In our age of inclusion, is holding two separate occasions – the Olympics and the Paralympics – outdated? Might combining them give world-class Paralympians the widespread publicity they deserve? I spoke to Ellie Robinson, Group GB Paralympic swimmer and one of many presenting staff for the Paralympic Video games on Channel 4.
Hello Ellie! How’s as we speak going?
At this time’s been enjoyable – I used to be on Lorraine earlier! However I had an task due yesterday as I’m nonetheless in college.
That blows my thoughts. Each Video games are simply bizarre individuals doing extraordinary issues. So why not put them in the identical competitors?
I’m all for integration, fairly than segregation, however logistically it’s too difficult. The competitors would should be a month lengthy. And may you think about the scale of the Olympic village?
However there should be an viewers for it. Practically 3m tickets had been offered for the London 2012 Paralympics, and greater than 11 million individuals watched the published of the opening ceremony, making it one of many most profitable ever. That’s one thing to be happy with.
London woke all people else up, exhibiting that the Paralympic Video games are a really credible sporting competitors. It was sports activities first, incapacity second. It confirmed individuals the extent of competitors, the rivalries; it grew to become an elite sporting competitors, not simply the one which goes after the Olympics.
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I went to the 2012 Paralympics and the environment was unimaginable. Though the race I noticed was received by Oscar Pistorius, which leaves an odd style.
I wasn’t in London 2012, however a number of the British athletes had been speaking about it in Rio. They had been like: “What the hell?”
What about scheduling the Paralympics earlier than the Olympics?
I’m not so positive. Selfishly, with the Olympics earlier than, it’s nearly like a testing floor. So if something goes fallacious, it’s sorted out by the Paralympics. From an optimising-performance and logistical perspective, it’s fairly good going second.
I’m nonetheless on this thought of 1 Video games. Earlier than the Paralympics had been created in 1960 – and even since – there have been disabled athletes in Olympic groups, like New Zealand archer Neroli Fairhall who competed in a wheelchair. Although, admittedly, with the devoted video games we see much more Paralympians …
I like the concept we’re all competing for a similar nation, too. I believe the extra classes you begin placing individuals in, not simply in sport however in life, the much less progress you’re making. And a few nations focus all their funding on able-bodied athletes and don’t deliver any Paralympic athletes, as a result of the Olympics does get extra publicity. So it might be attention-grabbing to see if that modified if we mixed it. The Commonwealth Video games is an efficient instance of what it could possibly be, as it’s mixed. But it surely doesn’t embody as many occasions for para-athletes.
OK, Ellie, I believe you’ve answered all my questions. Better of luck together with your presenting debut!
Thanks – I’m excited! Denise Lewis advised me that your first Paralympics or Olympics on the commentary aspect is hell, since you’re watching all people compete and also you’re not. However I believe I’ve come to the top of my athlete chapter. And there’s no stress on me; no penalties if I don’t carry out effectively. I don’t have to fret about how effectively my hip holds out. It’s essentially the most relaxed I’ve ever been going into the Video games and I’m loving it.
