The Official Paralympics Thread

[Gibbo]

Ive actually played it with a blindfold, should have known

Thought thats what 5 and 7 a side would have been, its amazing how hard it is.

[Kenneth]

That's going to be hilarious.

[Shaggy]

Goalball

[dom9]

How do they know where the goals are?

[Neil Young]

Goalball

It's just one step short of ballball, surely the ultimate ball game.

[Leyton388]

A bit let down that it is on C4 it should be on the BBC. Can't wait though.

[Vermilion]

When i went to look this up having heard about it, i was under the impression that the bollock squeezing was done to an opponent.

Paralympics 2012: athletes warned about the dangers of self-harming to boost performance.

The 300 members of ParalympicsGB have been warned about the dangers of ''boosting'', an illegal practice of hurting themselves to create an adrenalin rush to enhance performance at the Paralympic Games.

'It is like doping and some people are prepared to (do it to) cheat,'' said the ParalympicsGB chef de mission Craig Hunter of the practice which involves extreme measures such as strangling their own testicles, breaking bones, stimulating muscles with electric shocks or blocking catheters.

''We run an education programme for athletes and our athletes are fully aware we do not encourage boosting in any way shape or form.''

The resulting pain from self-inflicted injuries boosts blood pressure, heart rate and adrenalin levels in athletes with spinal cord damage much the same way as doping practices, says Hunter.

The International Paralympic Committee has been aware of the practice – technically called induced autonomic dysreflexia – for nearly 20 years and have introduced blood pressure tests in the warm up areas before competition to try and stamp out the practice.

Officials say they will withdraw anyone right up to the moment of competition at the London Paralympics if they believe their blood pressure is at dangerous levels. Extreme blood pressure could induce a heart attack or stroke.

An anonymous survey at the Beijing Paralympics four years ago found that one in six athletes admitted to the practice – mainly from wheelchair rugby, the marathon and long distance racing. This is because the heart rate and blood pressure in spinal victims doesn't increase in the same way as other athletes.

"There have been times where I would specifically give my leg or my toe a couple of really good electric shocks" Brad Zdanivsky, a Canadian quadriplegic climber told the BBC.

"That would make my blood pressure jump up and I could do more weights and cycle harder – it is effective.

"I tried several different ways of doing it. You can allow your bladder to fill, basically don't go to the bathroom for a few hours and let that pain from your bladder do it.

"I took it a notch further by using an electrical stimulus on my leg, my toe and even my testicles."

Zdanivsky knows of the extreme risks but says Paralympic athletes are attracted to the practice because of the instant results.

He said: "It can actually stop your heart. It's very unpleasant, but the results are hard to deny. The saying is that winners always want the ball, so it doesn't matter if it's unpleasant, it gets results."

IPC spokesman Craig Spence said boosting was an unacceptable practice.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/paralympics-gb/9494797/Paralympics-2012-athletes-warned-about-the-dangers-of-self-harming-to-boost-performance.html

[Buzzo]

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.

Thats got to be nuts!!

[ChesterDave]

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.

Ortis Deley

[dom9]

If only.

[Chazza]

Anyone watching this?

Emotional stuff in the first 25mins.

[Fredo]

Yes just got in and watching now.

[Leyton388]

[Shaggy]

Hawking

[Shaggy]

Bored already

Waiting for El Clasico