If I had to rate the amount of TV Coverage given to the London 2012 Paralympic Games overall, I would give it a five. As I have viewed various newspaper websites, I have noticed the complaints of interested viewers expressing their disappointment of not being able to watch the Paralympic Games on channels like Cable Vision.
Since I was apart of the Bermuda media team, I was right in the middle of all the excitement. As London was the host country for the Games, I think that Channel 4, and many other British channels really did a great job in televising the Paralympic events and athletes. It was really well supported, well attended and an overall success.
As someone with a physical challenge, I find this personally disheartening as many Paralympians, like Jessica Lewis, have worked extremely hard to get to this platform and it seems as if only a few people care. They’ve firstly had to overcome their disability before overcoming the challenge of mastering a sport. Comparing Paralympians with Olympians, I think that the Paralympians had just a bit more courage and determination to compete at such a high level in sport. They refused to let people take pity on them, and refused to let their disabilities stop them from competing at such an advanced and sophisticated level.
I’ve had the wonderful privilege of witnessing the Games for myself and it was phenomenal. Just to see these Paralympians give it all they’ve got is amazing. I think it’s a shame that some either didn’t know or don’t even care about what’s going on in this part of the sporting world.
For those who wanted to watch it and were unable to, you missed out. I saw wheelchair users doing track and field, sitting volleyball, the partially sighted doing judo, swimmers with either no arms and no legs or one arm and no legs as well as the blind doing long jump. They’ve all done an outstanding job.
I personally and strongly feel that both the Olympics and the Paralympics should have received equal TV coverage, regardless of whether the public feel it is important or not, because it shows equality and fairness. These Paralympians are doing extraordinary things to outshine their physical challenges. They have put hours of blood, sweat and tears into preparing for various events, just like their non-disabled counterparts and it should be recognised!
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