FabSwingers.com forum: Paralympic Flame?????

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Why, oh, why was the Olympic flame not passed to the Paralympics???????

It's almost like the IOC has totally dismissed the whole event. Not happy

Anyone else feel strongly about this???

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Yes we do! Cant believe flame not passed on. Makes it seem like Paralympics aren't really part of Olympics at all.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I thought this as well last night..Surely the games aren't over until the paralympics have finished.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

If the Olympics are supposed to be 'inclusive' surely the flame should have been kept alive until the end of that, then extinguished and the Olympic flag passed to Rio de Janeiro????

Or maybe it's just me at odds with the World....... again......???

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

The Paralympics gets its own Torch Relay and and its own opening ceremony

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Paralympics have their own flame, and their own lighting ceremony! Importantly it does a tour the same as the Olympic flame with its own carriers relevant to who the Paralympics represent... They aren't forgotten, on the contrary they aren't made to feel as a subsidiary of the Olympics (which may be worse?!).

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By *atisfy janeWoman
over a year ago

Torquay

They have their own flame.....

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Paralympics have their own flame, and their own lighting ceremony! Importantly it does a tour the same as the Olympic flame with its own carriers relevant to who the Paralympics represent... They aren't forgotten, on the contrary they aren't made to feel as a subsidiary of the Olympics (which may be worse?!)."

Understand all that (and thanks for the info, of which I was unaware) but it's not getting the same publicity, is it....?

Having said that, this is already the most successful Paralympics in terms of support - and that's even before the 'able bodied' games were half way through.

I think it's to some extent the old British trait of sticking up for the underdog (without wishing to suggest for one second that anyone participating in the Paralympics is in that category) and it goes against the grain for many people that there is this perceived divide between the two.

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By *kmale421Man
over a year ago

wirral

Understand all that (and thanks for the info, of which I was unaware) but it's not getting the same publicity, is it....?

Having said that, this is already the most successful Paralympics in terms of support - and that's even before the 'able bodied' games were half way through.

Actually Pork your right, I had no idea until reading this piece that the Paralympics has it's own flame. It is much lower key than the main Olympics though and it will be interetsing to see what coverage Channel 4 give to this as they are the Paralympic braodcaster. As a side note theres a drama on BBC 2 on Thursday night starting at 9pm which tells the story of how the Paralympics was created by a Dr at Stoke Manderville.

The actual details for the Paralympic torch are as follows for those that are interestedand can be fould on the London2012 site.

The Relay will have a distinctive and unique voice: celebrating the power of human endeavour and energy in the run up to the Paralympic Games.

Building on the traditional Torch Relay format, the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay will begin in London on Friday 24 August with the lighting of England’s flame. The United Kingdom’s other three capital cities – Greater Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh – will then light a flame on each of the following days, at special Flame Lighting events. Each city will develop its unique method of lighting.

Once a flame has been lit, it will visit local community groups and key locations in and around the city. In addition to the lighting events there will be a series of evening celebrations called Flame Festivals. Confirmed locations to date for Flame Festivals are Greater Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff. The Flame Festivals are public events staged by LOCOG with the assistance of the host Local Authority and will include plenty of activities and entertainment.

Flame Festivals

25 August: Belfast – City Hall

26 August: Edinburgh – Inverleith Park

27 August: Cardiff – Roald Dahl Plass

Paralympic Flame Lighting Ceremony

Each flame will then be taken to Stoke Mandeville, home of the Paralympic Movement where the four flames will be combined at a Paralympic Flame Lighting Ceremony on 28 August to create the London 2012 Paralympic Flame.

Later that evening, there will be a 24-hour Torch Relay from Stoke Mandeville. Torchbearers working in teams of five will carry the Paralympic Flame to the Olympic Stadium to light the Cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Paralympic Torch Relay locations

The Paralympic Torch Relay will visit Flame Festivals and Flame Celebrations around the UK before taking part in a 24 hour relay from Stoke-Mandeville to London. In addition to the Flame Festivals, the following 33 communities across the UK will host a Flame Celebration Event over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Locations of the Paralympic Torch Relay Flame Celebrations

East of England

Cambridgeshire

Bedfordshire

Essex

Norfolk

Suffolk

Hertfordshire

East Midlands

Leicester

Northern Ireland

Cookstown

Ballymena

Derry

Newry and Mourne

Carrickfergus

North East

Beamish

North West

Manchester

Preston

Merseyside

Cheshire

Scotland

Glasgow

South East

Horsham

Aylesbury

South West

Bath

Plymouth

Weymouth & Portland

Yorkshire

Leeds

York

Sheffield

Beverley

Huddersfield

Wales

Conwy

West Midlands

Hereford

Coventry

Trentham Lake

Cannock

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

but unlike the olympic gold medal winners get stamps and post boxes painted the Paralympics gold medal get nothing like that, double standards i think.

just because we win more golds at the Paralympics

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By *hite SnakeMan
over a year ago

leeds

It does seem a slap in the face when they wanted so many disabled people to carry the flame for the main games.

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By *iewMan
Forum Mod
over a year ago

Angus & Findhorn

lets just look forward to what will be 'great games'

they will be great

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By *eavy Metal BallzMan
over a year ago

Birmingham

I think I am looking forward to the Paralympic Games just as much if not more the the Olympic Games.

I think it would be amazing if they were truly inclusive and they ran alongside each other, surely only a matter of time.

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By *iewMan
Forum Mod
over a year ago

Angus & Findhorn

"I think I am looking forward to the Paralympic Games just as much if not more the the Olympic Games.

I think it would be amazing if they were truly inclusive and they ran alongside each other, surely only a matter of time. "

I wondered why today but saw on the news that it takes time to change the pitches etc for the new competitors

I cant wait

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

I think it is going to take considerable strength of public opinion until they are properly integrated as part of the Olympics so that there s just one 'Olympics'.

And there lies the problem - attitudes towards the disabled vary considerably around the globe and it would take a huge shift to put enough pressure on the IOC - just look at the example about racism in football and the attitude of dear Mr Blatter and FIFA....

Doesn't bode well, me thinks..... which is a crying shame...

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Why, oh, why was the Olympic flame not passed to the Paralympics???????

It's almost like the IOC has totally dismissed the whole event. Not happy

Anyone else feel strongly about this???

yes, i do, i work in this field and feel very dissapointed over the whole thing, its like they think, stick them on channel 4 out of the way, they are even selling off parts of the fittings of the stadiun today to the public, very poor show

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Dangerous posting a thread without doing research 1st. lesson learnt i hope?

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Dangerous posting a thread without doing research 1st. lesson learnt i hope?"

No research needed, nor was a lesson to be learned.

I expressed an opinion about the symbolic manner of extinguishing the Olympic flame before the Paralympics as I felt strongly that this was NOT right.

I was interested in whether others felt similarly. Clearly they do....

As for the other information concerning the Paralympics, pity it has been publicised more - specially seeing as 2.1 million tickets have already been sold for it. Would be nice to know what you're buying a ticket for, or why you should buy one.

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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

Sadly, they have always been seen as entirely separate Games. Running them in the same year and using the same city was seen as a compromise by many anyway.

Things do move awfully slowly.

Part of the delay is practical. The time is used to change the performance areas and to refit everything with the Paralympic logo and livery.

Have any of you tuned into the Paralympic coverage in previous years? My guess is no. It's usually harder to find and consigned to the late night shift, which is where we stick all television for those with disabilities.

It will be interesting to see what Ch4 do with it and whether they can really respond and build on the current appetite to watch the Games. Of course, they do start with the Bank Holiday weekend but go into that strange shoe buying frenzy period before school starts again and are on during that first week back at school.

The time might be right for a campaign to keep the flame lit until after the Paralympics and have one combined closing ceremony.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Dangerous posting a thread without doing research 1st. lesson learnt i hope?

No research needed, nor was a lesson to be learned.

I expressed an opinion about the symbolic manner of extinguishing the Olympic flame before the Paralympics as I felt strongly that this was NOT right.

I was interested in whether others felt similarly. Clearly they do....

I agree. I think it should be publicised more, especially with how well it's gone so far.

I saw a cool poster for Channel 4 saying something like 'Thanks to the Olympics for warming it up for the paralympics'

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By *abioMan
over a year ago

Newcastle and Gateshead

"I think it is going to take considerable strength of public opinion until they are properly integrated as part of the Olympics so that there s just one 'Olympics'.

Doesn't bode well, me thinks..... which is a crying shame...

I think if you had been talking about any other country I think you may have been right... but the UK probably has one of the best track records and history in disabled sport..

so in a sense the paralympics is in effect "coming home" and it would make it well supported... I think I had heard that 2.2 of the 2.5million tickets available had been sold... and I honestly feel that the strength to which it will be supported here will shock the rest of the world.....

in a way it may be harder for rio to follow a very successful paralympics than it will an olympics...

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"I think it is going to take considerable strength of public opinion until they are properly integrated as part of the Olympics so that there s just one 'Olympics'.

Doesn't bode well, me thinks..... which is a crying shame...

I think if you had been talking about any other country I think you may have been right... but the UK probably has one of the best track records and history in disabled sport..

in a way it may be harder for rio to follow a very successful paralympics than it will an olympics..."

Fabio - I meant the rest of the World, not the UK. You are right in that we have arguably THE best record when it comes to integrating disabled sport into mainstream sport and in giving it equal prominence too.

Will Rio have such a well supported Paralympics......? Or the host of the 2020 Games? Only time will tell.

Best we can hope is that this Countrys support for the Paralympics makes those who follow as hosts open their eyes a little more......

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I think it is going to take considerable strength of public opinion until they are properly integrated as part of the Olympics so that there s just one 'Olympics'.

Doesn't bode well, me thinks..... which is a crying shame...

I think if you had been talking about any other country I think you may have been right... but the UK probably has one of the best track records and history in disabled sport..

in a way it may be harder for rio to follow a very successful paralympics than it will an olympics...

Will Rio have such a well supported Paralympics......? Or the host of the 2020 Games? Only time will tell.

Best we can hope is that this Countrys support for the Paralympics makes those who follow as hosts open their eyes a little more......

Yet again having to explain your post's please make yourselves clearer.

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By *ittle_brat_evie!!Woman
over a year ago

evesham

"but unlike the olympic gold medal winners get stamps and post boxes painted the Paralympics gold medal get nothing like that, double standards i think.

just because we win more golds at the Paralympics "

they havent happened yet....how do you know they wont get this to?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Why, oh, why was the Olympic flame not passed to the Paralympics???????

It's almost like the IOC has totally dismissed the whole event. Not happy

Anyone else feel strongly about this???

Its a different event and they have to close one before starting the other. Better that way than as an Olympics afterthought don't you think?

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By *ittle_brat_evie!!Woman
over a year ago

evesham

has anyone asked the paralympians if they WANT an intergrated games?

why are we seeing it as a bad thing, why can it not be seen as a chance for them to shine on their own rather than be the also rans among able bodied athletes?

as it is the paralympics are very complex, with several different classes competing in the same event.

why do we have to see the negative in everything, lets focus our energy on making sure these paralympics are the most _iewed so that next time they come along they get more airtime, more publicity etc show the world we support ALL athletes

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