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Paralympics - Rio 2016

By *icketysplits OP Woman over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

What an absolute shame that the Paralympics are being pared back.

Budgets have been cut. Money was diverted from the Paralympics to pay for the Olympics.

Ten countries look like they can't attend at all as payments haven't been made.

London was such a high watermark for making the Paralympics mainstream and will be such a shame for them to slip back in people's consciousness.

The time difference will mean fewer people will tune in to the coverage, I suspect. The even emptier stadia will be disheartening for the athletes.

I hope there is a turnaround in the next couple of weeks.

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By *ouple in LancashireCouple over a year ago

in Lancashire

Agree its not good, would have thought there is enough money floating around in the IOC coffer's to at least get the athletes there to compete..?

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By *icketysplits OP Woman over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"Agree its not good, would have thought there is enough money floating around in the IOC coffer's to at least get the athletes there to compete..? "

Me too. It's supposed to be a parallel Olympics.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"What an absolute shame that the Paralympics are being pared back.

Budgets have been cut. Money was diverted from the Paralympics to pay for the Olympics.

Ten countries look like they can't attend at all as payments haven't been made.

London was such a high watermark for making the Paralympics mainstream and will be such a shame for them to slip back in people's consciousness.

The time difference will mean fewer people will tune in to the coverage, I suspect. The even emptier stadia will be disheartening for the athletes.

I hope there is a turnaround in the next couple of weeks.

Hear hear!

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By *onlyshowWoman over a year ago

your dreams

I was just watching that on the news, I thought Tanni Grey- Thompson made a good suggestion with regards to the IOC help fund the gaps in the IPC..

It would be such a shame if any of those athletes were unable to attend...

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

I heard that they've only sold 12% of the tickets

I really think that the IOC should take a long hard look at the host city selection process

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By *ouple in LancashireCouple over a year ago

in Lancashire

"I heard that they've only sold 12% of the tickets

I really think that the IOC should take a long hard look at the host city selection process

they could take advice from FIFA

know what your saying but in 09 I think their economy was in a good state..?

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Indeed a shame and I find it a perversion of what the olympics is supposed to be.

Maybe if they weren't so busy planning and shoving a political agenda down viewers throat at every opportunity then they would have done a better job of organising the actual sporting event...

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By *icketysplits OP Woman over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"I heard that they've only sold 12% of the tickets

I really think that the IOC should take a long hard look at the host city selection process

they could take advice from FIFA

know what your saying but in 09 I think their economy was in a good state..?"

It was, and seen as up-and-coming.

It looks like this Olympics could make a loss for the host city and with only 12% of tickets sold for the Paralympics it can't even get close to break even.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"I heard that they've only sold 12% of the tickets

I really think that the IOC should take a long hard look at the host city selection process

they could take advice from FIFA

know what your saying but in 09 I think their economy was in a good state..?

It was, and seen as up-and-coming.

That's a better way of putting it. It's always been a sluggish economy, it just got less bad for a while. It's ranked on par with Zambia and Tunisia for corruption and frankly there's only so well a free market economy is going to do in those conditions!!

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"I heard that they've only sold 12% of the tickets

I really think that the IOC should take a long hard look at the host city selection process

they could take advice from FIFA

know what your saying but in 09 I think their economy was in a good state..?

It was, and seen as up-and-coming.

It looks like this Olympics could make a loss for the host city and with only 12% of tickets sold for the Paralympics it can't even get close to break even.

How many tickets got sold for the Olympics in comparison?

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By *icketysplits OP Woman over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"I heard that they've only sold 12% of the tickets

I really think that the IOC should take a long hard look at the host city selection process

they could take advice from FIFA

know what your saying but in 09 I think their economy was in a good state..?

It was, and seen as up-and-coming.

It looks like this Olympics could make a loss for the host city and with only 12% of tickets sold for the Paralympics it can't even get close to break even.

How many tickets got sold for the Olympics in comparison?"

Stadia haven't been full but they are claiming about 80% sold for the Olympics.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Given all the recent scandals surrounding the IOC. The bungs and bribes it would be good if they helped towards the funding. Plus developed nations could also chip in.

Look at the positive effect Team GB has had on the nation and I am sure other other nations feel the same , they could chip in.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"Given all the recent scandals surrounding the IOC. The bungs and bribes it would be good if they helped towards the funding. Plus developed nations could also chip in.

Look at the positive effect Team GB has had on the nation and I am sure other other nations feel the same , they could chip in. "

They could just legalise and tax steroids, the income would fund the whole thing and then some

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By *orkiecplCouple over a year ago

York

I know its late in the day but the para Olympics should be moved to the USA or another city capable of hosting the games as it is meant to be and the IOC should make sure ever person from whatever country can get to the games and compete its unacceptably situation

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By *icketysplits OP Woman over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"I know its late in the day but the para Olympics should be moved to the USA or another city capable of hosting the games as it is meant to be and the IOC should make sure ever person from whatever country can get to the games and compete its unacceptably situation"

But moving it would mean all those people who booked tickets, flights and hotels will be out of pocket as well as Brazil.

It's a difficult one.

There is an argument that the Olympics and Paralympics should just have a permanent home and every country contribute to that with profits used to fund the next Games.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

But moving it would mean all those people who booked tickets, flights and hotels will be out of pocket as well as Brazil.

It's a difficult one.

There is an argument that the Olympics and Paralympics should just have a permanent home and every country contribute to that with profits used to fund the next Games.

"
think there would be massive arguments over where to have a permanent Base, but I think it's a damn good idea!

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

But moving it would mean all those people who booked tickets, flights and hotels will be out of pocket as well as Brazil.

It's a difficult one.

There is an argument that the Olympics and Paralympics should just have a permanent home and every country contribute to that with profits used to fund the next Games.

think there would be massive arguments over where to have a permanent Base, but I think it's a damn good idea!"

I just don't understand the need to rebuild the Olympic village every 4 years in a new country.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"What an absolute shame that the Paralympics are being pared back.

Budgets have been cut. Money was diverted from the Paralympics to pay for the Olympics.

Ten countries look like they can't attend at all as payments haven't been made.

London was such a high watermark for making the Paralympics mainstream and will be such a shame for them to slip back in people's consciousness.

The time difference will mean fewer people will tune in to the coverage, I suspect. The even emptier stadia will be disheartening for the athletes.

I hope there is a turnaround in the next couple of weeks.

Have to say I agree. I know I am biased but London 2012 really raised the bar and now Rio has ruined all that good work.

Surely the IOC should step in and help.

In future maybe they should consider making the hosts set aside a reserve fund to ensure it can't happen again.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

But moving it would mean all those people who booked tickets, flights and hotels will be out of pocket as well as Brazil.

It's a difficult one.

There is an argument that the Olympics and Paralympics should just have a permanent home and every country contribute to that with profits used to fund the next Games.

think there would be massive arguments over where to have a permanent Base, but I think it's a damn good idea!

I just don't understand the need to rebuild the Olympic village every 4 years in a new country.

No I don't, it's a massive expense, pick a country with decent weather and stay put.

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By *icketysplits OP Woman over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

But moving it would mean all those people who booked tickets, flights and hotels will be out of pocket as well as Brazil.

It's a difficult one.

There is an argument that the Olympics and Paralympics should just have a permanent home and every country contribute to that with profits used to fund the next Games.

think there would be massive arguments over where to have a permanent Base, but I think it's a damn good idea!

I just don't understand the need to rebuild the Olympic village every 4 years in a new country.

The 'need' is that there is a massive industry that is supported by the Games. The builders and suppliers for London won contracts in Rio on the back of their work in London. It can create local jobs. It can leave an area regenerated with new structures that have use, such as new housing.

Then there is the tourism as people travel to the Games but then go out and spend money locally or travel elsewhere in the country.

London happened on a site that was already earmarked for regeneration. Stratford City was already a plan and that helped us win the Olympics. The legacy of the park may not have happened without the Games. The stadium has continued to cost us money (and will continue to with the deal West Ham has cut) but it is a great venue and I know the kids and I got a real thrill running a 5k there last year.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

I just don't understand the need to rebuild the Olympic village every 4 years in a new country.

The idea is to promote the whole of the Olympics as an ideal to aspire to, in doing so leaving behind all the facilities to be used or recycled into a better environment by positive use of the village... sadly it doesn't always happen as the Athens stadium currently proves... plus if you tried to find accommodation and storage for everything required in an existing major city the cost of it would be prob be not far off building it if not more, try booking 12000 rooms with flights from 207 countries incl transfers for 2 weeks in Brazil on trivago ...

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Then there is the tourism as people travel to the Games but then go out and spend money locally or travel elsewhere in the country.

...

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"I heard that they've only sold 12% of the tickets

I really think that the IOC should take a long hard look at the host city selection process

Exactly this.....was always a barmy choice. Sounds harsh...but a third world country is never going to do much of a job hosting something this big......

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"I heard that they've only sold 12% of the tickets

I really think that the IOC should take a long hard look at the host city selection process

Exactly this.....was always a barmy choice. Sounds harsh...but a third world country is never going to do much of a job hosting something this big......"

There are only 15 economies in the world with a GDP over $1 trn and Brazil is one of them so hardly third world. Developing is a more fitting term.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"I heard that they've only sold 12% of the tickets

I really think that the IOC should take a long hard look at the host city selection process

Exactly this.....was always a barmy choice. Sounds harsh...but a third world country is never going to do much of a job hosting something this big......"

Considering London came in at 528 million under budget and Rio running over by 50% + it would seem outrageous but Rio is still less than half the cost of London so its actually pretty amazing they delivered on time completed... not bad for a third world country with a bit of help from experienced countries like us...

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By *icketysplits OP Woman over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"I heard that they've only sold 12% of the tickets

I really think that the IOC should take a long hard look at the host city selection process

Exactly this.....was always a barmy choice. Sounds harsh...but a third world country is never going to do much of a job hosting something this big......

xx"

Do you think we over-engineered it? We have kept a lot of the structures.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"I heard that they've only sold 12% of the tickets

I really think that the IOC should take a long hard look at the host city selection process

Exactly this.....was always a barmy choice. Sounds harsh...but a third world country is never going to do much of a job hosting something this big......

Do you think we over-engineered it? We have kept a lot of the structures.

Not at all, a brilliant showcase of what we as a nation can do in all aspects of life from engineering to reusing the facilities in the long term too... worth every penny in my opinion

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"I heard that they've only sold 12% of the tickets

I really think that the IOC should take a long hard look at the host city selection process

Exactly this.....was always a barmy choice. Sounds harsh...but a third world country is never going to do much of a job hosting something this big......

xx"

Prrrph!!! Would you like to reconsider that statement a little?

When the London Olympics were bid the cost was put at £2.4bn. The final cost was £8.8bn so 'underbudget' is not really a term I'd use.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"I heard that they've only sold 12% of the tickets

I really think that the IOC should take a long hard look at the host city selection process

Exactly this.....was always a barmy choice. Sounds harsh...but a third world country is never going to do much of a job hosting something this big......

Do you think we over-engineered it? We have kept a lot of the structures.

Not at all, a brilliant showcase of what we as a nation can do in all aspects of life from engineering to reusing the facilities in the long term too... worth every penny in my opinion

xx"

The london opening ceremony was shit in my opinion.

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By *andS_GlasgowCouple over a year ago

Giffnock

IOC gave it to Rio (Warts and all)

IOC need to compensate / subsidise accordingly to ensure "inclusion"

IOC are tarnished - this is their last chance to redeem !!!

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By *icketysplits OP Woman over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"I heard that they've only sold 12% of the tickets

I really think that the IOC should take a long hard look at the host city selection process

Exactly this.....was always a barmy choice. Sounds harsh...but a third world country is never going to do much of a job hosting something this big......

Do you think we over-engineered it? We have kept a lot of the structures.

Not at all, a brilliant showcase of what we as a nation can do in all aspects of life from engineering to reusing the facilities in the long term too... worth every penny in my opinion

xx"

In my small sphere I worked very hard for us to have 2012 in East London but I saw what was put together in 1999 and then in 2002-2005 and watched it grow almost exponentially. The figures were so massaged to present this as coming in under budget and that was achieved by diverting a very large tranche of Lottery money and not using all of it. The Lottery money was supposed to be repaid but not all of it has returned.

I'm glad we had it, I saw the area I grew up transformed, but I wonder if we did too much?

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By *icketysplits OP Woman over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"IOC gave it to Rio (Warts and all)

IOC need to compensate / subsidise accordingly to ensure "inclusion"

IOC are tarnished - this is their last chance to redeem !!!"

The IOC will continue after this so how will it be their last chance?

I think the IOC needs to cough up.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"I heard that they've only sold 12% of the tickets

I really think that the IOC should take a long hard look at the host city selection process

Exactly this.....was always a barmy choice. Sounds harsh...but a third world country is never going to do much of a job hosting something this big......

Prrrph!!! Would you like to reconsider that statement a little?

When the London Olympics were bid the cost was put at £2.4bn. The final cost was £8.8bn so 'underbudget' is not really a term I'd use. "

It was the only way London was going to get the bid in, and prob could have been done it but when has the builders estimate ever worked in this country

...

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By *icketysplits OP Woman over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"I heard that they've only sold 12% of the tickets

I really think that the IOC should take a long hard look at the host city selection process

Exactly this.....was always a barmy choice. Sounds harsh...but a third world country is never going to do much of a job hosting something this big......

Prrrph!!! Would you like to reconsider that statement a little?

When the London Olympics were bid the cost was put at £2.4bn. The final cost was £8.8bn so 'underbudget' is not really a term I'd use.

It was the only way London was going to get the bid in, and prob could have been done it but when has the builders estimate ever worked in this country

...

xx"

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"I heard that they've only sold 12% of the tickets

I really think that the IOC should take a long hard look at the host city selection process

Exactly this.....was always a barmy choice. Sounds harsh...but a third world country is never going to do much of a job hosting something this big......

Prrrph!!! Would you like to reconsider that statement a little?

When the London Olympics were bid the cost was put at £2.4bn. The final cost was £8.8bn so 'underbudget' is not really a term I'd use.

It was the only way London was going to get the bid in, and prob could have been done it but when has the builders estimate ever worked in this country

...

As a general rule of thumb, if you hear that a government project is under budget then you should treat the claim with suspicion.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Do you think we over-engineered it? We have kept a lot of the structures.

Not at all, a brilliant showcase of what we as a nation can do in all aspects of life from engineering to reusing the facilities in the long term too... worth every penny in my opinion

I'm glad we had it, I saw the area I grew up transformed, but I wonder if we did too much?

I used to work a lot in those areas in the 80's and think it was more than required but still worth doing and even being the most expensive games in history hopefully it will always be remembered for its good as well

...

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Prrrph!!! Would you like to reconsider that statement a little?

When the London Olympics were bid the cost was put at £2.4bn. The final cost was £8.8bn so 'underbudget' is not really a term I'd use.

It was the only way London was going to get the bid in, and prob could have been done it but when has the builders estimate ever worked in this country

...

As a general rule of thumb, if you hear that a government project is under budget then you should treat the claim with suspicion. "

Agreed and with half the government support coming from their friends in the construction companies its no surprise when costs actually seem "slightly higher" ,a term I think I heard a politician use in one statement, but whats a few billion between friends eh?

...

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Prrrph!!! Would you like to reconsider that statement a little?

When the London Olympics were bid the cost was put at £2.4bn. The final cost was £8.8bn so 'underbudget' is not really a term I'd use.

It was the only way London was going to get the bid in, and prob could have been done it but when has the builders estimate ever worked in this country

...

As a general rule of thumb, if you hear that a government project is under budget then you should treat the claim with suspicion.

...

xx "

You know what else we going to be £2.4bn - our 2 new aircraft carriers. But they only went up to £6.2bn so I guess that was a good estimate compared to the Olympics.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Prrrph!!! Would you like to reconsider that statement a little?

When the London Olympics were bid the cost was put at £2.4bn. The final cost was £8.8bn so 'underbudget' is not really a term I'd use.

It was the only way London was going to get the bid in, and prob could have been done it but when has the builders estimate ever worked in this country

...

As a general rule of thumb, if you hear that a government project is under budget then you should treat the claim with suspicion.

...

You know what else we going to be £2.4bn - our 2 new aircraft carriers. But they only went up to £6.2bn so I guess that was a good estimate compared to the Olympics. "

I soooo wish I could receive the final payment on the trident replacement prog but prob wont live long enough to see it when its finally tallied up

...

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

But moving it would mean all those people who booked tickets, flights and hotels will be out of pocket as well as Brazil.

It's a difficult one.

There is an argument that the Olympics and Paralympics should just have a permanent home and every country contribute to that with profits used to fund the next Games.

think there would be massive arguments over where to have a permanent Base, but I think it's a damn good idea!

I just don't understand the need to rebuild the Olympic village every 4 years in a new country.

Then there is the tourism as people travel to the Games but then go out and spend money locally or travel elsewhere in the country.

I've been to Queen Elizabeth's park, it's great.

I'd apologise for my lack of world/ political knowledge but I think it's pretty clear I know nothing about it all.

Thank you for the info, I do appreciate it. x

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By *orkiecplCouple over a year ago

York

Well the next Olympics is in Tokyo in Japan so it will super organisioned and all the facilities will be top class for both Olympics and para Olympics so this one in Rio is not good but the next one will be

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By *icketysplits OP Woman over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"Well the next Olympics is in Tokyo in Japan so it will super organisioned and all the facilities will be top class for both Olympics and para Olympics so this one in Rio is not good but the next one will be "

Japanese efficiency will prevail but I hope the Japanese attitudes towards disabilities have moved forward.

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By *icketysplits OP Woman over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

Bumped for Shazza to post what she wants to add.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

I hope they can sort something out regarding the ticketing. I can imagine training hard for years and then competing in front of swathes of empty seats must be pretty disheartening. If the sales aren't there, then could the seats be filled by another means? Local school parties, youth groups, sports teams? People who would find it entertaining and inspirational to watch but who might not have been in a position to buy tickets. Better than leaving them empty.

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By *icketysplits OP Woman over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"I hope they can sort something out regarding the ticketing. I can imagine training hard for years and then competing in front of swathes of empty seats must be pretty disheartening. If the sales aren't there, then could the seats be filled by another means? Local school parties, youth groups, sports teams? People who would find it entertaining and inspirational to watch but who might not have been in a position to buy tickets. Better than leaving them empty. "

That's what we did in London.

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By *iamondjoeMan over a year ago

Glastonbury

Corporate sponsors should be asked to chip in, the IOC and governments. It's small change to them and easy and good publicity.

Or are we saying somehow that 'cripples don't count'?

Interest in this thread *does* seem low...

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By *icketysplits OP Woman over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

[Removed by poster at 20/08/16 21:42:59]

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By *igeiaWoman over a year ago

Bristol

"Corporate sponsors should be asked to chip in, the IOC and governments. It's small change to them and easy and good publicity.

Or are we saying somehow that 'cripples don't count'?

Interest in this thread *does* seem low...

I think it's a travesty and it makes me angry but I don't know what the solution is. Other than additional funding. And I don't know enough about how that works to offer any tangible ideas.

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By *icketysplits OP Woman over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"Corporate sponsors should be asked to chip in, the IOC and governments. It's small change to them and easy and good publicity.

Or are we saying somehow that 'cripples don't count'?

Interest in this thread *does* seem low...

Interest on here was generally low for the Paralympics in 2012, but once the games started it picked up a little.

Including this one. there have been 16 Paralympic threads, covering summer and winter Paralympics. Most have one post on them. Only one reached 175 posts and that was the one I started in 2012 when the Games started.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Not sure why Rio , being allowed to renege on its winning bid. The games have been a bit of a shambles in terms of empty Stadia, just shows how well we did it here in London where pretty much every venue was packed to the rafters.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

It's v disappointing that the Paralympics is being marginalised by the Rio organisers

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

I love watching the paralympics. Probably a bit more than the Olympics. Being an able bodied athlete takes a huge amount of training and dedication, strength of character and determination, to do it with a disability, wow.

The wheelchair basket ball terrifies me!

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"Corporate sponsors should be asked to chip in, the IOC and governments. It's small change to them and easy and good publicity.

Or are we saying somehow that 'cripples don't count'?

Interest in this thread *does* seem low...

I think it's a travesty and it makes me angry but I don't know what the solution is. Other than additional funding. And I don't know enough about how that works to offer any tangible ideas."

At the end of the day, all sport looks kind of stupid until the audience has an emotional investment in the participants.

Nobody wants to see 11 men kicking a ball, they want to see Jamie Vardy go from non-league football to Premiership winner.

Nobody gives a crap about a two grown men in gloves slapping each other. They want to see a father escape life in the ghetto by coaching his son Floyd Mayweather to be world champion.

In other words, the athletes need to be have a back story and that back story needs to be marketed. Pretty much any sport can be popular that way, that's why people still watch WWE even though everyone knows it's 'fake' / scripted.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"Not sure why Rio , being allowed to renege on its winning bid. The games have been a bit of a shambles in terms of empty Stadia, just shows how well we did it here in London where pretty much every venue was packed to the rafters."
I think part of the problem has been the Zika virus. Which wasn't an issue in 09 when they won the bid.

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By *icketysplits OP Woman over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

We gave away some tickets to fill stadia and we did have some sparsely occupied stadia for things like football.

The popular Olympic events that sold out did lead to people going for Paralympic tickets, though, and enjoying what they saw.

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By *icketysplits OP Woman over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"Not sure why Rio , being allowed to renege on its winning bid. The games have been a bit of a shambles in terms of empty Stadia, just shows how well we did it here in London where pretty much every venue was packed to the rafters. I think part of the problem has been the Zika virus. Which wasn't an issue in 09 when they won the bid."

Well, Zika has been around for some time. It just wasn't such a big story in 2009.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"Not sure why Rio , being allowed to renege on its winning bid. The games have been a bit of a shambles in terms of empty Stadia, just shows how well we did it here in London where pretty much every venue was packed to the rafters. I think part of the problem has been the Zika virus. Which wasn't an issue in 09 when they won the bid.

Well, Zika has been around for some time. It just wasn't such a big story in 2009.

It sets a very bad precedent, win a bid and then renege. Very sad for those paralympians who will miss out.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"Not sure why Rio , being allowed to renege on its winning bid. The games have been a bit of a shambles in terms of empty Stadia, just shows how well we did it here in London where pretty much every venue was packed to the rafters. I think part of the problem has been the Zika virus. Which wasn't an issue in 09 when they won the bid.

Most London tickets were sold to U.K. Citizens so the Zika virus should not be the main factor. In reality the Paralympics don't appeal to Brazilians.

Well, Zika has been around for some time. It just wasn't such a big story in 2009.

It sets a very bad precedent, win a bid and then renege. Very sad for those paralympians who will miss out."

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By *icketysplits OP Woman over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"Not sure why Rio , being allowed to renege on its winning bid. The games have been a bit of a shambles in terms of empty Stadia, just shows how well we did it here in London where pretty much every venue was packed to the rafters. I think part of the problem has been the Zika virus. Which wasn't an issue in 09 when they won the bid.

Well, Zika has been around for some time. It just wasn't such a big story in 2009.

It sets a very bad precedent, win a bid and then renege. Very sad for those paralympians who will miss out."

I agree.

I think part of the problem is that, like with all big infrastructure projects, the Games might be bid for by one government in the country, won by another in the same country and then has to be delivered by a third. All with the backdrop of whatever is happening economically and socio-politically.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"Not sure why Rio , being allowed to renege on its winning bid. The games have been a bit of a shambles in terms of empty Stadia, just shows how well we did it here in London where pretty much every venue was packed to the rafters. I think part of the problem has been the Zika virus. Which wasn't an issue in 09 when they won the bid.

There is no doubt that for poorer countries the cost of mounting the games is a huge burden.

Well, Zika has been around for some time. It just wasn't such a big story in 2009.

It sets a very bad precedent, win a bid and then renege. Very sad for those paralympians who will miss out.

I agree.

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By *icketysplits OP Woman over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

Don't skip through the ads on Ch4. They're running little films about the Paralympic athletes, as well as playing the Yes I Can video.

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By *UNCHBOXMan over a year ago

folkestone

"I heard that they've only sold 12% of the tickets

I really think that the IOC should take a long hard look at the host city selection process

they could take advice from FIFA

know what your saying but in 09 I think their economy was in a good state..?

It was, and seen as up-and-coming.

It looks like this Olympics could make a loss for the host city and with only 12% of tickets sold for the Paralympics it can't even get close to break even.

Most Olympics pre LA in 1984 lost money. It was LA that set the benchmark for Olympics to make money. 1976 host Montreal only finally repaid the costs of that in 2006.

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By *UNCHBOXMan over a year ago

folkestone

"Corporate sponsors should be asked to chip in, the IOC and governments. It's small change to them and easy and good publicity.

Or are we saying somehow that 'cripples don't count'?

Interest in this thread *does* seem low...

I think it's a travesty and it makes me angry but I don't know what the solution is. Other than additional funding. And I don't know enough about how that works to offer any tangible ideas.

At the end of the day, all sport looks kind of stupid until the audience has an emotional investment in the participants.

Nobody wants to see 11 men kicking a ball, they want to see Jamie Vardy go from non-league football to Premiership winner.

Nobody gives a crap about a two grown men in gloves slapping each other. They want to see a father escape life in the ghetto by coaching his son Floyd Mayweather to be world champion.

Why do i need to know about their back storys?. It's not the x factor. I don't know anything about the rowing, cycling or sailing medal winners - im just interested because they are British. I've just watched the men's marathon, i didn't stay transfixed to the tv watching it because of some sob story, i watched it because i have run marathons, and know how hard they are to run them fast.

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By *iamondjoeMan over a year ago

Glastonbury

Interesting development...

Rio 2016 Paralympic athletes donating their own cash to buy tickets to fill empty stadiums

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/athletics/rio-2016-paralympic-athletes-donating-8691389

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

The money is all gone, to be honest it weren't really there for the Olympics all the Brazilians have seen massive wage cuts so that some rich westerners can watch a tall guy from Jamaica run really really fast followed by a young good looking dude jump off a board into a pool and then that guy who's talent is jumping over a very tall bar with a stick, not forgetting the guy who can throw a spear incredibly far....

It's easy to lose track of what really matters to you while you've got a tenner in your pocket for food

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By *icketysplits OP Woman over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"Interesting development...

Rio 2016 Paralympic athletes donating their own cash to buy tickets to fill empty stadiums

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/athletics/rio-2016-paralympic-athletes-donating-8691389"

I heard Ade Adepitan talking about it and saying he would do the same.

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By *icketysplits OP Woman over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

Just a week to go now.

I'm enjoying the ads and programming on Ch4 to get us ready.

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