</a> and the Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay team (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellie_Cole">Ellie Cole</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Downie">Kat Downie</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annabelle_Williams">Annabelle Williams</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacqueline_Freney">Jacqueline Freney</a>) brought <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/swimming/medals/">Australia’s Swimming medal tally</a> to 35 (17 gold, 7 silver, 11 bronze). </p>
<p><strong>Previous instalments:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-1-9214">Part 1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-2-9240">Part 2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-3-9242">Part 3</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-4-9246">Part 4</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-5-9292">Part 5</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-6-9321">Part 6</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-7-9353">Part 7</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-8-9393">Part 8</a></li>
</ul><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/9427/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
On Day 9 of the Games there were 12 sports on the program with 51 medal events in 9 sports. One of the medal events was the final of the Women’s Wheelchair Tennis Singles. Esther Vergeer won the event…Keith Lyons, Professor of Sport Studies, National Institute of Sports Studies, University of CanberraLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/94262012-09-07T14:23:23Z2012-09-07T14:23:23ZWhere will it end: enhancement-lympics?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15212/original/nwrzwypp-1347233638.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">fb d b</span> </figcaption></figure><figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15212/original/nwrzwypp-1347233638.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15212/original/nwrzwypp-1347233638.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=373&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15212/original/nwrzwypp-1347233638.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=373&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15212/original/nwrzwypp-1347233638.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=373&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15212/original/nwrzwypp-1347233638.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=468&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15212/original/nwrzwypp-1347233638.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=468&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15212/original/nwrzwypp-1347233638.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=468&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Technology might soon allow us to go beyond our ‘species-typical’ abilities.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">PBS NewsHour</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Paralympics seems to define itself as representing the below species-typical, impaired people and the Olympics are the species-typical although on the upper end of the bell curve (<a href="https://theconversation.com/to-define-oneself-as-less-able-a-prerequisite-for-a-paralympian-9241">see my blog To define oneself as less able</a>). In this the Paralympics follows the prevailing meaning of health which is benchmarked to the normal or species-typical body.</p>
<p>We expect certain abilities in members of a species; we expect humans to walk but not to fly, but a bird we expect to fly. If the bird cannot fly, we perceive it as impaired and if humans cannot walk, we perceive them as impaired. It also follows an understanding of ableism that perceives species-typical body abilities as a norm.</p>
<p>However increasingly we can modify the human body to gain beyond species-typical abilities. To have the ability to obtain beyond species-typical, body-related abilities through various means is the focus of the growing group of <a href="http://humanityplus.org/philosophy/transhumanist-faq/">transhumanists</a> and the concept of transhumanism.</p>
<p>Many of the ability expectations used to justify the preference ableism of species-typical body abilities over ‘sub species-typical’ ones, can be employed to justify the preference ableism of beyond species-typical body abilities over less than beyond species-typical abilities.</p>
<p>Ability expectations of beyond species-typical abilities can be justified through various ethics theories. Virtue and Confucian ethics and consequentialism are employed to support some enhancements beyond the species-typical. </p>
<p>Some ethicists argue for the legalisation of various forms of enhancements <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/08/07/should-doping-be-allowed-in-sports/permit-doping-so-we-can-monitor-it">in sport</a> and outside. Ethicists such as Julian Savulescu and John Harris push for the obligation to enhance oneself beyond the species-typical.</p>
<p>What has that to do with disabled people? Many ‘therapeutic’ body devices developed to mimic ‘normal’ body structures and expected body functioning, are envisioned to increasingly allow the wearer to outperform the ‘normal’ body in various functions (therapeutic enhancement, TE). The ‘cheetah’ prosthetic legs worn by the South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius are one very instructive example of such a therapeutic’ device with enhancement potential. Disabled people are seen as having a <a href="http://www.sentientdevelopments.com/2003/09/and-disabled-shall-inherit-earth.html">key role</a> in mainstreaming and increasing the acceptance of non-therapeutic technological body enhancements beyond the species-typical.</p>
<p>What will the impact be for the Paralympics and the Olympics when the enhancement form of ableism takes hold?</p>
<p>For one the move beyond the species-typical enables the transformation of the meaning of health which incorporates, condones, and even expects human performance enhancement beyond species-typical boundaries as one prerequisite of being “healthy”, where enhancement beyond species-typical body structures and functioning is defined as a therapeutic interventions. Question is how does that changes the classification codes of the Paralympics?</p>
<p>Secondly, as I stated elsewhere (Wolbring, G (2012) Paralympians Outperforming Olympians: An Increasing Challenge for Olympism and the Paralympic and Olympic Movement Sport, Ethics and Philosophy 6: 2. 251-266): </p>
<blockquote>
<p>this shift could make the species-typical athlete part of the Paralympics as they are now the impaired ones who can not compete against the enhanced ones. The Olympics could morph into a techno enhancement Olympics. This would be in tune with the self understanding of the two events as to how they relate performance wise to each other in the moment.</p>
<p>Then there could be the move that the Paralympics become the assistive device events where ‘disabled’ and ‘non disabled’ athletes are together in competing in the mastery of the assistive devices whether therapeutic devices such as wheelchairs and exoskeletons or devices in general including the ones we already have in Olympic events such as bob sleighs and the Olympics became the event of disciplines without devices.“ </p>
</blockquote>
<p>In the same article I outlined the scenario that "spectators will not find species-typical track and field events exiting to watch but rather as a curiosity as the old uncool way given that the spectator outperforms the species-typical track and field athlete”. </p>
<p>I submit we need a honest debate about the form in which sport can still be of use and what type of ability expectations decrease the utility of sport for the well-being of humans.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/9426/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
The Paralympics seems to define itself as representing the below species-typical, impaired people and the Olympics are the species-typical although on the upper end of the bell curve (see my blog To define…Gregor Wolbring, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of CalgaryLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/93932012-09-06T22:23:41Z2012-09-06T22:23:41ZInspired, Dazzled, Moved - part 8<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15164/original/m43s6tzz-1346980042.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">EPA ANDY RAIN</span> </figcaption></figure><figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15164/original/m43s6tzz-1346980042.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15164/original/m43s6tzz-1346980042.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=374&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15164/original/m43s6tzz-1346980042.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=374&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15164/original/m43s6tzz-1346980042.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=374&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15164/original/m43s6tzz-1346980042.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=470&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15164/original/m43s6tzz-1346980042.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=470&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15164/original/m43s6tzz-1346980042.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=470&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">David Weir picked up his third gold medal from the London Paralympics overnight.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">EPA/Andy Rain</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>There were 48 medal events in 7 sports on <strong>Day 8</strong> of the program in London. There were 14 sports in total.</p>
<p>One of the early highlights of the day for me was the success of the Australian Women’s Wheelchair Basketball team, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_women%27s_national_wheelchair_basketball_team">the Gliders</a>, in their <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/wheelchair-basketball/event/women/match=wbw400201/index.html">semi-final against the USA</a>. The USA outscored the Gliders by 9 points in the final quarter <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/news/articles/australia-edge-semi-final-thriller.html">to set up an exciting, if nervous, finish to the game</a>. The Gliders won by one point and will play in the final against Germany.</p>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_men%27s_national_wheelchair_basketball_team">The Rollers</a>, the Men’s Wheelchair Basketball team, won through to the final of their competition with <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/wheelchair-basketball/event/men/match=wbm400201/index.html">a nine-point victory over the United States</a>.</p>
<p>There were two penalty shoot outs in the Five-a-Side Football Tournament. <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/football-5-a-side/event/men-team/match=fbm400204/index.html">China defeated Great Britain</a> and <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/football-5-a-side/event/men-team/match=fbm400202/index.html">Brazil defeated Argentina</a>. Brazil will play France in the final of the <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/football-5-a-side/event/men-team/">Tournament</a>.</p>
<p>In the pool <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_Patterson">Grant Patterson</a> broke his second Oceania Record of the Games. He added the 150m SM3 Individual Medley to the record he set in the S4 50m Freestyle. On the same evening <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacqueline_Freney">Jacqueline Freney</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Cowdrey">Matt Cowdrey</a> carried on with their gold-medal winning habit. Jacqueline set a world record in the Women’s S7 400m Freestyle. Matt won his fourth gold medal of the Games in the <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/swimming/event/men-200m-individual-medley-sm9/index.html">SM9 200m Individual Medley</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maddison_Elliott">Maddie Elliott</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Pasterfield">Andrew Pasterfield</a> won bronze medals in their events (S8 100m Freestyle and <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/swimming/event/men-100m-freestyle-s10/phase=swm130100/index.html">S10 100m Freestyle</a> respectively). Andrew set a new Oceania record in his race.</p>
<p>At the Athletics Stadium, China had a very successful day winning six gold medals. Great Britain won three golds. David Weir won his third gold medal in the T54 class. Jonnie Peacock defeated Oscar Pistorius in the <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athletics/event/men-100m-t44/phase=atm140100/index.html">T44 100m</a> and did so in a Paralympic Record time. Oscar finished fourth in the race.</p>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Ellery">Louise Ellery</a> broke the Paralympic Record for her class to win a silver medal in the <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athletics/event/women-shot-put-f32-33-34/phase=atw333100/index.html">F32/33/34 Shot Put</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angie_Ballard">Angie Ballard</a> set a Paralympic Record as well in her <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athletics/event/women-200m-t53/phase=atw251100/index.html">T53 200m race</a> to win a silver medal.</p>
<p>At Brands Hatch, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Nicholas">David Nicholas</a> won a bronze medal in the <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/cycling-road/event/men-individual-c-1-3-road-race/phase=crm032100/index.html">C1-3 Road Race</a>. There were four road races at Brands Hatch on Day 8. Four nations won gold medals (Ukraine, China, Italy and Great Britain).</p>
<p>At Weymouth, at the sailing venue, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Fitzgibbon">Daniel Fitzgibbon</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liesl_Tesch">Liesl Tesch</a> <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/news/articles/australian-duo-top-the-world.html">won gold</a> in the Two-Person Keelboat class. </p>
<p>There are three days of competition left at these Paralympic Games. The Closing Ceremony is on Sunday.</p>
<p><strong>Previous instalments:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-1-9214">Part 1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-2-9240">Part 2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-3-9242">Part 3</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-4-9246">Part 4</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-5-9292">Part 5</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-6-9321">Part 6</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-7-9353">Part 7</a></li>
</ul><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/9393/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
There were 48 medal events in 7 sports on Day 8 of the program in London. There were 14 sports in total. One of the early highlights of the day for me was the success of the Australian Women’s Wheelchair…Keith Lyons, Professor of Sport Studies, National Institute of Sports Studies, University of CanberraLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/93912012-09-06T19:12:03Z2012-09-06T19:12:03ZAs we head for the last lap, what will we remember and what will we do?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15140/original/7bmrrcqw-1346957317.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">DSCN</span> </figcaption></figure><figure class="align-left zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15139/original/xfvthth4-1346956212.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15139/original/xfvthth4-1346956212.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15139/original/xfvthth4-1346956212.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15139/original/xfvthth4-1346956212.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15139/original/xfvthth4-1346956212.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15139/original/xfvthth4-1346956212.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15139/original/xfvthth4-1346956212.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15139/original/xfvthth4-1346956212.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The last lap being signalled for Michael Gallagher at Brands Hatch in the road race.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Tracey J. Dickson</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>As we reach the ‘final lap’ of the London 2012 Paralympics the thing that has stood out for me are the many stories behind the athletes being eligible to be here competing.</p>
<p>Alex Zanardi said his motor racing crash was his ‘ticket to the Paralympics’. For others the ‘ticket’ to the Paralympics was issued at birth or due to disease, medical mishap, workplace incidents and motor vehicle incidents. There are also others who have been called up due to terrorism, war and even shark attack.</p>
<p>But what this totally biased observer will remember (what can I say, I enjoy sport!), is that these elite athletes have been inspiring, challenging, funny, tenacious, great entertainment and fabulous competitors.</p>
<p>I don’t care that they may not be the fastest in the world. They are great role models, better than many so-called ‘normal’ athletes, cyclists, footballers we hear about. These athletes just get up, get on with life, compete hard, and be incredibly supportive of one another’s achievements.</p>
<p>If any aspect of the London 2012 Games can inspire a generation, as the Games slogan goes, it is these athletes and the memories that young and old alike may take away from the many facets of this event. It is not just potential disability-sport participants they can inspire, they can inspire anyone who has ever had a set back or found life tough.</p>
<p>What will I do? Hopefully, spend more time on my bike or in my running shoes than on my computer!</p>
<p>Well done to all the para-athletes at London 2012, you are a credit to yourselves, your families, friends and support teams!</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/9391/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
As we reach the ‘final lap’ of the London 2012 Paralympics the thing that has stood out for me are the many stories behind the athletes being eligible to be here competing. Alex Zanardi said his motor…Tracey J Dickson, Associate Professor, Centre for Tourism Research, Faculty of Business, Government and Law, University of CanberraLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/93612012-09-06T00:25:41Z2012-09-06T00:25:41ZBack on the Track<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15161/original/667p6ysf-1346978731.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">EPA DANIEL KARMANN</span> </figcaption></figure><figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15161/original/667p6ysf-1346978731.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15161/original/667p6ysf-1346978731.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=729&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15161/original/667p6ysf-1346978731.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=729&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15161/original/667p6ysf-1346978731.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=729&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15161/original/667p6ysf-1346978731.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=916&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15161/original/667p6ysf-1346978731.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=916&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15161/original/667p6ysf-1346978731.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=916&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Alessandro Zanardi won gold in London, 11 years after suffering a horrific injury as a racecar driver.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">EPA/Daniel Karmann</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Shortly after I posted my wrap for <a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-7-9353">Day 7 of the Games</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Aussiesportlibrarian">Greg Blood</a> shared with me his highlight of the day: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Zanardi">Alessandro (Alex) Zanardi</a>’s gold medal in the <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/cycling-road/event/men-individual-h-4-time-trial/index.html">Men’s Individual H4 Road Cycling Time Trial</a>.</p>
<p>The Road Cycling events are being held at <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/venue/brands-hatch/">Brands Hatch Motor Racing Circuit</a>. Brands Hatch hosted 12 British Formula One Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986. </p>
<p>Alessandro was a Formula One and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champ_Car">CART</a> racing driver. He suffered an <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-33747_162-57506542/paralympics-former-formula-on">horrific accident</a> in a race in Germany in 2001. </p>
<p>Alessandro’s is one of the 4,200 stories of the Games. I am mindful in listening to these stories of <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gregor-wolbring-12637">Gregor Wolbring</a>’s discussions of identity in his Paralympic blogs and his observations about how we ensure the popularity and visibility of the Games leads to “real changes for the average person with a disability”. <a href="https://theconversation.com/vision-impaired-athletes-dazzle-with-athleticism-9341">Meri Vukicevic</a> has discussed some of these issues too in relation to everyday life.</p>
<p>My fascination with the stories has much to do with what Peter Berger characterised as ‘inveterate snooping’ that is the essence of the sociological imagination. I think my snooping is a self-conscious interest in athletic performance generally. Thanks to Gregor, Meri and <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/rampup/articles/2012/09/02/3581044.htm">Stella Young</a> I am beginning to think more about what this snooping means for gaze, <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2012/02/29/3442495.htm">perception</a> and my everday practice.</p>
<p>Notwithstanding all these issues, like Greg Blood, I was delighted to learn about Alessandro’s day at the races. </p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/9361/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
Shortly after I posted my wrap for Day 7 of the Games, Greg Blood shared with me his highlight of the day: Alessandro (Alex) Zanardi’s gold medal in the Men’s Individual H4 Road Cycling Time Trial. The…Keith Lyons, Professor of Sport Studies, National Institute of Sports Studies, University of CanberraLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/93532012-09-05T22:52:56Z2012-09-05T22:52:56ZInspired, Dazzled, Moved - part 7<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15090/original/tpqph85y-1346888037.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">EPA TAL COHEN</span> </figcaption></figure><figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15090/original/tpqph85y-1346888037.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15090/original/tpqph85y-1346888037.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15090/original/tpqph85y-1346888037.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15090/original/tpqph85y-1346888037.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15090/original/tpqph85y-1346888037.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15090/original/tpqph85y-1346888037.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15090/original/tpqph85y-1346888037.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Having claimed 20 medals, including 11 gold, Matt Cowdrey is Australia’s most successful Paralympic athlete.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">EPA/Tal Cohen</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Day 7 of the Games saw the arrival of <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/wheelchair-rugby/about/">wheelchair rugby</a> into the program. There were 16 sports <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/schedule-and-results/day=5-september/list.html">in the day’s program</a> with 65 medals available in 8 sports.</p>
<p>Cyclists moved from the velodrome to the <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/venue/brands-hatch">Brands Hatch motor racing circuit</a>. There were <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/cycling-road/schedule-and-results/">18 time trial finals</a> over seven hours of racing. Competition at the Athletics events ended with the <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athletics/event/men-4x100m-relay-t42-t46/index.html">T42/46 men’s 4x100m relay</a>. The race rematched Alan Oliveira and Oscar Pistorius. South Africa won the gold medal in <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athletics/event/men-4x100m-relay-t42-t46/index.html">a world record time</a>. </p>
<p>During the day there were two clean sweeps of medals at the Athletics Stadium. Algerian athletes won gold, silver and bronze in the <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athletics/event/men-shot-put-f32-33/phase=atm333100/index.html">men’s T32/33 shot put</a>. Brazilian sprinters matched this achievement in the <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athletics/event/women-100m-t11/phase=atw111100/index.html">women’s T11 100m</a>.</p>
<p>Elsewhere Korea demonstrated its affinity with archery winning gold and silver in the <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/archery/schedule-and-results/">team recurve open</a> events. In the men’s <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/sitting-volleyball/about/">sitting volleyball</a> competition, <a href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/sitting-volleyball/event/men/match=vsm400303/index.html">Bosnia and Herzegovina</a> won their quarter final against Egypt.</p>
<p>Australia won nine medals on Day 7: four gold, three silver and two bronze. In athletics, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Colman">Richard Colman</a> won gold in the men’s T53 800m and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_Cartwright">Kelly Cartwright</a> silver in the Women’s T42 100m in an Australian record time.</p>
<p>In road cycling, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Nicholas">David Nicholas</a> won gold in the C3 time trial and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Cooke">Carol Cooke</a> gold in the mixed T1-T2 time trial. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Powell_%28cyclist%29">Susan Powell</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Barley_%28cyclist%29">Nigel Barley</a> both won silver medals in their events, C4 time trial and H3 time trial respectively. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Gallagher_%28cyclist%29">Michael Gallagher</a> won a bronze medal in his C5 time trial.</p>
<p>In the pool, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Cowdrey">Matt Cowdrey</a> became the most successful gold medallist in Australian Paralympic history when he won the S9 50m Freestyle in a world record time. Matt has won 20 Paralympic medals in his career and this puts him first on the list of Australian Paralympic medal winners.</p>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellie_Cole">Ellie Cole</a> continued her medal success in the S9 class too. She won a bronze medal in the 50m Freestyle in an Oceania record time.</p>
<p><strong>Previous instalments:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-1-9214">Part 1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-2-9240">Part 2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-3-9242">Part 3</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-4-9246">Part 4</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-5-9292">Part 5</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/inspired-dazzled-moved-part-6-9321">Part 6</a></li>
</ul><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/9353/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
Day 7 of the Games saw the arrival of wheelchair rugby into the program. There were 16 sports in the day’s program with 65 medals available in 8 sports. Cyclists moved from the velodrome to the Brands…Keith Lyons, Professor of Sport Studies, National Institute of Sports Studies, University of CanberraLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.