Thinking of taking the family to the Paralympic games
Discussion
Did I see wheelchair rugby advertised? Or was that wheelchair basketball?
Was rugby! Looks brutal
http://www.paralympics.org.uk/sports/wheelchair-ru...
Was rugby! Looks brutal
http://www.paralympics.org.uk/sports/wheelchair-ru...
Track cycling would be very very high on my list. Football is 7-a-side (players have mild cerebral palsy) and to my inexpert eye is no less fast-paced and exciting than non-disabled football.
Track and field, weightlifting, swimming... there's so much, couldn't really narrow it down to one thing to recommend without knowing if you guys are particularly interested in any sport or type of sport.
I've been to a few Paralympic World Cups - basketball, athletics, football, swimming - and always had a fantastic time. Elite athletes doing what they do best is always awesome regardless of setting.
I would be absolutely astonished if basketball and rugby weren't both completely sold out months ago, mind.
Track and field, weightlifting, swimming... there's so much, couldn't really narrow it down to one thing to recommend without knowing if you guys are particularly interested in any sport or type of sport.
I've been to a few Paralympic World Cups - basketball, athletics, football, swimming - and always had a fantastic time. Elite athletes doing what they do best is always awesome regardless of setting.
I would be absolutely astonished if basketball and rugby weren't both completely sold out months ago, mind.
NB if you've got young kids, wheelchair rugby (AKA murderball ) is VERY sweary indeed... players, support crew, family/friends, spectators - consider yourself duly warned. 
These are guys that tie piano wire round their balls 'cos the increased blood pressure (is thought to?) improve/s performance, FFS!
) is VERY sweary indeed... players, support crew, family/friends, spectators - consider yourself duly warned. These are guys that tie piano wire round their balls 'cos the increased blood pressure (is thought to?) improve/s performance, FFS!
BlackVanDyke said:
NB if you've got young kids, wheelchair rugby (AKA murderball ) is VERY sweary indeed... players, support crew, family/friends, spectators - consider yourself duly warned.
These are guys that tie piano wire round their balls 'cos the increased blood pressure (is thought to?) improve/s performance, FFS!
This is one of the best endorsements for a sporting event I've ever read! How does wheelchair basketball compare? That's what I've got tickets for but I'm now thinking about trading them in for the rugby, based on the above...! ) is VERY sweary indeed... players, support crew, family/friends, spectators - consider yourself duly warned. These are guys that tie piano wire round their balls 'cos the increased blood pressure (is thought to?) improve/s performance, FFS!
Yiliterate said:
BlackVanDyke said:
NB if you've got young kids, wheelchair rugby (AKA murderball ) is VERY sweary indeed... players, support crew, family/friends, spectators - consider yourself duly warned.
These are guys that tie piano wire round their balls 'cos the increased blood pressure (is thought to?) improve/s performance, FFS!
This is one of the best endorsements for a sporting event I've ever read! How does wheelchair basketball compare? That's what I've got tickets for but I'm now thinking about trading them in for the rugby, based on the above...! ) is VERY sweary indeed... players, support crew, family/friends, spectators - consider yourself duly warned. These are guys that tie piano wire round their balls 'cos the increased blood pressure (is thought to?) improve/s performance, FFS!
The rugby players are that, only also bats
t crazy. 
Favourite wheelchair rugby quote (paraphrased): "We've all already broken our necks... what's the worst that can happen?"
Cheib said:
Looking to get some tickets for the Paralympuics now myself....not sure what.
If ever you need to be inspired I reckon the Paralympics would be brilliant.....be great for kids to see what people less fortunate than them can do
If ever you need to be inspired I reckon the Paralympics would be brilliant.....be great for kids to see what people less fortunate than them can do
See above.
I don't think it's very likely that your kids are more fortunate than world-class elite athletes who can outsprint/swim/run/throw/ride/lift most of us put together... and be paid to do it, to boot.
But totally go, the whole thing will be a great show and we're likely to get a lot more medals than in the current go-round...
BlackVanDyke said:
The basketballers are insanely aggressive and talented athletes.
The rugby players are that, only also batst crazy.
Favourite wheelchair rugby quote (paraphrased): "We've all already broken our necks... what's the worst that can happen?"
Just tried to buy some rugby tickets but they're completely sold out...not a single seat in any session available!!! If it's half as good as you describe, it's not difficult to see why! Still, can't wait for the basketball, and think I'll get some tickets for the powerlifting too...The rugby players are that, only also bats
t crazy. Favourite wheelchair rugby quote (paraphrased): "We've all already broken our necks... what's the worst that can happen?"
I've been thinking of going as well, family trip, really as a way of seeing the olympic park. Track cycling is sold out which is good to know the paras are being well supported.
The road cycling still has tickets, maximum purchase qty 55, yes 55! But then it is a Brand Hatch with a capacity of a few hudred thousand so is unlikely to sell out!
Although I'm not as excited about the paras as the main olympics, I expect that in a stadium full of cheering people it doesn't matter who's competing, it'll be a good day out.
The road cycling still has tickets, maximum purchase qty 55, yes 55! But then it is a Brand Hatch with a capacity of a few hudred thousand so is unlikely to sell out!
Although I'm not as excited about the paras as the main olympics, I expect that in a stadium full of cheering people it doesn't matter who's competing, it'll be a good day out.
Yiliterate said:
BlackVanDyke said:
The basketballers are insanely aggressive and talented athletes.
The rugby players are that, only also batst crazy.
Favourite wheelchair rugby quote (paraphrased): "We've all already broken our necks... what's the worst that can happen?"
Just tried to buy some rugby tickets but they're completely sold out...not a single seat in any session available!!! If it's half as good as you describe, it's not difficult to see why! Still, can't wait for the basketball, and think I'll get some tickets for the powerlifting too...The rugby players are that, only also bats
t crazy. Favourite wheelchair rugby quote (paraphrased): "We've all already broken our necks... what's the worst that can happen?"
The basketball's also brilliant, although last match I was at I ended up against the incredibly b
hy wife/girlfriend of one of the players who came out with some incredibly offensive stuff about the other players - charming! It's beginning to be pretty high profile, enough so that I think the players can now be full-time pros rather than the usual problem for paralympians of not being able to get enough sponsorship to train fulltime and so having to work as well.The powerlifting is pretty cool although some of the macho stuff gets a bit silly (just like with mainstream then...) - the diversity of the lifters is pretty startling and in big contrast to eg basketball where they're broadly physically similar to each other, variations in height and (somewhat) level of impairment notwitshtanding.
I wish wish wish I could go but hotel rooms are so horribly expensive... might see if I can get a ticket for the cycling at Brands Hatch instead.
john2443 said:
I've been thinking of going as well, family trip, really as a way of seeing the olympic park. Track cycling is sold out which is good to know the paras are being well supported.
The road cycling still has tickets, maximum purchase qty 55, yes 55! But then it is a Brand Hatch with a capacity of a few hudred thousand so is unlikely to sell out!
Although I'm not as excited about the paras as the main olympics, I expect that in a stadium full of cheering people it doesn't matter who's competing, it'll be a good day out.
The road cycling still has tickets, maximum purchase qty 55, yes 55! But then it is a Brand Hatch with a capacity of a few hudred thousand so is unlikely to sell out!
Although I'm not as excited about the paras as the main olympics, I expect that in a stadium full of cheering people it doesn't matter who's competing, it'll be a good day out.
I'm hoping to go to the road cycling too.It's interesting - we're less than a month away from the paralympics but there's been none of the hype that the olympics had. There's been a lot of debate about combining the two, doubt it'll happen in the next 20 years but I think it's a good idea, logistic nightmare notwithstanding. Hard to say the athletes are of an equal status when it's a separate event, opening ceremony has about a hundredth of the budget and I doubt we'll see any more James Bond or Mr Bean either.
I'm taking the family on Saturday 1 September.
We have tickets for the athletics in the morning and a park pass for the whole day where we can pop into the wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, 7-aside football and the goal ball. We only paid £50 for all the tickets for 2 adults and 1 child. Good value in my books and the zone 1-9 travelcards were included.
We have tickets for the athletics in the morning and a park pass for the whole day where we can pop into the wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, 7-aside football and the goal ball. We only paid £50 for all the tickets for 2 adults and 1 child. Good value in my books and the zone 1-9 travelcards were included.
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