Paralympics 2012

[Tumbler]

I though some of you might be interested in some of the things happening in the lead up to the 2012 Paralympics.


The torch relay route http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/torch-relay/...

Details for the festival of light http://www.london2012.com/join-in/local-leaders/li...

A little more information http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19265010

Kent is currently running a Paralympic roadshow, not sure about other areas.

[robmlufc]

Zanardi at Brands Hatch

[Tumbler]

robmlufc said:

Zanardi at Brands Hatch

I have my tickets

[ewenm]

Lots of Paralympians around Bath as the GB&NI team are based here prior to the games. Good buzz in Bath already as lots of our Olympic medalists train here.

[DJRC]

Trying every morning to get tickets at the mo!

[BlackVanDyke]

Trying desperately for tickets (wheelchair space) at Brands Hatch. Had a look at the route and don't think I'll be able to do roadside viewing - either not enough room or no level access.

[DJRC]

Only thing going this morning were Opening and Closing ceremony tickets and at 600 and 500 quid respectively for a pair...not a chance in bobbins!

[Tumbler]

BlackVanDyke said:

Trying desperately for tickets (wheelchair space) at Brands Hatch. Had a look at the route and don't think I'll be able to do roadside viewing - either not enough room or no level access.

I'm off there tomorrow, so will have a look at the exact route and report back if that helps.

[BlackVanDyke]

Tumbler said:

BlackVanDyke said:

Trying desperately for tickets (wheelchair space) at Brands Hatch. Had a look at the route and don't think I'll be able to do roadside viewing - either not enough room or no level access.

I'm off there tomorrow, so will have a look at the exact route and report back if that helps.

Dude that's bucking frilliant, thankyou. My powerchair can just about do kerb-sized steps (10cm) if I've got enough room to do it in a straight line, if that helps. Will you be going to watch in September? Quite excited to see what Zanardi can do - he's surprisingly old to have got in at all, he must be hellish fit to be able to keep up with all the 20-somethings.

[RosscoPCole]

Got tickets for my family and myself to see athletics and have a general pass for the park that day. So hopefully see a few other interesting sports.

Just watched Best of Men on BBC. If you can see it, do so. It was a fascinating insight into the origins of the Paralympics and the struggles that the staff at Stoke Mandeville went through to help and inspire these brave men.

[DJRC]

BlackVanDyke said:

Tumbler said:

BlackVanDyke said:

Trying desperately for tickets (wheelchair space) at Brands Hatch. Had a look at the route and don't think I'll be able to do roadside viewing - either not enough room or no level access.

I'm off there tomorrow, so will have a look at the exact route and report back if that helps.

Dude that's bucking frilliant, thankyou. My powerchair can just about do kerb-sized steps (10cm) if I've got enough room to do it in a straight line, if that helps. Will you be going to watch in September? Quite excited to see what Zanardi can do - he's surprisingly old to have got in at all, he must be hellish fit to be able to keep up with all the 20-somethings.

Hes the world no 1 I think!

[Daisy Duke]

RosscoPCole said:

Got tickets for my family and myself to see athletics and have a general pass for the park that day. So hopefully see a few other interesting sports.

Did you buy a separate general pass or did it come with your athletics tickets? - it's just that mine don't mention anything about general admission to see other sports.

[RosscoPCole]

Daisy Duke said:

Did you buy a separate general pass or did it come with your athletics tickets? - it's just that mine don't mention anything about general admission to see other sports.

The general admission tickets were separate as we thought we could see a few different sports in the afternoon and evening after a morning in the stadium.
Can't wait!

[Tumbler]

BlackVanDyke said:

Dude that's bucking frilliant, thankyou. My powerchair can just about do kerb-sized steps (10cm) if I've got enough room to do it in a straight line, if that helps. Will you be going to watch in September? Quite excited to see what Zanardi can do - he's surprisingly old to have got in at all, he must be hellish fit to be able to keep up with all the 20-somethings.

There are plenty of grass verges which are accessible via a wheelchair, I think your problem will be parking, as I understand it all parking has to be pre booked and is only available to those with tickets, they are running a shuttle bus from Sevenoaks Station, but what I can't ascertain is if this is only available to ticket holders, the drop off point looks to be in one of the circuits grass car parks, which has gravel tracks.

[BlackVanDyke]

This afternoon, I rang the ticket line for the third time, more in hope than expectation.

They had tickets!

I'm booked in for all 3 days, just got to sort parking and accommodation now...

Thrilled to bits.

Anyone got any recs for places to stay nearby (ideally very nearby as I'm not safe to drive early in the mornings) please?

[blueheron]

RosscoPCole said:

Daisy Duke said:

Did you buy a separate general pass or did it come with your athletics tickets? - it's just that mine don't mention anything about general admission to see other sports.

The general admission tickets were separate as we thought we could see a few different sports in the afternoon and evening after a morning in the stadium.
Can't wait!

My 7 a side tickets came with a GA ticket that allows you into other sports (providing there's space). I have since also got Athletics tickets and these don't come with the GA ticket, but you can still stay inside the Olympic Park grounds. Does that make sense?

I'm assuming it's because the GA tickets are an incentive to fill the venues of sports that aren't as popular as the big 3 (cycling, athletics and swimming).

[Daisy Duke]

blueheron said:

RosscoPCole said:

Daisy Duke said:

Did you buy a separate general pass or did it come with your athletics tickets? - it's just that mine don't mention anything about general admission to see other sports.

The general admission tickets were separate as we thought we could see a few different sports in the afternoon and evening after a morning in the stadium.
Can't wait!

My 7 a side tickets came with a GA ticket that allows you into other sports (providing there's space). I have since also got Athletics tickets and these don't come with the GA ticket, but you can still stay inside the Olympic Park grounds. Does that make sense?

I'm assuming it's because the GA tickets are an incentive to fill the venues of sports that aren't as popular as the big 3 (cycling, athletics and swimming).

That's the same conclusion that I came to as none of mine (cycling, athletics, swimming and basketball) have general admission tickets with them, I just wanted confirmation that it was the case before I bought any more, as I couldn't find a definitive answer on the London2012 site. I do wonder how useful the GA tickets are going to be though if the games really do sell out - as I understand it people with specific tickets to events (like your football tickets) have precedence over those with GA tickets to those events, so for popular sports there won't be any room for GA ticket holders.

[Adrian W]

I'm curious to find out if the Paralympics is going to get the same wall to wall saturation TV coverage as the other games, as this will contribute towards the games success.

[ewenm]

Adrian W said:

I'm curious to find out if the Paralympics is going to get the same wall to wall saturation TV coverage as the other games, as this will contribute towards the games success.

I've no idea how many channels C4 are committing to it but doubt it'll be the 24+ that the BBC did.

[Black can man]

We are off to the Olympic stadium sunday week