StandardToaster
Standard Member
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2009
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- 7
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I “get” the main Olympics, supposedly the pinnacle of world sport. Multiple disciplines, thousands of athletes from hundreds of countries at their peaks of fitness; testing themselves against each other and striving to break records; up-and-coming athletes eager to make a name for themselves; go down in history; test themselves beyond their known limits. And for spectators: to even just be around the historymakers to tell their kids they saw it with their own eyes. I seem to “get” that it's a subtly-hidden business venture too. Bigmoney is at play. Jobs now and ongoing both in and outside of sport. And so on.
The paralympics, however, I do not “get” and never have. Any world records achieved there seem meaningless and forgettable. There can be stark disparities of ability between athletes in the same event and plenty of incidents of people cheating categories, not to mention themselves and their competitors (e.g., toe breaking). Whilst I love the idea of it being there as something for people with disabilities to strive towards, I can barely bring myself to be bothered about it as a world-level event and I don't understand why anyone else would be.
Watching some of the C4 coverage, where we are treated to schmaltzy “backstories” aggravates me massively too. I don't know why but it seems all very 'headpatty' whilst simultaneously pretending that it isn't. Will someone please, please help me to understand why any of us need to care about the Paralympics because I'm obviously missing something as I don't “get” it. Genuine plea. Are there any articles which do a good job of 'justifying' it ?
Thanks all...
The paralympics, however, I do not “get” and never have. Any world records achieved there seem meaningless and forgettable. There can be stark disparities of ability between athletes in the same event and plenty of incidents of people cheating categories, not to mention themselves and their competitors (e.g., toe breaking). Whilst I love the idea of it being there as something for people with disabilities to strive towards, I can barely bring myself to be bothered about it as a world-level event and I don't understand why anyone else would be.
Watching some of the C4 coverage, where we are treated to schmaltzy “backstories” aggravates me massively too. I don't know why but it seems all very 'headpatty' whilst simultaneously pretending that it isn't. Will someone please, please help me to understand why any of us need to care about the Paralympics because I'm obviously missing something as I don't “get” it. Genuine plea. Are there any articles which do a good job of 'justifying' it ?
Thanks all...
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