Paralympic Update #3

[Paralympics]

Greetings from the Paralympic Village in Beijing. So far the Paralympics are unbelievable. Paralympic Opening Ceremonies was spectacular. It was more fun and light-hearted than Olympic Opening Ceremonies (and I thought that was excellent!). Walking in to the Bird's Nest with the marching athletes was incredible. I actuallly walked down the blue line that the Olympic marathon runners had to follow as they concluded their run in the Bird's Nest. The Chinese people are wonderful and are constantly stopping us to have their picture taken with us.

We went on a bus to see the Great Wall of China. That was pretty impressive. Our bus hit a car while going through a tunnel. Fortunately no one was hurt, but it really smashed the other car. In typical Chinese form, 7 police cars responded.

BOCOG has gone all out for the Paralympics. Usually some changes are made between the end of the Olympics and the beginning of the Paralympics, but they have completely changed all banners and signage (including the big one at Tienanmen Square). The Chinese have really put their heart in to the Paralympics.

We went to the wheelchair fencing training site at the Olympic Sports Complex yesterday. The excitement for the event is starting to build. The Paralympic wheelchair fencing event will start on the 17th. I tried to buy tickets for a friend, but wheelchair fencing is sold out. Driving down the street there are huge billboards with wheelchair fencing on it. This is inspiring to the athletes.

More to come.......

[Phincer]

Check out this guy-he hoisted himself, the torch and his wheelchair up to light the Olympic flame. He really worked hard to get up there!

Olympic Flame

[Cookeit]

Check out this guy-he hoisted himself, the torch and his wheelchair up to light the Olympic flame. He really worked hard to get up there!

Olympic Flame

That video stinks, you don't even see him do any of the work.
It starts too late