trivial things that make you smile,or make you feel good

[Notts red]

A lot of abled bodied people may be inspired to get involved in some sort of sport after this summers Olympics/paralympics. It could also help people realise that there is something out there for everyone whatever their abilities. A lot of people in the near future who enrols into a new sport for the first time disabled or not will say they have been inspired to do so because of the Olympics/Paralympics. That's my take on it anyway.

[Arriba]

Despite trying, I just can't get into it.

[pumbaa]

People keep saying that word, inspirational. I have great admiration for the courage these people have shown to overcome adversity and compete at such a high level, but how is this inspiring? Does it make you want to go and lose a hand/arm/foot/leg so that you can do the same?

Of course not!

From my personal perspective, it is all about the effort, dedication and courage that these people devote to be able to want to do something with their lives, some of which have been shattered in devastating circumstances, others who at birth were never expected to walk let alone run 100m in 12 seconds (or whatever time it may be). It gives them a sense of purpose, a vision, goals, expectations, a reason to live rather than sit around feeling sorry for themselves and possibly milking the state for everything its worth.

I look at Joshua. Bearing in mind he's relatively healthy for a boy with Downs Syndrome, he still didn't walk until he was nearly 3 years old, and even now, almost a year later, I can see see he's ungainly compared to a typical child. He might never have the ability to ride a bike, but I'm sure as hell going to try and make it happen. The Paralympics, amongst other things, give me a confidence, that if he wants, he can compete in sports with his peers.

For me, I feel a complete lazy bastard for not doing any form of exercise. I know I need to change that to maintain a healthy lifestyle, so its back to cycling for me, kind of inspired by the Olympics. I hope its one thing, like Swindon Town, that I can enjoy some quality father/son time in due course.

[leefer]

It is more inspirational for people with disabilities and are shy or just to scared to try sports....sport has brought out the personalities in the atheletes in the games and the smiles and enthusiasm shown will inspire many more hopefully to a more happy and prouder life.

[Notts red]

Despite trying, I just can't get into it.

I can't either to be honest arriba. I find the grading of abilities far to complicated and spend half the time thinking some of the competitors in certain events are so unfairly matched. In some running races you get blind people running with guide runners against people who can clearly see enough to run around a track four times.( and from what I've seen it's  normally the solo runners picking up the medals )  They were interviewing someone this week who had just won gold in the swimming and I just couldn't visibly see any disability whatsoever whilst you could clearly see in the back ground her opponents all had blatant disabilities. I'm sticking with it but thought I would of got into it more than I have.

[Barry Scott]

Despite trying, I just can't get into it.

[Coca Fola]

I can't get into it either because it's just not as exciting or good as able bodied sport. It's not a criticism, fair play to them for doing it but I just don't find it exciting.

[Red Frog]

Of course not!

From my personal perspective, it is all about the effort, dedication and courage that these people devote to be able to want to do something with their lives, some of which have been shattered in devastating circumstances, others who at birth were never expected to walk let alone run 100m in 12 seconds (or whatever time it may be). It gives them a sense of purpose, a vision, goals, expectations, a reason to live rather than sit around feeling sorry for themselves and possibly milking the state for everything its worth.

I look at Joshua. Bearing in mind he's relatively healthy for a boy with Downs Syndrome, he still didn't walk until he was nearly 3 years old, and even now, almost a year later, I can see see he's ungainly compared to a typical child. He might never have the ability to ride a bike, but I'm sure as hell going to try and make it happen. The Paralympics, amongst other things, give me a confidence, that if he wants, he can compete in sports with his peers.

For me, I feel a complete lazy bastard for not doing any form of exercise. I know I need to change that to maintain a healthy lifestyle, so its back to cycling for me, kind of inspired by the Olympics. I hope its one thing, like Swindon Town, that I can enjoy some quality father/son time in due course.

Great post. There's admiring these athletes from a safe distance every four years, but there's not many of us with the moral courage to take on a kid with Down's Syndrome. Now that's walking the walk.

[pauld]

Not for the first time, I've read a post from pumbaa and wanted to stand up from my desk and applaud. That is inspirational.

[Samdy Gray]

I now realise that I came across as a complete arse, but in my mind people were using the word in the wrong context.

[Bewster]

Samdy - I think people saw that you weren't being malicious and where you were coming from.

I, like quite a few others, cannot watch it. I find it all a bit uncomfortable. However I do appreciate that these are extraordinary people doing extraordinary things and how overcome a lot of challenges to live their life to the full.

Pumbaa, great post.

[pumbaa]

I now realise that I came across as a complete arse, but in my mind people were using the word in the wrong context.

I think I know you well enough to know you weren't being an arse, but your question did provoke quite an emotional response from me last night.

I don't think anybody sets out in life to want to compete in the Paralympics. They do so purely through circumstance, the hand they're dealt so to speak. Like the child born with Cerebal Palsy who can control their muscles spasms for long enough to run 100m a bloody sight quicker than I can, the man/woman who were born without one or more limbs who race on blades or in a wheelchair, the lady who lost both legs in the 7/7 bombings in London now taking part in sitting volleyball for example.

I watched the C4 build up shows in the week before the games, and recall a piece by Jimmy Carr at Headley Court (the rehab centre for seriously injured military personnel) and another segment from Stoke Mandeville. The lengths these people go through to recover from tragic circumstances (in their particualr cases) are amazing and heart breaking in equal measure.

Shamefully I didn't watch last night, probably due to some fatigue. Even more shamefully I missed David Weir's second Gold, amongst others.

Live your life to the full, make informed choices, do the best you can. Even if you don't succeed, at least you can say you've tried.

[Ardiles]

The best bit for me is that this massive event brings disability in to the mainstream.  Out of sight, out of mind no longer.  And the main reason, I think, that the Paralympics has been such a success this time around - both in terms of exposure and commercially - is that as a country, we're probably ahead of the curve in bringing disabled people in to the mainstream (if you ignore the Remploy fiasco, anyway.)  We even have a kids' TV programme ('Something Special'), widely available on CBeebies, that centres on the lives of disabled kids.  Hopefully my kids' generation will grow up without focussing on the stigma of disability in the same way that ours did.  (Joey Deacon, anyone?)  Sometimes, we need to give ourselves a bit of credit that things are moving in the right direction.

[Peter Venkman]

Some of these footballer quotes made me chuckle, who says that footballers aren't intelligent

My parents have always been there for me, ever since I was about 7. "
David Beckham

"I would not be bothered if we lost every game as long as we won the
league."
Mark Viduka

"Alex Ferguson is the best manager I've ever had at this level. Well,
he's the only manager I've actually had at this level. But he's the best
manager I've ever had.."
David Beckham

"If you don't believe you can win, there is no point in getting out of
bed at the end of the day."
Neville Southall

"I've had 14 bookings this season - 8 of which were my fault, but 7 of
which were disputable."
Paul Gascoigne

"I've never wanted to leave. I'm here for the rest of my life, and
hopefully after that as well."
Alan Shearer

"I'd like to play for an Italian club, like Barcelona "
Mark Draper

"You've got to believe that you're going to win, and I believe we'll win
the World Cup until the final whistle blows and we're knocked out."
Peter Shilton

"I faxed a transfer request to the club at the beginning of the week,
but let me state that I don't want to leave Leicester "
Stan Collymore

"I was watching the Blackburn game on TV on Sunday when it flashed on
the screen that George (Ndah) had scored in the first minute at
Birmingham . My first reaction was to ring him up. Then I remembered he
was out there playing."
Ade Akinbiyi

"Without being too harsh on David Beckham, he cost us the match."
Ian Wright

"I'm as happy as I can be - but I have been happier."
Ugo Ehiogu

" Leeds is a great club and it's been my home for years, even though I
live in Middlesborough."
Jonathan Woodgate

"I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel."
Stuart Pearce

"I took a whack on my left ankle, but something told me it was my
right."
Lee Hendrie

"I couldn't settle in Italy - it was like living in a foreign country."
Ian Rush

" Germany are a very difficult team to play...they had 11 internationals
out there today."
Steve Lomas

"I always used to put my right boot on first, and then obviously my
right sock."
Barry Venison

"I definitely want Brooklyn to be christened, but I don't know into what
religion yet."
David Beckham

"The Brazilians were South American, and the Ukrainians will be more
European."
Phil Neville

"All that remains is for a few dots and commas to be crossed.."
Mitchell Thomas

"One accusation you can't throw at me is that I've always done my best."
Alan Shearer

"I'd rather play in front of a full house than an empty crowd."
Johnny Giles

"Sometimes in football you have to score goals."
Thierry Henry

[Flashheart]

"I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel."
Stuart Pearce

A bird in the bush is worth two in the greenhouse.