The thing is, there's a huge difference between the paralympics not being important and the paralympics not being comparable to the olympics.
The first is a twattish thing to say and totally wrong but the second is (to the majority of people) true.
In my opinion the main reason it isn't comparable is that it's coming second. After months (years?) of hype and excitement the olympics are over an were amazing beyond most people's imaginings. But we had the closing ceremony and they were done with. To start again two weeks later inevitably comes with a bit of flatness and the feeling that they are a secondary add on. It's hard to find that same fresh excitement. Which doesn't mean I'm not looking forward to them because I am. But it's not the same.
If they wanted to make the two events comparable then they shouldn't have had the closing ceremony and the paralympics shouldn't have an opening ceremony. The two events should run one after the other with one big ceremony at the beginning and one at the end. Then all events could be called the olympics and get the same amount of coverage and attention.
The other reason they aren't comparable is that there are far fewer sports to watch so it can't have the same amount of interest because, for many people, theire favourite sports aren't there. For example my family are gymnastics obsessed and there is nothing to do with gymnastics in the paralympics. So there is an automatic drop in interest.
Of course for some people the paralympics will be their highlight and the olympics their secondary interest. But those people will be fewer in number.
And I'm fairly sure London will be less busy due to the number of foreign tourists and athletes if nothing else.
So saying that the two are not comparable is absolutely nothing to do with disability discrimination or being a shit. It's just practical and what has always been seen to be the case.
I'm trying to think of a decent analogy but can't. Like someone said upthread, the paralympics are the second most important sporting event in the world. That makes them major and exciting. But the most important event is the olympics. Therefore, they aren't comparable, they are first and second.
What is does mean is that the paralympics are more important than the football world cup, the athletics world championships, the ashes and the six nations though. Which is very cool.
I reall think people are looking for offence needlessly. On that comment at least. As I said before, I have no idea about the games lanes but assume the organisers know what's needed.