Made in Britain

"In this country we will never think of sport the same way and we will never think of disability the same way. So yes, the Paralympians have lifted the cloud of limitation.

Finally, there are some famous words you can find stamped on the bottom of a product. Words, that when you read them, you know mean high quality, mean skill, mean creativity.

We have stamped those words on the Olympic and Paralympic Games of London 2012.

London 2012. Made in Britain."

 

The words above are the closing lines of the speech given by Lord Sebastian Coe, at the closing ceremony of the London Paralympic Games 2012.

 

It was a year ago today on 27th July 2012 that the opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games took place and ushered in a fantastic summer of sport.

 

From the start of Danny Boyle's opening celebration, it was clear we were in for something special, and we certainly weren't going to be disappointed. 

 

Almost 3 weeks, and 19 bronze, 17 silver and 29 gold medals, later we knew we had just witnessed the greatest Olympic Games ever.  Not just in the sporting endeavour, but also in the way it brought people together - united in their passion for sport.

 

And if that wasn't enough, on the 29th August 2012, the London Paralympic Games began.  We spent 2 weeks watching amazing feats of sporting courage, and were rewarded with a GB haul of 43 bronze, 43 sliver and 34 gold medals,

 

From everyone involved it was an incredible few weeks.  The venues were spectacular, the athletes showed the best of sporting endeavour, and the public loved every bit of it and flocked to the venues to get their daily fill.  The TV coverage was fantastic, across a whole range of sports.

 

But the best thing, were the Games Makers, who volunteered to help out to ensure that the Games ran smoothly and that the millions of spectators and tourists were able to get the very best experience from being at the games.

 

For a dedicated sports nut, like myself, it was heaven on earth.  Wall-to-wall TV coverage from early morning to late at night - I don't think I got out of my armchair the whole time.  My only regret was that I didn't get to actually go to experience the atmosphere, first hand in the Olympic Stadium.

 

Last night, saw the start of the Anniversary Games, where for 3 days champions from last year, both Olympic and Paralympic, will return to the Olympic Stadium to compete again.  Its billed as if its a second coming for the Olympics.  But sadly its a shadow of last years glory.  Realistically it was always going to be.  After all, how do you re-create the greatest sporting contest over a weekend.

 

But it is a reminder of what a great few weeks we enjoyed last year.

 

The Olympics have inspired more people into sport and to actively participate.  As a nation it brought us closer together, and gave us all that "feel good" factor we needed, in the middle of the economic gloom that was gripping the country.

 

In Lord Coe's speech he said, "In this country we will never think of sport the same way and we will never think of disability the same way. So yes, the Paralympians have lifted the cloud of limitation."

 

In terms of disabled athletes, the Games, have certainly raised their profile.  We are far more aware of the likes of Dave Weir, Hannah Cockcroft, Richard Whitehead and the like, and the very personal battles they have had to overcome disability, to be able to compete at the highest level, in sport.  Words like courage and bravery are often used to describe sporting effort, but in the Paralympic sports stars, these words really are a true reflection of what they have to do, to overcome the limitations of their bodies, in order to become elite athletes.

 

Facilities for getting around London, have certainly improved as a result of the Games.  Public transport is more accessible, although there is still some way to go.  Access to buildings is far better.

 

However, sadly for the average disabled person, I suspect very little has really changed.  Within a week of the Paralympic's ending, I was verbally abused by a young woman, when I asked her to move her car in front of a dropped kerb, when I needed to cross the road.  And it is still easier for some people to ignore me in my wheelchair, rather than offer to help or even just say "hello".

 

Some of this problem, has been caused by the Government, and taken up by the media, who have tried to portray disabled peopled as somehow sponging off the state.  The way cuts and changes to the welfare and benefits system have been justified, gives the impression that disabled people get too much help, and could do more from themselves.  The Government tries to justify changes by saying help will be more targeted to where it is needed, but in fact its all about saving money.

 

For the average disabled guy in the street, what should have been an opportunity coming out of the Paralympics to change attitudes towards disability and disabled people, has changed nothing.

 

As I have said before, I am a huge sports fan.  Some of my best memories growing up are connected to sport.  Playing football or cricket in the evenings after school, and at weekends in the local village field was all part of growing up.

 

I remember in 1980 going to scout camp, something I enjoyed every year, except that this year it fell right in the middle of the Moscow Olympic Games.  Not only would I miss a whole week of it, but worst of all I'd miss the clash of Coe and Ovett in the 800 metres. 

 

These two titans of British middle distance running were scheduled to race in the 800 and 1500 metres, with Coe favourite for the shorter distance, and Ovett favourite over the longer event.

 

I remember getting the news paper on the day after the 800 final, and being shocked to see Ovett had won.  The question was then, could he complete a double over his rival, and how could Coe comeback from such a crushing defeat.

 

Of course, Coe came back and won gold in the 1500 metres, with Ovett picking up bronze. 

 

But these events stay with me, and I can recall all the detail.

 

I was never a great sportsman.  I tried hard but sadly was never really good enough.  I represented my school at Rugby twice - both times on a losing side, where I was stuck out on the wing and didn't see the ball - and once at Cricket - on a winning side where I caught 2 slip catches, dropped 1, ran out a batsman from the boundary, and scored 4 runs - a fine clip off my pads - before being run out by my batting partner, who shouted "Run" and then stayed where he was, leaving me stranded.

 

I am very competitive and HATE to lose, but am better suited to team sports.  When I became ill at 17, my real concern was whether I'd ever be able to play sport again.  After a few years of hard work I started to play Rugby again.  It was real hard work, and my doctors certainly didn't approve, but I thought it was good for me and more important, I enjoyed playing.

 



Obviously I can't play sport now, but I still love watching it.  I can be found sitting in my armchair, kicking every ball, tackling every player and running faster than anyone else, most weekends.