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BLOGS
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Suzi Williams
:Has Paralympic Sport Become the Mainstream?
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Jody Thompson
:Polo: It's Not Just for the Posh, and It's a Chukka to Play
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Tim Goodchild
:Monaco: An Exceptional Location of Glamour and Prestige
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Eric Ehrmann
:Will Dortmund Spoil Heynckes' Last Hurrah?
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Nicolas Atkin
:Final Flourish Can't Mask Benitez's Failings at Chelsea
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If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
Hats off to Lord Coe and Sir Philip Craven, London 2012 has been a sporting triumph but as an objective to make day to day life for disabled people that little bit easier, we've got a way to go. When the athletes leave the stadium and courts, and the applause has died down - it's up to all of us to pick up the baton and champion the rights of disabled people for every day inclusion.
In the wake of London's Olympic Games, debate was raging in the media and through online social network channels about figures published by the Sutton Trust, which revealed that over half of Team GB's winning rowers went to fee-paying schools and our athletes were five times more likely to win medals if they were educated in an independent school.
Raphaella made a welcome return to the Olympic Park for the Paralympics today- in between her busy schedule of writing, recording and charity work. Yes, this lady really is something else.
I'm intrigued by the athletes we so quickly forget. The ones who spent the last four years sacrificing with one goal in mind... and missed.
Communication is what makes us human, and without the ability to communicate effectively, many people are not seen as being capable, and do not reach their potential. Thousands of people in the UK are denied the opportunity because there is NO statutory funding for communication aids; they live without his ability to express their thoughts.
I've certainly been inspired by the Olympic games to improve my own fitness and to get more involved in sport again. I hope that millions across the world feel the same way and get the chance to enjoy sport - even if it just means taking a run around the block more often.
It's already proving to be a hugely enjoyable event. But it's an important one too. Because these Paralympics - more than any before them - have a real chance of weaving disabled life more closely into the fabric of our nation.
I won't lie. I was starting to give up on humanity. I was feeling generally miserable about recent reports of record amounts of melting ice in the Arctic, Mitt Romney's eternally moronic campaign in the US and our current situation of ever rising economic destruction and damning of human rights by the Coalition.
As with so many of our daily line-ups, this one made us swoon just a little bit when it came together.
Being British I never expect anything amazing to happen to us, and when I went to watch the Paralympics on Saturday I didn't expect anything spectacular to happen either... boy was I wrong!
Ability and disability are not simply defined by the state of our bodies but also by context and attitude.
Day three at the Paralympics and our line-up had it all. From folky loveliness to balls-out grooves the crowds at the Emerging Icons stage were sure to be entertained.
With a bite in the air that signalled the end of summer far more clearly than calendar pages being flipped, the past week has been another of celebration for Britain's sporting heroes. From 'Hurricane Hannah' bagging Team GB's first Paralympic track and field gold on Friday, thanks to a record-breaking 100m performance, to the emotionally charged appearance of 7/7 survivor Martine Wright appearing on the volleyball court on the same day, with her No7 jersey a stark reminder of what she's endured to get to this position, the first few days of the Paralympics have provided all the high drama they promised, and more.
At the Paralympics dreams will be made, feats of extraordinary athletes will amaze and records will be broken. Whilst these Games shape up to be the biggest and most impressive of it's kind the world has ever seen, we can't help but feel chuffed to bits to be part of it. The artists we brought down today all boast so much talent we were proud to showcase them to the world.
If you want to stop worrying about drugs in sport, just stop testing. If we presume that everyone is doing everything they possibly can to win, then it's safe to assume that everyone will be on drugs and it's definitely a level playing field again.
Emerging Icons at The Paralympics- Day One: Robyn Sherwell, Liz Lawrence, Alice Amelia and Tom Tyler
The temperature may have dropped for the Paralympics, but the mood certainly hasn't. The whole Emerging Icons team are absolutely delighted to be back amid the buzz of London 2012, with a whole new audience set to experience some fantastic music courtesy of our incredible artists.
