I don’t want to belabour this point because this blog has always been about the positive, but not showing the Paralympics in prime time is a missed opportunity for the Paralympics, the broadcasters and the public.
In preparation for being an analyst for skeleton at the Olympics I heard the term “NBC model” used on a number of occasions. What I understood that to mean was that the broadcasters would portray the human side of the event and not just show the competition itself. There would be biographies of athletes with all the adversity and drama and pressure that athletes go through to try to win on the biggest stage. When I think about the “NBC model”, I think about the Hawaii Ironman triathlon. I’m a bit of a sports junkie so I’m interested to see the winners of the various divisions but the real appeal, and quite frankly why NBC was nominated for 3 Emmy’s last year for the broadcast, are the people who don’t win the overall titles. People such as the woman with two prosthetic legs who doesn’t even start the marathon until it starts getting dark that night! People like her show an immense amount of determination in the face of incredible physical challenges. More than once I’ve happened upon the broadcast on a lazy Sunday afternoon when I didn’t have the strength to drag my butt of the coach! Talk about a wake-up call. Talk about powerful television – certainly the Paralympics could have the same mass appeal.
Of all the great athletes that I’ve had the good fortune of meeting and training beside over the years in a city that is the home base to so many national teams and champion athletes, if I had to make a list of the most incredible athletes that I’ve ever seen (not most inspirational but most talented), two of the top five would be Paralympians.
The other aspect of course is that there are some incredible athletes who compete at the Paralympics that are very worthy of our attention and admiration – every bit as much as their Olympic counterparts. In fact, of all the great athletes that I’ve had the good fortune of meeting and training beside over the years in a city that is the home base to so many national teams and champion athletes, if I had to make a list of the most incredible athletes that I’ve ever seen (not most inspirational but most talented), two of the top five would be Paralympians.
The two I’m referring to are Patrick Anderson and Jeff Adams. Patrick Anderson is widely considered to be the best wheelchair basketball player in the World but I’ll leave it at that for now. I’ll have more to say about him in the near future as he has agreed to be a guest writer for this site which I am very excited about.
Jeff Adams, aside from being an extremely well-decorated wheelchair track racer actually climbed the CN Tower a few years ago in his wheelchair. Yes, take a minute to digest that. Actually, take a minute and google it. See some pictures of how he lifted himself and the chair strapped to his waist repeatedly for over seven hours to climb the 1776 steps. That’s almost superhuman if you ask me and hopefully for some it paints Paralympic sport in a new light.
Brian McKeever’s selection to the Canadian Olympic team is an awe-inspiring achievement. Another one worth our attention is the fact that Canadian sledge hockey player Brad Bowden has actually been a Paralympic champion in two sports at the same time (Basketball in Athens, 2004; Sledge Hockey in Torino, 2006). That’s getting into Clara Hughes territory and we should celebrate it. We should at very least be aware of it!
Paralympians aren’t as well known as Olympians and certainly not as well known as professional athletes but that has a lot to do with marketing, television contracts, advertising dollars and the like – not ability. They deserve our attention and our respect and what they offer in return is inspiration.
I agree with you about the need for better coverage of the Paralympic Games. Certainly the stories are as compelling and the competition as exciting as the Olympic Games themselves. I’ve tried watching the live streaming coverage on http://www.paralympicsport.tv, but it has been riddled with technical problems and last-minute schedule changes.
I think part of the reason for our disregard of the Paralympics could be “Olympics fatigue.” After two weeks of watching wall-to-wall coverage of the Olympics, people want to get on with their lives and watch their regular sitcoms. Perhaps the Paralympic Games should be unlinked from the Olympic Games, in the same way that the Olympic Winter Games were separated from the Summer Games after 1992, to give them more visibility. Also, it must be hard on the Olympic host cities to have to turn around and put on what is nearly another full Olympic Games right afterwards. Vancouver has shown great enthusiasm for the Paralympics, to their credit.
All of this is to say that I think the Paralympic Games have great potential for public and media interest that isn’t currently being realized.
I have also tried actively following the paralympics, but it is difficult. vancouver2010.com is updating events shortly after they conclude, but was able to update in (almost) real time during the Olympics. The only event I’ve been able to actually watch was yesterday’s Canada-Japan sledge hockey upset and I was AMAZED at those players. I’ve always had a lot of respect for paralympians but actually watching it instills new appreciation!
Scott, that’s an interesting idea to disconnect Olympics and Paralympics since my thoughts were actually in the other direction – why not combine them? Extend the Olympics to three weeks and have the paralympic events mixed with olympic events? Obviously there are advantages and disadvantages…
I totally agree that the Paralympics should be as easily viewed as the Olympics and I like the idea that Vivian had about finding a way to combine the two. I understand how difficult it would be with the sheer number of athletes, but I think it could be done with most venues. When I am fortunate enough to find some Paralympics coverage, I am amazed at every story I come across. Not only are these athletes the best at what they do, they do it while overcoming and defeating obstacles every day. The story of Jeff Adams is amazing. After spending 5 minutes to google his story, and read over his very long list of accomplishments, I am in disbelief that I’ve never heard of him. He is the perfect example of athletes that deserve our respect and admiration. Keep it coming, Duff!
Thank you for your perspective – may it be widely heard!
I agree with all here … the lack of live tv coverage of the Paralympics is very disappointing, especially when they’re right here in our own back yard (and what about that business of only showing the opening ceremonies live to Vancouverites but not the rest of Canada?!)!
One would’ve thought that the title sponsors would’ve insisted on the same level of coverage for the Paralympics so that they get their advertising dollars’-worth … or are there different sponsors for the Paralympics, than the Olympic Games?
The idea to combine the two events into one longer program has a great deal of merit! I think splitting them completely would put even more burden on the hosts (having to reset everything from scratch a second time, instead of just making minor adjustments to a system, eg: transportation, security, etc, that’s already in place).
Scheduling for a combined event could be done so that people who buy tickets for the OG’s get to stay to watch the Paralympic version, too, eg: hockey followed by sledge hockey, or curling followed by wheelchair curling, or slalom skiing followed by sitting and/or visually impaired slalom.
What brilliant exposure for disabled athletes to spectators who probably wouldn’t have bought additional tickets for the Paralympic event, and a great opportunity to have even more men-on-the-street see that the disabled are really not that different from the rest of us!
I agree with you. CTV, without question, should’ve covered the paralypics. The Olympics were not over 3 weeks ago. This is more than just wrong. Towards the end of the 2 weeks of the games, the way in which they were talking about the paralympics, made me feel that they were in a way, dismissing the Paralympics. Too boot, there aren’t any clothes for the paralympics for people to purchase. Inexusable in my books.
I so enjoyed the sledge hockey game last night. I would’ve loved to see the Canada game. I was surprised that there was no security what so ever. Like why?
I’ve spoken with many people, and it’s a 100% consensus that both should be run concurrently. There’s no reason why it can’t be. An athlete is an athlete is an athlete. Why the term Paralypics? Include all in the Olympic games.
It reminds me of when special needs children weren’t allowed in mainsteam schools.The education system realized what needed to be done. It’s time for the IOC to do the same. Hopefully in the next winter/summer
Olympics, this will be the case.
It’s the attitude of some people re the Paralympics, which is a diability. So sad
MY REPLY// FULL PARTISIPATION TOGETHER. WHY/. BECAUSE AN ATHLETIC IS AN ATHLETIC; ; IS AN ATHLETIC ;A SPORTS SKILL WHICH SAYS; AN ATHLETIC IS AN ATHLETIC; IS AN ATHLETIC;;;; CONCLUSION;AN ATHLETIC IS AN ATHLETIC//
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I could not agree more. I have been keeping an active blog and a virtual 3D Olympics at http://blog.virtualwhistler.com and if you visit it you will notice that I have been overly possitive. I love these Olympic and Paralympic games but I am rather frustrated to say the least. I WANT TO SEE MORE PARALYMPIC GAMES. I am lucky because I live in Whistler and get to see the odd event live, but these games are quite captivating and I am saddened to put it mildly that I can not see more of the games!!!!
I agree completely with your points. These athletes give it their all and deserve to be seen. Why couldn’t an extra couple of days be added to the olympics and have all Olympians participate during this time frame? All athletes side by side.
As you have stated following the PARAs has been a challenge. I believe the proper way for equality would be to blend the games. Running the different divisions concurrent in their disciplines is the true road to showcase all elite athletes in their sport ,disabled or otherwise. Many sports run integrated and it would be great to see the olympics do the same. At Alberta Bobsleigh we are currently building an Adaptive program and will run it heads up with the able bodied athletes. We feel all athletes are inspirational and deserve equal opportunity for competion to push each other to the elite level within their division
It is wonderful to see such open discussion and support for ALL of our ahtletes who work so hard, for so long, and put off so much of their own lives because of an inner drive to be the best they can be. And we are so privileged in this electronic age to be able to witness their accomplishments, and to be a part of that incredible rush of truly feeling their humanity and effort and struggle as they compete!
But how dismaying it has been when money rules decisions that preclude the same coverage for all elite athletes!
Blogs such as this will definitely have an effect in publicizing the need to cover all such athletic competitions.
Thank you to one and all for staring and contributing to this discussion.
Let’s be sure to keep the pressure on our media outlets and the IOC and IPC so this never happens again.
It sweems to me we succeeded in pressuring CTV to air the Paralympic Closing Ceremonies live tomorrow. Hooray for all the people who were not afraid to speak up. Hooray that we feel no fear in doing so in this wonderful country we call home.
My first involvement with paralympic sports was as an able bodied volunteer in 1977 when the Canadian Disabled Games were held in St. John’s, Newfoundland. My level of respect for the athletes has grown by leaps and bounds over the years but sadly the level of media coverage has not grown in proportion. But hope springs eternal, maybe one day soon the paralymians will get the level of recognition and financial assistance they richly deserve.
ALL athletes inspire us. Especially our children. I just witnessed our children downstairs on their plasma cars playing sledge hockey with their mini sticks. They pushed and shot with their sticks – completely inspired by our very own palalympic athletes.
Integration all the way – let’s celebrate all athletes at one time – ONE Olympic games.
I agree 100%…. my 8 year old son states the Paraolympic athletes have trained as hard as their able bodied Olympic athletes and he can not possibly understand why there is no television coverage … once again the sheer honesty and brillance of children is what needs to be heard and acted upon
I hope that we can see the ParaOlympics televised with the same enthusiasm in 2012 and beyond….for all of our benefit….