The 2010 Vancouver Paralympic Winter Games, one of the largest global athletic events, began March 12 and continue through March 21. This year, about 600 athletes from 40 different countries are competing for medals this year. In the photo (right), Canadian cross-country skier Colette Bourgonje wins Canada's first 2010 Paralymic medal finishing with a silver in the 10km sitting event.
According to the Summit Daily News in Breckenridge, Colorado, NBC will run a two-hour highlights show on April 10 at 1:00 PM, while Universal Sports will broadcast a nightly two-hour show for nine straight nights from March 15 through March 23 at 4:00 PM, repeating at 9:00 PM. To see if you have Universal Sports coverage, visit http://www.universalsports.com/.
Paralympic Sport TV will also broadcast live and delayed coverage on http://www.paralympicsport.tv/. For additional information visit http://www.vancouver2010.com/paralympic-games.
According to the Summit Daily News in Breckenridge, Colorado, NBC will run a two-hour highlights show on April 10 at 1:00 PM, while Universal Sports will broadcast a nightly two-hour show for nine straight nights from March 15 through March 23 at 4:00 PM, repeating at 9:00 PM. To see if you have Universal Sports coverage, visit http://www.universalsports.com/.
Paralympic Sport TV will also broadcast live and delayed coverage on http://www.paralympicsport.tv/. For additional information visit http://www.vancouver2010.com/paralympic-games.
19 comments:
I love this article, I feel that for many individuals with disabilities who have had aspirations to follow a dream to be able to competitive in a winter sport at an olympic level this is a place and a goal to be able to motivate and affirm the recovery work and process that a person can find within themselves to be a part of these paralympic winter games.
annette
Enduring a disability can be such a hard journey. It tests your heart and spirit. I can't imagine the feelings and emotions that accompany a newly acquired disability. The adjustments that are made to a new life given and old one taken can take some people a long time to accept. This can be more true for those who had some sort of extracurricular passion such as swimming, playing football, running, skiing, etc. Loving to do something so much that it is engrained in your being is a hard thing to take in when you can no longer do it as easily or at all. Therefore when I see those individuals who through resilience, courage, will, heart, and determination break through those barriers that life dealt them, I can't help but imagine the inner strength they have. God only knows if I would be able to push through. It's so uplifting to see those individuals who can see past their disability and still continue striving for their passions. The Vancouver Paralympic Winter Games is a prime example of those individuals who despite their disability move forward and continue in pursuing their passions and goals. These are the individuals that can be an example of hope for those who have not yet accepted their disability and for those who fall short of reaching their pursuits due to fear or laziness. The spirit of the Paralympic Winter Games and all those participating is a beautiful thing to watch.
I think it is a great idea that there are Paralympics games as there are for able-bodied individuals. This goes to show society and other able-bodied individuals that people with disabilities are able to succeed and accomplish everything they chose to with a little effort and dedication. Nothing in life is promised free only if you come from a privileged family, so for the majority of the population working hard can produce results and help people achieve their lifelong dreams and goals. I think that the Paralympics also encourages individuals with disabilities especially if they have just acquired their disability and the person came from an athletic background. Being able to watch the Paralympics and observe the passion and all the effort athletes with disabilities put forth is definitely an attribute that people with disabilities can look to as not only a role model but inspiration if they are experiencing a difficult time adapting and adjusting to their new bodies.
Amy G.
The Winter Olympic games and Paralympics games are my favorite among all Olympic games, every time I had a chance to watch them I did. I just find it so amazing how individuals have the strength to perform such dangerous activities. A simple wrong move or shift to the wrong side is all it takes to lose control, and result in a serious injury. I have huge admiration for the participants in the Paralympics games, because there are capable of performing feats with serious physical constraints, that I couldn’t dream of performing, and I have no disability. Being an athlete in the Paralympics means that you become an inspiration to other individuals, you inspire them to reach for things that seem impossible to them. It is amazing to accomplish this inspiration alone, but to do it while facing your own physical determents is simply astonishing.
-Sukania Mendez
This article about the Winter Paralympics is a great proof that there is no obstacle that can hold you back other than yourself. All these athletes may have gone through great ordeals to get to the place they are now and deserve all the praise for accomplishing their dreams. They are also great role models for many of us, regardless if there may be a disability present. However, I do think that there is a need for greater media attention in order to show the world what can be accomplished with a strong will and at the same time break many stereotypes. This not only is seen in the winter olympic games but in the summer games as well.
A.Huerta
This article can motivate and inspire people with disabilities. Just because you have a disability does not mean you can’t be in the Olympics or does not mean that you can’t ski. It does mean that things can be accommodated for you if you want to due a certain sport. People with disabilities usually go through depression because they feel that they can’t do certain things. Sometimes they go see a Rehab Counselor to seek help. Reading this article made me feel that anything is possible in the world for people with disabilities. If someone with a disability wants to do something they will. They do need courage and motivation to keep going, which gave Colette Bourgonje a chance to win in the Olympics. He didn’t give up because of his disability. Anything is possible out there. It is up to the individual with a disability if they want to accomplish their goal or their dream.
Jennifer Valerio
This is a great article. I enjoyed it for many reasons but mainly for its inspirational message. Many people with disabilities may feel that they are limited in their physical abilities but after reading this article hopefully they can get motivated and realize that they are capable of anything they set their mind to. I am glad to see that NBC and Universal Sports will be airing coverage of the Paralympic Winter Games. Sadly I found out about this too late because I would have loved to watch it. Athletes who excel in their field are inspirational as is but to see such heart and determination in this group of specific athletes is truly amazing.
Victoria Lopez
I believe this is so inspiring to so many disabled individuals who have dreams such as these. This is a great feat and just goes to show how motivation and determination will go.
I enjoy watching the winter olympics and this year my husband and I watched them. I have gotten my kids to take part as well. Many will be inspired to dream and take small steps to reach their goals. I will continue to watch and spread the word to others about this.
Criselda Gonzalez
So many times we find ourselves complaining or hearing others complain about the hardship in their lives that it is truly inspiring to hear about a group of individuals with the strength,power,and determination to overcome the obstacles in their own lives and turn the lemons that live handed them into lemonade. I also love the media coverage that this event is being given. This serves as a way of educating our society-especially our youth on the issue of disability and breaking the stigma associated with it. The participants in this event are worthy of admiration and are the types of role models that we should encourage our children to have.
M.G. Garza
Initially I began watching the skiing division of the competition and not realizing that the athletes had some form of disability. After 10 min of watching the video I realized that these individuals had disabilities, and I was taken aback in awe and admiration. Athleticism is not a common talent and most have to work had to harness skills. Sports require the awareness of intricate movements and skills that not many can accomplish. When you think about the importance of motion on and proper body alignment and balance you being to think, how can it be possible for an individual who does not count with all his/her abilities or senses, be able to perform such a difficult task. I believe that these individuals are beyond talented with athleticism. They are determined and persistent. I could imagine that they are a lot more skilled at their sport than those individual without disabilities because they are more aware of their surrounding and body position, postures, alignment, and movements. I had never heard of an individual who is blind participating in skiing. It really is an amazing site to see and a great example. It also amazes me that that assistive technology has gone a long way in creating great equipment that is very useful events such as the Paralympics.
I think that its great that there are olympic games for people with disabilite. Its things like this that show PWD's that anything is possible. Sometime I think that we are providing more and more awareness to people with disabilites in which I think that its a great thing . :) Maybe one day people will stop being so steryotypical versus people with disabilites.
ALINA LIMON
How amazing that people with disabilties can follow their dream that really mades me happy because I have a low-vision and finding out that i might have a learning disabilies too. It motivates me that you can acomphish your dreams. That is wonderful that he competed and ended up with a silver in the 10km sitting event.
Nora
I have seen the summer Paralympics games and would expect that there would be a winter one as well. I do believe that there should be as much coverage as the Olympics received. The downside to this is that they are not advertised nearly as much as the Olympic Games. Unfortunately I did not get to see the Paralympics Winter Games but would have if I had access to the channel. I have wondered if the stars of these games get anywhere close to the money and endorsements that the Olympic stars get. It would be unfair if they do not but it is probably the reality.
James D.
It is a great opportunity for person with disabilities to do some kind of outside regiment and have a little excitement in their life. One must not stay at home and do nothing just because of the disability. Having a disability to me just has to do a little more work than usual, and not because you a have a disability do not mean that there are no athletic events that one can participate. It is good that NBC broadcasted highlights of two hours shows at night so that we could all see that having a disability does not mean that they cannot enjoy themselves doing athlete activities and go all the way to something big that we can all see. I think it is awesome to see persons with disabilities do this kind of stuff because it is therapeutic and makes a person feel more alive.
I Love watching the Olympics in general, but this specific Paralympic Winter Games Open is by far one to watch. It is very motivating to see other people and especially ones with a disability to accomplish great things. Nothing is impossible unless we don't have the drive and initiative and put action into it. All three things need to be in place so that we can make the impossible into a possibility.
Crystal L. Chiu
The Paralympics is a great way to give individual with disabilities the opportunity to show off their talents and athleticism. People really need to know that individuals with disabilities can be just as competitive as individuals without disabilities. I personally played several sports before my T-12 spinal cord injury that left me paralyzed and I got to say my competitive in sports has not changed. The only think that has changed is the way I compete. For basketball I just use a wheelchair to get up and down the court and my hands do the rest as far as scoring, dribbling etc. So regardless if it’s the winter or summer Paralympics keep in mind that individuals with disabilities are doing just what any non disabled athlete does and that is compete and reach to be the best that they can be in the sport or sports that they love and admire.
Emede Reyes
The Paralympics is a great way for people who have a disability to show the world they can do whatever they set their minds on. So the world can see people with a disability have goals bigger then we can imagine and to show us that they have talent. This is a great way for PWD to compete with other people can have a great time and win awards. I would love to see the Paralympics but I still haven’t had the chance. I need to find out exactly when they are! I really do admire people who play in the Paralympics and the people who make it happen.
Tanya D.
I've never heard of this part of the olympics. I think that it should be more publicized because it is very motivating and inspirational to see others conquering obstacles.
-Anna L Ocanas
I always like to see the Olympic games and how these athletes do so well in a sport. Unfortunately I have always wondered why they don't show on TV the paralympic games. As soon as the winter games end, they stop showing the paralympics. I think it is a great way to show many people how dedication, perseverance and commitment these athletes have in a particular sport. Sometimes they even do better than the "normal" athletes.
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