All Fun & Games

Hello Dear Readers! 

You know, this world can be so frustrating. 

August is such a fantastic month. Not only does the weather tend to grace us with the odd glimpse of the sun (Sometimes for as many as 3 consecutive days!), it also sees the annual celebration off my arrival in this world (see Older Not Wiser), along with a host of other anniversaries. There has been the start of one World War and the end of another. There was the establishment of the first national fire service, the first regular police detective force, the foundation of the International Red Cross, and the sale of the first mass produced car 

This year has also seen the month marked by the advent of the sporting extravaganza known as the Olympic Games, and this is the source of my current frustrations. 

Thank You For Watching

I am, you see, a keen sports enthusiast. Not that I'm enthusiastic enough to actually do any, you understand. I've never really been one to participate in such things due to my natural aversion to physical effort. When it comes to the noble art of spectating though, well then, I'm definitely your man. 

If, somewhere, there's a ball being kicked, thrown, caught, or hit with a bat; then I am likely to be watching, especially if it's football we're talking  about. I'm a huge fan of the beautiful game, although as a Leeds United fan some might disagree slightly on the beautiful bit (incorrectly of course). 

I will watch just about any sport though, and the Olympics has, at times, had me transfixed. It's not so much the well known sports that get me hooked but the ones I don't know that much about. I will go to my death before admitting Dressage is a sport, but Synchronised diving had me absolutely mesmorised, especially as the winning UK pair were trained in Leeds. Tai Kwan Do I find similarly enthralling and of course let's not forget the sheer majesty, artistry, and athleticism of women's beach volleyball. A truly magnificent spectacle if ever there was one. 
 

Let The Games Begin

Sadly the games are drawing to an end, but they have been fun  to watch and, from the UK's perspective, very successful too. All of which as whetted my appetite for the upcoming Paralympics 

 

Unless you've been living under some kind of rock for the last decade or so then I'm sure you know about the Paralympics. They are, of course the disabled athletes Olympics. A separate event specifically and solely run to celebrate the pinnacle of disabled athletic excellence. They have actually been going since 1960, although it is really the last two summer's Paralympics that have really launched them into the public psyche.  

One major factor in this has been Channel 4 who, for the home games in 2012, really upped their coverage, with increased broadcasting of live events, increased promotion (Yes I Can!), and more explanation of things like the different classifications of disability, and different sports. It certainly introduced me to Murderball or, to give it its proper name, Wheelchair Rugby. It also commissioned a fair amount of additional programming built around the games.  


via GIPHY

If you're still to watch the fantastic 'The Last Leg' a topical comedy show that was birthed by this supplementary programming then you've been missing an absolute treat. Thankfully the three presenters with four legs will be back on our screens, bullshit button et al, in just a couple of weeks. 

So, you might be thinking, what in all of that, has led you to be so vexed Mr Seated Perspective?  

The Cruelest Cut of All

For the answer to that question, we need to travel back to three nights ago. There I was, watching TV whilst playing a little Football Manager, when the news came on. Normally this would be a cue to change the channel but as I was reaching for the remote I heard the words 'cuts to Paralympic games' and...What! 

It then went on to explain that with mere days to go, the Rio Paralympic Organising Committee has failed to secure adequate money to fully fund the games. This means significant impact, including such measures as: 

• Downsizing of Rio 2016's workforce for the Paralympics 
• Changes to the transport services for athletes and their teams 
• The closure of a number of venue media centres 
• Moving events to other venues to enable Deodoro Park to be dismantled, allowing the other venues to have dedicated transport hubs 

Perhaps most worryingly of all though is that the organising committee have failed to allocate a wwhopping US$8million worth of travel grants meaning that athletes from some countries may struggle to even attend the games. It is a farce of colossal proportions. It only needs John Cleese or Rowan Atkinson popping up in some capacity, possibly with an amusingly shaped vegetable, to underline the fact. 

Second is Nowhere
The worst part however is that I have heard reports that the shortfall is possibly due in part to extra emergency spending on the Olympics itself. I do know that one of the diving pools had to be drained and refilled because one team didn't like the colour of the water, but surely this could not account for too much money. (Could it?) 

If the rumours are in anyway true, if funds have been diverted, then that is truly appalling. The para in Paralympics stands for parallel (did you know that? You do now.) and such robbing of Peter to pay Paul would stink of treating the two games as anything but. It's all conjecture at the moment but whatever the cause, the way the two games have been handled say that one was definitely treated as more of a priority than the other. 

The Paralympics were designed to promote equality to stress the ability in disability, but it appears that they have been firmly relegated to a silver medal place on the podium. After the triumph of the London games and the wave of positivity that followed it is a cause of considerable frustration. 

Anyway, enough of this negativity. I'm going to watch the women's hockey final I recorded. 

Until next time!