The Official Paralympics Thread

[Neil Young]

http://www.est1892.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=2401356&postcount=4776

[Fredo]

Thanks Red Setter.

[spud_gun]

[Shaggy]

When does it start?

[Chazza]

29th August.

[dom9]

When does it start?

29 August.

I wonder what the coverage will be like. There's no way that C4 will match the BBC in terms of sheer breadth and scope.

Not knowing much about it, I wonder if there are different versions of some events for different disabilities?

[Kenneth]

Really can't be arsed with it.

[dom9]

Really can't be arsed with it.

I am genuinely interested.

How much I actually end up watching is up for debate as I can't see my wife getting into it at all.

[Chazza]

The full event list is

•Archery
•Athletics
•Boccia
•Cycling
•Equestrian
•Football 5-a-Side
•Football 7-a-Side
•Goalball
•Judo
•Powerlifting
•Rowing
•Sailing
•Shooting
•Swimming
•Table Tennis
•Volleyball Sitting
•Wheelchair Basketball
•Wheelchair Fencing
•Wheelchair Rugby
•Wheelchair Tennis

Not sure about all of them but for events such as Athletics and Swimming they have a number of races over the same distance with the athletes being grouped depending on their disability.

[Pablo]

Any tasty ladies in this?

[dom9]

The full event list is

•Archery
•Athletics
•Boccia
•Cycling
•Equestrian
•Football 5-a-Side
•Football 7-a-Side
•Goalball
•Judo
•Powerlifting
•Rowing
•Sailing
•Shooting
•Swimming
•Table Tennis
•Volleyball Sitting
•Wheelchair Basketball
•Wheelchair Fencing
•Wheelchair Rugby
•Wheelchair Tennis

Not sure about all of them but for events such as Athletics and Swimming they have a number of races over the same distance with the athletes being grouped depending on their disability.

Cheers

[Alex]

Wheelchair basket ball is amazing to watch. I think they used to call it Murderball or something.

[dom9]

Pretty rough isn't it?

[Gibbo]

Whats goalball?

[Chazza]

ParalympicsGB did not take a Goalball team to Beijing, but both the GB men’s and women’s teams have made many improvements to their performance programme and move strongly towards London 2012, following their successful bid to achieve their home nation slots for the Games.


Goalball is a sport for athletes with visual impairments. It is played by two teams of three using a ball with bells inside. The ball is the size of a basketball but twice the weight.

The object of the game is to throw the ball into the opposing team's net, while defenders attempt to block it with their bodies. The indoor court has tactile lines to assist players with their orientation on court and the ball must make contact with certain areas of the court during the game.

The GB women's team competed in December 2011 in the London Prepares Test Event losing 1-0 to the World Champions China and 5-2 to Beijing gold medallists, USA.

The GB women’s team includes teenager Georgina Bullen, who was just 14 when she won European gold in 2009 with her fellow team-mates in Munich, Germany, and Anna Sharkey, who’s brother Michael will also be targeting a place for 2012.

The men’s team is also seeking a strong season in 2012 and have many new young talents coming through including the Knott brothers. Team stalwart Simon Goodall has been playing the sport since 1989.

Rules:
Teams consist of six players, with no more than three from each side on the pitch at one time, in matches of two 10-minute halves. For London 2012, this will increase to 12 minutes per half.

Goalball is played by two teams of three athletes on an indoor Volleyball court without the central net, with goals (9m wide, 1.3m high) at either end.

Outside of the group stages, drawn matches are resolved by overtime (two halves of three minutes, or until a goal is scored) and, if necessary, extra throws (the Goalball equivalent to a penalty shootout).

In contrast to the cheers and applause that ring out around most Paralympic Games’ venues, the Goalball arena is silent during play. This is to allow the players to hear the ball, which has a bell inside it.

Classification:
Goalball is one of only a few sports in the Paralympic Games where there is only one classification. All players must have a visual impairment, but to ensure that there is a level playing field, all athletes must wear black-out masks so that no player can see.

http://www.paralympics.org.uk/sports/goalball