Paralympics to be scaled down

[Mummyme1987]

Just heard this on the news.

Sadly there's no time for the Paralympics possibly being hosted by London instead. That would have been a conversation to have, 2 odd years ago.

There must be reasons why the 2 events don't currently run together though

It nearly happened with the London games. Sir Seb and his pals seriously underestimated the costs (didn't take VAT into account, I seem to remember). They looted money from the Lottery destined for the Arts to pay for them. The Arts have yet to recover.

I agree DrSeth it should be one event.

Maybe if the BBC had it on the tele alongside the rest people would see just how great and exciting parasport is. Instead it's shoved off on to one of the Channel 4s. That pisses me off too!

The poor ticket sales have not just hit the Paralympics (although 12% is particularly sad). The turn out of crowds for free to view events such as the rowing and yesterday's triathlon shows there is an appetite for watching competitive sports that they might not normally follow. I think a lot of people have just been priced out. They really should have dropped ticket prices further for local people and given free/ heavily discounted tickets to local school groups.

I think Paralympic sport is relatively well funded in the UK compared to many parts of the world. The US only came 6th in the 2012 medal table. Medal success plus relatively good TV coverage from Channel 4 means I think we probably have more interest in the Paralympics than many other countries. Properly funding the Paralympics need to be an absolute condition of any award of the Olympic Games.

I'm just not really that interested in it. There are millions of people achieving incredible things every day of the year. I suppose my issue with the paralympics is that you cannot say who is the best. For example, Usain Bolt is the fastest man in the world. Undisputed. No-one can run the 100m quicker. When it comes to the paralympics there are so many different categories for different disabilities and different conditions that you never get a definite answer as to who is fastest/strongest/most skilled. Plus only a few countries sent athletes. You can't compare the winners from different classes, it's like comparing apples and oranges. So it's all a bit more nebulous and vague.

For myself as a disabled person, I look forward to them.

I'm not that interested either. Not hugely interested in the main games. The wall to wall coverage has become tedious. There are too many sports these days.

I used to really enjoy it but hardly watch these days, apart from the equestrian and track.

Wtf?

An absolute disgrace

Luna and Silver I have no interest in the main games whatsoever (I like Winter Olympics, mind you). That is irrelevant. If they exist, the time has now come for them to be treated equally/properly. To do anything else is simply saying the less-abled are second class people which is a disgrace.

My feelings is that either both are scaled down or none.

This is appalling. Absolutely appalling. I hope there is an enormous outcry.

If there was an issue with funding it they should have flagged it months ago when there was still a chance to find a solution. What a shower of shit. Way to go, Brazil and the IOC.

The Brownlee brothers, Murray,Trott etc are on our screens all year round.... I suppose we form a connection and they become a household name almost, unlike the Paralympics competitors, who I can't name a single one of, sadly

But I second the point that they have too many categories and it becomes over complicated

Paralympic sports needs to be viewable all year round I think

Apparently some of the money that was supposed to form the travel grants has been spent on issues over the last few weeks like fixing the diving pool.

This is not an unexpected cost, the host nation knows they are expected to pay these grants to enable travel so there are no excuses.

I'm also go smacked that transport provisions within Rio are one of the things to be cut back. How are large numbers of disabled people supposed to get to their venues without special support. As lovely as Rio is I'm sure it's not a very accessible city.

We still have a long way to go to achieve equality Channel 4 news have been doing occasional slots on #nogoBritain about how hard it is to get from A to B in this country if you use a wheelchair or mobility scooter.

We went to see Paralympic athletics in 2012. I booked the tickets not to see the athletics but to take my children to the Olympic park.

It was absolutely amazing to watch and I now see how important it is. It changed the way I see the Paralympics.

Luna I agree with you actually, I do find that aspect of the Paralympics quite bewildering and a bit of a nonsense if I'm completely honest. I don't think there can ever be true parity between the competitors in certain events, however much they try to make adjustments to reflect the different types and severities of disability.

That said, I am glad they have it rather than don't have it. Overall it's a very positive, uplifting and inspirational thing.

It's really shocking and so sad for the Paralympian's. I thought travel was arranged by the country that they represent! It's quite horrible but someone up thread says ticket sales are at 10% that's awful but shows that the interest isn't there for these Paralympics so if it is funded by Brazil it's sad that the interest hasn't been there to pay what's needed.

I think that's the issue with having games in places harder to reach for richer countries that there would be interest but many cant/ wont do that much travel.

Hopefully it can be sorted though

If they exist, the time has now come for them to be treated equally/properly.

That's a pipe dream, though. The main games generate sponsorship from big business and ticket money from larger crowds. The Paralympics doesn't attract sponsorship because they don't create as big an audience so commercial sponsors don't find it worth while.

The old Olympic ideal died in the 70s, sadly.

I was really saddened to hear they were scaling it back in Rio. It's a disgrace.

It's a disgrace, but particularly so because the UK made a massive success of it. I went and had a great time, full of families etc . That couldn't get tickets for the olympics. Given how empty rio has been already i'm not surprised ticket sales have been so poor. But to come to this so close to the event,

Absolutely gutted about this news, despite it first being talked about a couple of weeks ago.

Those poor athletes who've trained, and will still be training if there is even the slightest chance they may be able to go, for these games.

My team mate will be representing Team GB at the games, and I can't see them not having the funds to go, but other countries will not be that lucky what an absolute mess this is hopefully they can make up some of the funding (heard on 5live that the mayor or Rio has "found" £30million but that's only a small amount needed) countries have been waiting to book flights with the money they were due in June, this problem should've been taken seriously at a much earlier point.

To me the Paralympics are more important then the Olympics, probably because I'm a disabled athlete myself, the different categories allow equal competition for all athletes dependant upon disability, so you do get the best athlete in he world winning their category, similar to the weight categories of Olympic sports.
I've always loved the Olympics and Paralympics (even before the accident) and to think they won't go ahead as planned is just gutting to me

you never get a definite answer as to who is fastest/strongest/most skilled

Yes you do. You know who is the fastest in their category which is what matters. It's not really any different to, say, weight classifications in boxing etc.

Apparently some of the money that was supposed to form the travel grants has been spent on issues over the last few weeks like fixing the diving pool.

. That money should definetly be replaced by the IOC

Agreed Fairy. All countries should chip in what they can to the IOC to sort it.