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Cycling Track Image Gallery - 22 September 2004
Lindy Hou and Toireasa Ryan of Australia get Silver in the Induviduial Pursuit-open (b1-3) during the Olympic Velodrome within the Olympic Sports Complex in Athens, Greece. © Phil Cole / Getty Images
Anthony Biddle and Kial Stewart Win Gold in the Tandem Kilometre Time Trial during at the Olympic Velodrome within the Olympic Sports Complex in Athens, Greece. © Phil Cole / Getty Images
Daniel Adam Gordon and Barney Storey of Great Britain in the Tandem Kilometre Time Trial during the Olympic Velodrome within the Olympic Sports Complex in Athens, Greece. © Phil Cole / Getty Images
very cool pics.. thanks
Medals awarded thru Wed. Sep. 22
Rank
by
Gold - NPC - NPC Name -- G - S - B -- Total - Rank by Total
1 CHN China 27 26 21 74 1
2 GBR Great Britain 19 11 14 44 =3
3 AUS Australia 13 19 15 47 2
4 UKR Ukraine 12 6 11 29 8
5 FRA France 11 13 16 40 5
6 ESP Spain 10 10 13 33 7
7 CAN Canada 10 8 6 24 10
8 GER Germany 9 12 23 44 =3
9 USA United States 9 11 16 36 6
10 CZE Czech Republic 8 7 5 20 12
11 RSA South Africa 8 7 1 16 14
12 BRA Brazil 8 4 2 14 =15
13 RUS Russia 8 2 12 22 11
14 JPN Japan 7 6 6 19 13
15 HKG Hong Kong 7 6 1 14 =15
16 POL Poland 6 12 8 26 9
17 SWE Sweden 6 3 3 12 21
18 BLR Belarus 5 7 1 13 =18
19 MEX Mexico 5 2 4 11 22
20 TUN Tunisia 4 3 2 9 =23
21 IRI I. R. Iran 4 1 8 13 =18
22 ALG Algeria 4 0 5 9 =23
23 KOR Korea 3 8 2 13 =18
24 EGY Egypt 3 4 1 8 =26
25 SVK Slovakia 3 1 2 6 =33
26 NZL New Zealand 3 0 1 4 =36
27 AUT Austria 2 3 3 8 =26
28 ITA Italy 2 2 4 8 =26
29 ISR Israel 2 2 3 7 =31
30 NGR Nigeria 2 2 1 5 35
31 CUB Cuba 2 1 3 6 =33
32 FIN Finland 2 1 1 4 =36
33 AZE Azerbaijan 2 0 1 3 =41
34 NED Netherlands 1 6 2 9 =23
35 GRE Greece 1 5 2 8 =26
36 DEN Denmark 1 3 4 8 =26
37 THA Thailand 1 3 3 7 =31
38 BEL Belgium 1 2 1 4 =36
39 ISL Iceland 1 2 0 3 =41
39 MAR Morocco 1 2 0 3 =41
41 SUI Switzerland 1 1 2 4 =36
42 SLO Slovenia 1 1 1 3 =41
43 LAT Latvia 1 1 0 2 =45
44 KEN Kenya 1 0 1 2 =45
44 NOR Norway 1 0 1 2 =45
46 ANG Angola 1 0 0 1 =54
46 IND India 1 0 0 1 =54
46 TUR Turkey 1 0 0 1 =54
49 HUN Hungary 0 7 7 14 =15
50 LTU Lithuania 0 1 3 4 =36
51 ARG Argentina 0 1 1 2 =45
51 IRL Ireland 0 1 1 2 =45
51 TPE Chinese Taipei 0 1 1 2 =45
51 UAE U Arab Emirates 0 1 1 2 =45
55 MKD Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 0 1 0 1 =54
55 POR Portugal 0 1 0 1 =54
55 VEN Venezuela 0 1 0 1 =54
58 KUW Kuwait 0 0 2 2 =45
58 SCG Serbia/Monteneg 0 0 2 2 =45
60 CRO Croatia 0 0 1 1 =54
60 JAM Jamaica 0 0 1 1 =54
60 PLE Palestine 0 0 1 1 =54
60 SYR Syrian Arab Rep 0 0 1 1 =54
Wednesday 22 September - Daily Summary: 5
Day five of the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games
Fourteen Paralympic sports took place during day five of the Paralympic Games ATHENS 2004.
In Athletics, 19 finals took place in the Olympic Stadium, where the spectators had one more chance to cheer for athletes achieving great performances. This morning, Oleksandr DORESHENKO from Ukraine broke the world record in Discus in F38 category twice. Later in the day, Peter GRUITJERS (NED) made a new world record in Men’s Javelin (F55/56) throwing his javelin at 37,79 m., but won silver medal, since the gold medal went to the Iranian Ali NADERI, who achieved world record as well in T56 category. World records were also set in Women's Javelin T40 by Afrah GOMDI (TUN), Men’s 100m T12 by Adekundo ADESOJI (NGR) and Men's 400m T46 by Antonio SOUZA (BRA).
In Swimming, there were Medal Ceremonies in 19 Men and Women Categories. In Olympic Aquatic Centre in OAKA, outstanding performances were achieved in all the events and many world and Paralympic records were broken.
Today, the final events in Cycling Track took place and two finals were held as well. Karissa WHITSELL and Katie COMPTON from the USA won gold medal in Women Individual Persuit, while in Men’s Team Sprint Open (LC1-4 CP3/4) gold medal went to the Australian team.
In Shooting, another world record was broken today by Mike JOHNSON (NZL) in Mixed R4-10m Air Rifle Stand-SH2, whose final score was (600/600), while many athletes with their efforts equaled other world and Paralympic records.
In Powerlifting, WANG Jian from China (Men’s 56kg Category) and Shaban IBRAHIM from Egypt (Men’s 60kg category) were Paralympic winners achieving gold medals.
Robert WYSMIERSKI from Poland climbed to the highest place on the pontium in Men’s Individual Sabre in Wheelchair Fencing.
Finally, in Equestrian, the 52-year old Irene SLAETTENGREN (SWE) won gold medal in Ind. Championship Test - Grade II, while Grade IV Ann Cathrin LUBBE (NOR) took the first place
http://www.athens2004.com/en/ParalympicResults/paralympics/results/pastday?day=5
Medals awarded thru Tues. Sep. 21
Rank
by
Gold - NPC - NPC Name -- G - S - B -- Total - Rank by Total
1 CHN China 21 23 17 61 1
2 GBR Great Britain 15 9 11 35 3
3 FRA France 10 11 10 31 4
4 GER Germany 9 11 17 37 2
5 ESP Spain 9 10 10 29 =5
6 UKR Ukraine 9 5 7 21 8
7 AUS Australia 8 11 10 29 =5
8 HKG Hong Kong 7 5 1 13 13
9 CAN Canada 7 3 2 12 =14
10 USA United States 6 8 14 28 7
11 CZE Czech Republic 6 6 5 17 10
12 JPN Japan 6 5 5 16 11
13 BRA Brazil 6 4 2 12 =14
14 POL Poland 5 7 7 19 9
15 RSA South Africa 5 5 1 11 =16
16 MEX Mexico 5 1 3 9 =19
17 RUS Russia 4 1 9 14 12
18 ALG Algeria 4 0 4 8 =21
19 KOR Korea 3 6 2 11 =16
20 BLR Belarus 3 5 1 9 =19
21 TUN Tunisia 3 2 1 6 =26
22 SVK Slovakia 3 1 2 6 =26
23 AUT Austria 2 3 1 6 =26
24 SWE Sweden 2 2 2 6 =26
25 EGY Egypt 2 2 1 5 32
26 CUB Cuba 2 1 3 6 =26
27 FIN Finland 2 1 1 4 =33
28 IRI I. R. Iran 2 0 6 8 =21
29 AZE Azerbaijan 2 0 1 3 =37
30 GRE Greece 1 4 2 7 =23
31 DEN Denmark 1 3 3 7 =23
32 ITA Italy 1 2 4 7 =23
33 THA Thailand 1 2 3 6 =26
34 NGR Nigeria 1 2 1 4 =33
35 ISR Israel 1 1 2 4 =33
36 SLO Slovenia 1 1 1 3 =37
37 BEL Belgium 1 1 0 2 =41
37 LAT Latvia 1 1 0 2 =41
39 KEN Kenya 1 0 1 2 =41
39 NZL New Zealand 1 0 1 2 =41
41 IND India 1 0 0 1 =49
41 TUR Turkey 1 0 0 1 =49
43 HUN Hungary 0 5 5 10 18
44 NED Netherlands 0 3 1 4 =33
45 LTU Lithuania 0 1 2 3 =37
45 SUI Switzerland 0 1 2 3 =37
47 TPE Chinese Taipei 0 1 1 2 =41
47 UAE U Arab Emirates 0 1 1 2 =41
49 ISL Iceland 0 1 0 1 =49
49 MAR Morocco 0 1 0 1 =49
49 MKD Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 0 1 0 1 =49
49 POR Portugal 0 1 0 1 =49
53 KUW Kuwait 0 0 2 2 =41
53 SCG Serbia/Monteneg 0 0 2 2 =41
55 ARG Argentina 0 0 1 1 =49
55 IRL Ireland 0 0 1 1 =49
55 NOR Norway 0 0 1 1 =49
55 PLE Palestine 0 0 1 1 =49
http://www.athens2004.com/en/ParalympicGamesMedals/paralympics/medals
Just Showing Up in Athens Is a Victory for Cambodians
By SETH MYDANS
September 21, 2004
For Nhork Kimhor, the road to Athens began with a sound he remembers as "Pung!"
He was standing in the middle of a minefield, but with the stupidity that sometimes comes with shock, he thought somebody was shooting at him.
"I started to kneel down, and I thought: 'What happened to me? I've lost my leg!' " he said in an interview in Phnom Penh. And then, he said, he thought, "I should be dead."
Instead, Nhork Kimhor, 25, is one of two Cambodian runners competing in the Paralympics, the equivalent of the Olympics for disabled athletes, which began Friday in Athens with the opening ceremony and continues until Sept. 29. He competed yesterday in the 200-meter race for those with amputations below the knee, finishing last among the six in his heat. He will also run in the 100 on Friday.
Like his coach, 32-year-old On Sok Eng, Nhork Kimhor lost his right leg while clearing mines during the many years of civil war that followed the ouster of the Khmer Rouge government in 1979. The Khmer Rouge's four-year reign of terror resulted in the death of 1.7 million people.
For disabled athletes from a country too poor to train them properly or fit them with special sports prosthetics, their very presence in Athens is a victory over Cambodia's history.
There is no established program for disabled athletes in Cambodia, and the members of this tiny team were selected at a competition among the small number who had heard about it.
They trained irregularly at the dilapidated National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh, without special prosthetics or other equipment.
"We don't have any budget to support disabled athletes," said Yan Sorkun, the team manager, who one month before the trip to Athens still did not know where he would find the money to buy airplane tickets. "They don't get enough food to give them energy for sports, and a lot of times they can't afford the transport to come to the stadium to train."
Pov Bothum, 21, will also be competing this week. She is also a victim of the violence and the lawlessness that claimed Cambodia in the wake of war and that still haunts it today. On Thursday, she will run in the 400 meters for those with amputations below the elbow.
Pov Bothum lost her right hand two years ago when bandits shot her and stole her motorbike, a tiny 70cc model that is among the cheapest available in Cambodia. She was fitted with a rubber prosthetic hand, and in just moments, she was transformed from a pretty, young woman into a grotesque cripple, she said.
"I hardly go out of the house now because I feel ashamed," she said. "When I go to the market, even if I wear a long-sleeved shirt, people laugh at me. It's only recently that I've been able to tell my story without crying."
In a country where almost everyone is disabled by the trauma of their recent history, many of the tens of thousands of amputees are, like Pov Bothum, outcasts hiding at home or hopping about the marketplace on crutches begging for alms.
Cambodia has the highest ratio of amputees per capita in the world, about one of every 250 people, say experts from a range of organizations, including the World Bank. Most of the amputees, about 40,000, are victims of land mines.
An estimated 4 million to 10 million mines are still scattered and hidden around the country because they are too expensive and hard to remove. The number they kill or injure rises by about 200 a year.
Many, like Nhork Kimhor and his coach, lost their limbs while serving as soldiers. As the leader of a land-mine-clearing team, Nhork Kimhor had seen his share of crippled victims and ruined lives, and he was determined not to join them.
"I promised myself that if I stepped on a mine, I'd kill myself right away," he said. "I wasn't afraid to die, but I didn't want to be an amputee."
On the day he lost his leg, the only weapon he was carrying was a rocket launcher, and as he knelt bleeding in the minefield, he turned to aim it at himself.
But he paused. He had seen what rockets like this could do to a body, and he wanted to be sure that at least some fragments of bone would remain for his parents to bury.
So he aimed at the ground in front of him and fired, sure that the explosion would kill him. The rocket simply buried itself in the earth, a dud.
"I thought, 'I have to find another way to end my life,' but I couldn't," he said. "There were mines all around me. I could see the tips of them sticking out of the ground. But my best friend just walked right through them and carried me out."
Nhork Kimhor received an artificial leg from an international relief agency and he found a new life in sports, winning medals in regional Asian competitions.
But this success has done little to provide him with a living, although prize money from a meet in South Korea did help him buy a small motorbike. Now, like thousands of jobless men in Phnom Penh, he picks up motorbike taxi fares for pennies, barely covering the cost of gasoline.
On an average day, he said, he earns about 2,000 riel (about 52 cents). Some days he has not been able to afford the gasoline to drive to practice. On other days, if a passenger flags him down as he is heading to practice, he cannot afford to say no to the fare.
His trainer, On Sok Eng, is one of the most successful of the country's disabled athletes, having won medals in major regional competitions. He, too, led a mine-clearing team and was strangely confused when a mine tore off his right foot. He heard the bang and felt a rush of wind blowing his hair.
"For some reason, I couldn't walk," he said, "and I asked myself, 'What is this?' " His foot was surrounded by black smoke and another soldier shouted, "You've been hit by a mine!"
He said he blamed himself for the accident, not just because he was careless but because he had offended the local spirit by cursing when he saw there were more mines to clear.
"It was just like someone was leading me by the hand, straight into the minefield," he said.
Unlike Nhork Kimhor, however, he was grateful to be alive. "I thought, 'I could be dead but I'm just an amputee,' " he said. "I still had a chance to try to start my life again."
He could no longer do farm work, he said, but his parents encouraged him, saying: "Be brave! Your leg has been amputated, but not your mind."
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/21/sports/othersports/21olympics.html?pagewanted=print&position=
Tuesday 21 September - Daily Summary: 4
Day four of the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games
During the fourth day of the Paralympic games, 15 sports took place in the all the Sports Complexes.
In Athletics, 21 finals were held and world records were broken 14 times, some of them twice or thrice! In Men’s F54 Javelin category, the Mexican Luis ZEPEDA completed his efforts with a world record (26.89m), which granted him gold metal. In Men's 1,500m - T13 all three medallists had broken the old world record, but it was Tunisia’s Maher BOUALLEGUE who won gold.
During the fourth day of the Cycling Track competition, five world records were broken in five different categories of Women's LC 1-4 & CP 3-4 1 Km Time Trial, and all three medals went to Chinese athletes. ZHOU Ju Fang (CHN) LC1 was the Paralympic champion setting the best time 1:15.491 a new world record. Australian Keiran MODRA won his second Paralympic gold the Paralympic Games, in the Men’s Tandem Sprint category (B1-3).
In Shooting, Jonas JACOBSSON (SWE) broke twice the world and Paralympic record in the Men’s Rifle 3X40 SH1, to win his 11th Paralympic gold medal.
At the Individual Competition in Equestrian Dressage, two gold metals were awarded to Great Britain: Lee PEARSON was first in category I and Deborah CRIDDLE in category III.
In Powerlifting, women competed on the 48, 52 and 56kgs category. In the 48kg category, Jian Xin BIAN (CHN) broke a total of eight world and Paralympic records, while in 56kg Fatma OMAR (EGY) broke a total of six world and Paralympic records. The Men 52kg category competition also took place.
A total of 19 Gold medals were handed out in Men's and Women's events of Swimming. The events included the 100m and 200m Freestyle, the 100m Butterfly, the 100m Breaststroke as well as the 100m Backstroke.
In Table Tennis, metals were awarded in 17 Men and Women categories.
Also, in Wheelchair Fencing, the finals for the Women’s foil and Men’s foil took place.
http://www.athens2004.com/en/ParalympicResults/paralympics/results/pastday?day=4
Athletics Image Gallery - 21 September 2004
Diane Roy #5 jockeys with Edith Hunkeler #6 in the Women's 5,000m (T54) in Athens on 21/09/2004 © GETTY IMAGES/Brian Bahr
David Weir of Great Britain wins Bronze in the T54 200m race for Men at the Olympic Stadium in Athens on 21/09/2004 © GETTY IMAGES/Phil Cole
Hamish MacDonald of Australia watches his throw in the Mens Shot Put (F33/34) during his second place overall finish despite breaking the world record on 21/09/2004 © GETTY IMAGES/Brian Bahr
Marlon Shirley of the USA breaks off the blocks for the start of the Mens 200m (T44) en route to taking the silver medal in world record time on 21/09/2004 © GETTY IMAGES/Brian Bahr
India's athlete B. Devendra throws towards the gold in the men's Javelin Throw F44/46 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens on 21/09/2004 © ATHOC/ANA/ALEXANDROS VLACHOS
Stephen Payton of Great Britain,Tim Sullivan of Australia and Christer Lenander of Sweden in action during 100m-T38 Men on 21/09/2004 © GETTY IMAGES/Milos Bicanski
Australia's Russell Short enroute to winning bronze in the Shot Put-F13Man on 21/09/2004 © GETTY IMAGES/Milos Bicanski
Stephen Miller of Great Britain wins a gold medal in Club Throw-F32/51 Men on 21/09/2004 © GETTY IMAGES/Milos Bicanski
April Holmes of USA in action during the 100m-T46 Woman on 21/09/2004 © GETTY IMAGES/Milos Bicanski
Elementary school pupils visited the Olympic Stadium in order to encourage the athletes, during the third day of Athletics in the ATHENS 2004 Para olympic Games, on 21/09/2004 © ANA/A. VLACHOS
Medals awarded thru Sep. 20
Rank
by
Gold - NPC - NPC Name -- G - S - B -- Total - Rank by Total
1 CHN China 15 11 5 31 1
2 GBR Great Britain 9 6 7 22 =4
3 AUS Australia 7 9 9 25 2
4 ESP Spain 7 9 6 22 =4
5 HKG Hong Kong 6 4 1 11 =9
6 UKR Ukraine 6 3 6 15 8
7 GER Germany 5 6 13 24 3
8 USA United States 5 4 9 18 6
9 FRA France 4 6 7 17 7
10 BRA Brazil 4 4 2 10 =11
10 JPN Japan 4 4 2 10 =11
12 CAN Canada 4 3 2 9 =15
13 CZE Czech Republic 4 2 4 10 =11
14 RSA South Africa 4 2 1 7 17
15 ALG Algeria 4 0 2 6 =18
16 RUS Russia 3 1 7 11 =9
17 MEX Mexico 3 0 2 5 =20
18 BLR Belarus 2 2 2 6 =18
19 TUN Tunisia 2 1 1 4 =23
20 IRI I. R. Iran 2 0 2 4 =23
21 POL Poland 1 5 4 10 =11
22 GRE Greece 1 3 1 5 =20
23 KOR Korea 1 3 0 4 =23
24 AUT Austria 1 2 1 4 =23
25 ITA Italy 1 1 3 5 =20
26 CUB Cuba 1 1 2 4 =23
26 THA Thailand 1 1 2 4 =23
28 NGR Nigeria 1 1 1 3 =30
29 SWE Sweden 1 0 2 3 =30
30 AZE Azerbaijan 1 0 1 2 =33
30 FIN Finland 1 0 1 2 =33
32 KEN Kenya 1 0 0 1 =39
33 HUN Hungary 0 4 5 9 =15
34 DEN Denmark 0 2 2 4 =23
35 NED Netherlands 0 2 0 2 =33
36 LTU Lithuania 0 1 2 3 =30
37 SLO Slovenia 0 1 1 2 =33
37 UAE U Arab Emirates 0 1 1 2 =33
39 EGY Egypt 0 1 0 1 =39
39 ISR Israel 0 1 0 1 =39
39 LAT Latvia 0 1 0 1 =39
39 MAR Morocco 0 1 0 1 =39
39 MKD Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 0 1 0 1 =39
39 POR Portugal 0 1 0 1 =39
39 TPE Chinese Taipei 0 1 0 1 =39
46 KUW Kuwait 0 0 2 2 =33
47 IRL Ireland 0 0 1 1 =39
47 NOR Norway 0 0 1 1 =39
47 SCG Serbia/Monteneg 0 0 1 1 =39
Monday 20 September - Daily Summary: 3
Day three of the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games
On the third day of the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games, competitions in 14 sports took place with Final competitions in seven of them.
Yesterday, was the first day of competitions for Goalball and Powerlifting.
In Powerlifting the Finals in Men’s 48kg category and in Women’s 40kg and 48kg categories took place, in which two new World and Paralympic records were achieved. The first in Women’s 44kg category by Lucy Ogechukwu Ejike (NGR) who lifted 125.5 kg in total, 17.5kg more from the previous record. Then, Lidiya Solovyova (UKR) in Women’s 40kg category broke the World Record twice lifting 103kg and 105kg.
In Judo’s final competition day, Azerbaijan achieved its first medal with Ilham Zahiyer wining gold. The Australian Ian Rose won silver medal, while Keiji Amakawa from Japan and the 45-year old Rafael Torres Pompa won bronze medals.
In Swimming 11 Paralympic records were broken as well as World Records as the one achieved by Ben Austin (AUS) in 100m Freestyle, who won gold medal. Konstaninos Fykas from (GR) won silver medal and Ricardo Moffatti (AUS) bronze.
In Wheelchair Fencing competitions Hong Kong had an incredible lead. Chui Yee Yu and Yui Chong Chan added two more gold medals in their country’s list in Men’s Individual Epee.
In Athletics, Alexei Ivanov (RUS) took the first place in Men’s 1.500m breaking the World Record achieving time 3:26:80. Adria Santos from Brazil won gold medal in Men’s 100m T11, time 12:55, after suffering a knee injury.
Wheelchair Rugby Image Gallery - 19 September 2004
Bill Oughton and Sholto Taylor (New Zealand) and Boyland Brad (Australia) in action during a wheelchair rugby match on 19/09/2004 © GETTY IMAGES/Milos Bicanski
A General View of the match between Great Britain and Belgium in the Wheelchair Rugby on 19/09/2004 © GETTY IMAGES/Phil Cole
Troye Collins of Great Britain against Ronny Verhaegen and Peter Genijn of Belgium in the Wheelchair Rugby on 19/09/2004 © GETTY IMAGES/Phil Cole
Troye Collins of Great Britain against Ronny Verhaegen and Peter Genijn of Belgium in the Wheelchair Rugby on 19/09/2004 © GETTY IMAGES/Phil Cole
Rob Tarr of Great Britain scores against Belgium in the Wheelchair Rugby © GETTY IMAGES/Phil Cole
Wheelchair Fencing Image Gallery - 20 September 2004
Komar Andriy (R) from Ukraine and Wysmiersky Robert (L) from Poland compete In Men’s Ind. Epee, Cat. B Gold Match, Wheelchair Fencing, on 20/09/2004. © ATHOC/ANA/K. MAVRONA
Wheelchair Basketball Image Gallery - 20 September 2004
The Greek Angelos Dibitouzis (C) and Gert Van Der Linden (R) Kornelis Van Der Werf (L) from Holland at the Olympic Athetic Sports Complex on 20/09/2004 © ATHOC/ANA/MAROGIANNI MARIA
The Greek Echlert George (C) and Frans Van Breugel from Holland (L), during the basketball game at the Athens Olympic Sports Complex on 20/09/2004 © ATHOC/ANA/MAROGIANNI MARIA
The US's Matt Scott (R) fights for the ball with Iran's Mohammadreza Karimi (2-R) during the match US vs Iran in the men's wheelchair basketball preliminaries at the Olympic Indoor Hall in Athens on 20/09/2004 © ATHOC/ÁNA/MARIA MAROGIANNI
The US's Gavin Cloy (2-L) fights for the ball with Iran's Gholamreza Nami (L), Morteza Gharibloo (2-R) and Adel Manshadi Torfi (R) during the match US vs Iran in the men's wheelchair basketball at the Olympic Indoor Hall in Athens on 20/09/2004 © ATHOC/ÁNA/MARIA MAROGIANNI
The US's Jeff Glasbrenner (C) fights for the ball with Iran's Gholamreza Nami (L) and Mohammadreza Karimi (R), during the match US vs Iran in the men's wheelchair basketball preliminaries at the Olympic Indoor Hall in Athens on 20/09/2004 © ATHOC/ΑNA/MARIA MAROGIANNI
Power-lifting Image Gallery - 20 September 2004
Ejike Lucy Ogechukwu(C) from Nigeria, who won gold medal, with Xiao Cui Juan (L) who won bronze medal and the athlete from Egypt El-Aziz Baioumy Gihan (R) who won silver medal, just after the Medal Ceremony. Monday 20th September. Nikaia Olympic Weightlifting Hall. © ATHOC/ANA/STILIANOS AXIOTIS
Dashti Morteza from Iran, who won gold medal ( C ) poses together with Marasri Thongsa from Thailand, silver medal ( L ) and the Nigerian Ishaku Ruel, bronze medal ( R ) just after the Medal Ceremony on 20/09/2004 © ATHOC/ANA/STILIANOS AXIOTIS
Snapshot of the Nigerian athlete’s effort, Ishaku Ruel, who won bronze medal in Men’s 48 kg category, on 20/09/2004. © ATHOC/ANA/STILIANOS AXIOTIS
Athlete Marasri Thongsa from Thailand, on 20/09/2004. © ATHOC/ANA/STILIANOS AXIOTIS
Finally TV coverage of the Paralympics -- sort of
US finally get TV coverage of the Paralympics -
Visa and Outdoor Life Network come to the rescue
20th September 2004
TV viewers in the USA have been unable to follow the Athens Paralympics on any of the hundreds of US tv channels. Incredible though that may seem, given the support and interest shown in the US for all kinds of sports.
The only drawback is viewers will have to wait until November.
Not quite the instant, fast-and-furious world normally associated with US broadcasting.
Whatever the reasons for no live broadcasts, the move by Outdoor Life Network is very welcome.
Outdoor Life Network is known in the US for showing best-in-class events like the 'Tour de France' and 'Professional Bull Riding'.
Viewers in the UK and much of Europe get daily and often Live Broadcasts of the Athens Paralympics.
Send in Your Comments and Feedback
http://www.paralympics.com/News_articles_archive/us_tv.htm
Paralympic Firsts
For the first time there will be such a broad representation of countries at the Paralympic Games. 140 countries are expected to participate.
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For the first time, the Olympic and Paralympic summer Games are organised by a single Organising Committee after the signing of the IOC – IPC Cooperation Agreement.
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It is the first time women will compete in Judo in the Paralympic Games.
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For the first time Football 5-a-side will be contested at the Paralympic Games.
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Οver 300 hours of live broadcasts will be available for the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games, the widest live television coverage ever in Paralympic Games history.
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It is the first time that women teams will compete in Volleyball (Sitting).
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It is the first time in the history of Paralympic Games that Paralympic athletes will not have to pay for their participation.
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Handcycling will take place for the first time at the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games.
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RULES - Football - 5 A Side
Played by blind and partially sighted athletes. 2 teams of 5 including a goalkeeper (who can be sighted), play 2 halves of 25 minutes each way on a fenced off 5-a-side pitch (38m to 42m long by 18m to 22m wide), the goal is 3m wide x 2m high. The outfield players, but not the goalkeeper, are blindfolded to ensure equality of vision.
The ball contains a bell and there is no off-side rule. More details about allowed subs and fouls see rules and classification system. A knockout format is played, so in the semi-finals / final in the event of a draw there will be extra time of 10mins each way; followed, if still a draw, by a penalty shoot-out.
===============================================================
Rules
Field of Play
The Football 5-a-side field of play is a rectangular pitch covered with natural or synthetic grass. The pitch is between 38 and 42 metres long and between 18 and 22 metres wide.
The boundaries of the field are set by the touch lines along the side and the goal lines at the two ends. Along the sidelines a 2 metre tall protective fence is placed in order to define the field of play boundries to the visually impaired players. In the middle of the competition area is a 6 metre diametre central circle. The central circle halfway line divides the ground into two equal parts.
The goal is 3 metres wide and 2 metres high while the goalkeeper's area, around the goal, is 5x2 metres. There is a white circular dot at a distance of 6 metres from the centre of the goal, from which the penalty shots are taken. The double penalty spot is at a distance of 9 metres.
Classes
Athletes participate in 5-a-side Football from the following classes:
B1: Athletes with total vision loss.
B2, B3: Athletes with partial vision impairment.
In Football 5-a-side athletes who have full vision can compete as goalkeepers. In the event that the goalkeeper is sighted, he may not have been registered with any Football five-a-side or Football Federation (FIFA) in the last five years
The Game
Every team consists of eight football players and two goalkeepers. During the course of a Football 5-a-side match five athletes play for each team: four are athletes of the B1 category with total vision impairment and the fifth athlete is the goalkeeper, who may either be classified as B2 or B3 athlete. Each team is allowed to substitute up to five players from a total of five substitutes.
During a game the football players, with the exception of the goalkeeper, wear blindfolds or a mask to cover their eyes so that the element of Fair Play is maintained between players of different degrees of visual impairment. In the case that an athlete touches the blindfolds or mask, he is penalised with a violation (foul). If a player has five personal fouls he is excluded from the game and is substituted by another player. In the case that the goalkeeper goes outside the boundaries of his area, then a foul is awarded to the opposing team.
Finally, in the case that one player kicks or attempts to kick a player of the opposing team, or pushes a player of the opposing team by using his hands or legs, then he is penalised with a foul and the opposing team earns the right to take a penalty kick from the 6 metre spot.
Upon the taking of a penalty kick, the defending team has the right to form a defensive wall on condition that it has been penalised with up to three fouls in each half. If not, then the penalty kick is taken from the 9 metre spot without the formation of a defensive wall.
A Football match lasts 50 minutes and is played over two halves lasting 25 minute each, with a 10 minutes half time in between. The objective of the two teams is to score goals in the opposing goal, without violating the rules of the game.
In the semi-final or final, if the game ends in a tie after the completion of the two 25 minute halves, two 10 minute extension of extra time follow. If there is no winner after the extra time, the teams follow a penalty kick procedure.
A referee, who is responsible for applying the rules of the game, monitors the match. He is facilitated in his work by an assistant referee (linesman) who moves along the sidelines flanking the game area.
Cards
Yellow card: The referee shows the yellow card to a player who demonstrates unsportsmanlike behaviour, reacts in a bad way with words or gestures, violates the rule of the game, delays the recommencement of the game or abandons or enters the ground without the referee's permission.
Red card: The referee shows a red card and subsequently expels an athlete from the competition ground if he is playing in an unsportsmanlike manner, is demonstrating unbefitting behaviour, hits an opponent outside the scope of play, stops the ball with his hands and obstructs the opposing team or gets a second yellow card in the same game.
================================================================
Equipment
The Ball
It is made of leather or special synthetic material, has a circumference of 62 cm and weighs 490-520 grams. It has an internal sound device so the athletes can hear it.
Clothing
The athletes of a team are obliged to wear the same kit (uniform), which is comprised of a shirt, a pair of shorts and socks. The colours of the goalkeeper's uniform must be different from those of his teammates, as well as from those of the referee and his assistant (linesman).
Shin Pads
Special protective pads made of plastic or another soft material, such as rubber or caoutchouc, which are placed inside the athlete's socks, mainly to protect his shins.
Shoes
Special shoes with studs on the soles, to facilitate the athlete's movement in the ground.
Goalkeeper's gloves
Special gloves which facilitate the goalkeeper in stopping the ball and preventing the scoring of a goal. At the same time, they protect his hands.
Blindfolds or mask
The athletes who are inside the field of play, with the exception of the goalkeeper, wear blindfolds or a mask to guarantee equality among the players.
Judo Image Gallery - 19 September 2004
Greece's Maria Keremida (white) in a match with Russia's Ε. Buzmakova (blue) during the women's 57kg Judo competition on 19/09/2004 ©ANA/ALEXANDROS BELTES
Mathias Krieger (Germany) in a match with Hani Asakereh (Iran) in men's 73 kg Judo competition on 19/09/2004 © ANA/ALEXANDROS BELTES
German judoka in 81kg, Sebastian Junk, celebrates his bronze medal on 19/09/2004 © ANA/A. BELTES
Brazil's D. Silva celebrates her bronze victory in the women's 57kg Judo competition on 19/09/2004 © ANA/ALEXANDROS BELTES
Wheelchair Tennis Image Gallery - 19 September 2004
Kruamai Sumreng of Thailand returns a ball to Larry Quintero of USA on 19/09/2004
Photo of the English athlete Jayant Mistry during the preliminaries of wheelchair tennis on 19/09/2004 © ATHOC/ANA/P.PAPAIOANNOU
Photo of the Slovenian athlete Josef Felix during the preliminaries of wheelchair tennis on 19/09/2004 © ATHOC/ANA/P.PAPAIOANNOU
Wheelchair Basketball Image Gallery - 19 September 2004
Australia's Braad Ness (C) is tackled by the UK's Andy Blake and Ade Adepitan during a match at the men's wheelchair basketball preliminaries on 19/09/2004 © ANA/MARIA MAROGIANNI
Australia's Shaun Norris fights for the ball with UK's Andy Blakeon 19/09/2004 © ANA/MAROGIANNI MARIA
Australia's Justin Eveson fights for the ball with the UK's Andy Blake during a match at the men's wheelchair basketball preliminaries on 19/09/2004 © ANA/M. MAROGIANNI
Australia's David Selby fights for the ball with UK's Jon Pollock during a match at the men's wheelchair basketball preliminaries on 19/09/2004 © ANA/M.MAROGIANNI
Germany's Birgit Meitner, Annika Zeyen and Japan's Sachiko Minamikawa during the match between Germany and Japan on 19/09/2004 © ANA/MARIA MAROGIANNI
Germany's Birgit Meitner with Japan's Chika Uemura during the match between Germany and Japan on 19/09/2004 © ANA/MARIA MAROGIANNI
Table Tennis Image Gallery - 19 September 2004
Matti Launonen (Finland) competes in the men's individual table tennis tournament on 19/09/2004 © ANA/KATERINA MAVRONA
Polychronis Politsis competes in the men's individual table tennis tournament on 19/09/2004 © ANA/KATERINA MAVRONA
Swimming Image Gallery - 19 September 2004
Mark Barr of the USA powers off the block for the start of the Mens 100m Butterfly (S9) swimming heat on 19/09/2004 © GETTY IMAGES/Brian Bahr
Greece's Ioannis Costakis celebrates his silver medal in the men's 100m Butterfly event in the swimming competition, at the Olympic Aquatic Centre in Athens on 19/09/2004 © ATHOC/ANA/CHRYSSA PANOUSIADOU
Natalie Jones of Great Britain dives into the pool for the start of the Womens 200m Individual Medley (SM6) swimming heat on 19/09/2004 © GETTY IMAGES/Brian Bahr
Sailing Image Gallery - 19 September 2004
Spain's team competes in the Mixed Sonar race on the second day of the sailing competition, at Agios Kosmas Olympic Sailing Centre in Athens on 19/09/2004 © ATHOC/ANA/STYLIANOS AXIOTIS
Athletes are ready for "take off" in the Mixed Sonar race on the second day of the sailing competition, at Agios Kosmas Olympic Sailing Centre in Athens on 19/09/2004 © ATHOC/ANA/STYLIANOS AXIOTIS
Cycling Track Image Gallery - 19 September 2004
Roberto Alcaide competes in Men LC2 Bicycle 4km Individual Pursuit on 19/09/2004 © ANA/P. PAPAIOANNOU
Germany's cycling athlete Michael Euber competes in Men's LC4 Bicycle 4km Individual Pursuit on 19/09/2004 © ANA/P. PAPAIOANNOU
Laurent Thirionet (France) celebrates his gold victory in Cycling Track on 19/09/2004 © ANA/P. PAPAIOANNOU
Kieran Modra and Robert Crowe of Australia celebrate winning the Men's Individual Pursuit Open (B1-3) Final at the Olympic Velodrome within the Olympic Sports Complex on 19/09/2004 © GETTY IMAGES/Ker Robertson
Sunday 19 Sept. - Daily Summary: 2
Day two of the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games
On the second day of competitions, events took place in 12 sports at 6 competition venues. Today’s highlight was the opening of Athletics, the “king” of the Olympic and Paralympic Sports, in the fantastic Olympic Stadium of Athens. Women's Shot Put and Discus Throw started at 17:00 and opened the sport’s competitions. The Men’s events began with the finals in the Shot Put (categories F42 and F32), Long Jump (F11), Discus (F54), 5000m (Τ52) and 10000m (Τ11). The day included eight finals.
Today has also been the first competition day for Football 7-a-side, Swimming, Wheelchair Rugby and Wheelchair Tennis.
Twenty-two goals in four matches was the opening day's highlight of the Football 7-a-side Tournament. The Sydney gold and silver medallists, Russia and Ukraine, respectively, produced thirteen goals in total.
World records tumbled on the first night of Swimming at the Indoor Aquatic Pool. The Swimming began in an exciting fashion with Greek swimmer, Charalambos Taiganidis winning the first event, the Men’s 100m Butterfly S13 in a time of 1:01.50.
After breaking his own world record in this morning’s heats in the Men’s 100m Freestyle S4, Clodoaldo Silva (BRA) took off fast from the blocks and turned ahead of his world record split time, but faded slightly over the last few metre to win in 1:19.51, just outside his record. Jesus Collado (ESP) came in fastest to establish a new world record of 1:02.66 in 50m. and his compatriot, Sebastion Rodriguez created the third world record of the first night’s final session in the Men’s 100m Freestyle S5.
In Cycling Track, the Australian pair of Sydney 2000 Paralympic Sprint Champions Kieran MODRA and Robert CROWE (pilot) dominated the Men's B 1-3 Tandem 4 Km Individual Pursuit Final and captured the gold in 4:23:874, beating the Dutch side of Jan MULDER and Pascal SCHOOTS (pilot), who took second place and the silver. The bronze went to Great Britain with Ian SHARPE and Paul HUNTER (pilot), who raced in 4:33:487. France grabbed its first gold in Track Cycling in these Paralympic Games thanks to Laurent THIRIONET in the LC3 3Km Individual pursuit final.
The fourteen matches for the Round of 16 that took place this afternoon in the five Men’s Singles Classes were the 'main course' of the Paralympic Table Tennis Tournament schedule.
http://www.athens2004.com/en/ParalympicResults/paralympics/results/pastday?day=2
Medals awarded thru Sep. 19
Rank
by
Gold - NPC - NPC Name -- G - S - B -- Total - Rank by Total
1 CHN China 5 6 2 13 3
2 ESP Spain 5 5 4 14 =1
3 GER Germany 5 3 6 14 =1
4 GBR Great Britain 5 2 5 12 4
5 HKG Hong Kong 4 3 0 7 =7
6 JPN Japan 3 3 0 6 =9
7 FRA France 3 2 3 8 6
8 AUS Australia 2 4 5 11 5
9 USA United States 2 2 3 7 =7
10 CZE Czech Republic 2 2 1 5 =12
11 RSA South Africa 2 1 0 3 =18
12 BRA Brazil 1 2 1 4 =15
12 CAN Canada 1 2 1 4 =15
14 UKR Ukraine 1 1 4 6 =9
15 BLR Belarus 1 1 1 3 =18
16 RUS Russia 1 0 5 6 =9
17 ITA Italy 1 0 3 4 =15
18 GRE Greece 1 0 2 3 =18
18 IRI I. R. Iran 1 0 2 3 =18
20 ALG Algeria 1 0 0 1 =24
20 CUB Cuba 1 0 0 1 =24
20 KEN Kenya 1 0 0 1 =24
20 MEX Mexico 1 0 0 1 =24
20 SWE Sweden 1 0 0 1 =24
20 THA Thailand 1 0 0 1 =24
26 HUN Hungary 0 2 3 5 =12
27 AUT Austria 0 2 1 3 =18
28 POL Poland 0 1 4 5 =12
29 SLO Slovenia 0 1 1 2 23
30 DEN Denmark 0 1 0 1 =24
30 KOR Korea 0 1 0 1 =24
30 MKD Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 0 1 0 1 =24
30 NED Netherlands 0 1 0 1 =24
30 POR Portugal 0 1 0 1 =24
30 TPE Chinese Taipei 0 1 0 1 =24
30 UAE U Arab Emirates 0 1 0 1 =24
37 AZE Azerbaijan 0 0 1 1 =24
37 FIN Finland 0 0 1 1 =24
37 KUW Kuwait 0 0 1 1 =24
http://www.athens2004.com/en/ParalympicGamesMedals/paralympics/medals
Interesting photo -- but what's really happening?
The first reaction is chuckling at the placement of hands.... that needs an explanation.
And then the blindfolds/masks -- it seems to suggest that there may be varying degrees of sight,
and it is a way of making things equal -- make everyone blind (except the goalie)
If so, then there would be a lot of head-knocking on the football field.
Yet, not one player is wearing any form of helmet,
except possibly the player with the super wide & thick head band.
There must be logical explanations for all this, but haven't tried to look for answers.
Do you (or anyone) know the "rules" that this type football game is played??
http://investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=4071829
Judo Image Gallery - 18 September 2004
France's MEDJEDED Karima celebrates shortly after her victory at the women's 48kg judo quarterfinals for the vision impaired on 18/09/2004
ANA/CHRISTINA ZOUKA
France's MEDJEDED Karima celebrates shortly after her victory at the women's 48kg judo quarterfinals for the vision impaired on 18/09/2004
ANA/CHRISTINA ZOUKA
Finland's Jani Kallunki fights during a judo match for the vision impaired on 18/09/2004
ANA/CHRISTINA ZOUKA
Wheelchair Fencing Image Gallery - 18 September 2004
The US's John Rodgers (L) and France's Alim Latreche (R) compete at Wheelchair Fencing at the Helliniko Fencing Hall in Athens, on 18/09/2004
ANA/KATERINA MAVRONA
The US's John Rodgers (L) and France's Alim Latreche (R) compete at Wheelchair Fencing at the Helliniko Fencing Hall in Athens, on 18/09/2004
ANA/KATERINA MAVRONA
Wheelchair Basketball Image Gallery - 18 September 2004
Jeremy Lade #13 of the United States gets the ball from Kazuyuki Kyoya of Japan during the Wheelchair Basketball the Olympic Sports Complex Indoor Hall in Athens on 18/09/2004
GETTY IMAGES/Phil Cole
Troy Sachs of Australia against Frederic Guyot of France during the Wheelchair Basketball in Athens 2004 at the Olympic Sports Complex Indoor Hall in Athens on 18/09/2004
GETTY IMAGES/Phil Cole
A general view of France against Australia during the Wheelchair Basketball in the Olympic Sports Complex Indoor Hall in Athens on 18/09/2004
GETTY IMAGES/Phil Cole
Juan Angulo #6 of the United States with Jermy Lade #3 and Keisuke of Japan #8 during the Wheelchair Basketball at the Olympic Sports Complex Indoor Hall in Athens on 18/09/2004
GETTY IMAGES/Phil Cole
Athlete of the Day
Chantal Cavin
Swimming
Switzerland
One of Switzerland’s prized Paralympians, Chantal has won medals in the 2002 Argentina World Championships and was even one of the four invited athletes to the 2003 Barcelona Exhibition in freestyle swimming. She has been competing for six years though she started swimming 10 years ago in a group of blind swimmers. She liked it and decided to see how far she could get. Each year she ameliorates her straightness in swimming, an encouragement. Her dog Ramos was always close to her. No doubt, since he was the first thing that Chantal told us was her passion and hobby!
Table Tennis Image Gallery - 18 September 2004
Catherine Mitton of Great Britain in action during the Womens Individual Class 1/2 group match at the Galatsi Olympic Hall 18/09/2004
GETTY IMAGES/Tom Shaw
TZoran Krizanec of Croatia stretches to return a ball to Chih Jung Chang of Taipei during the Mens Individual Class 5 group match at the Galatsi Olympic Hall in Athens on 18/09/2004
GETTY IMAGES/Tom Shaw
Tahl Leibovitz of the USA in action during the Mens Individual Class 9 group match at the Galatsi Olympic Hall in Athens on 18/09/2004
GETTY IMAGES/Tom Shaw
Qiang Li Yu of China looks on during the Womens Individual Class 10 group match at the Galatsi Olympic Hall in Athens on 18/09/2004 © GETTY IMAGES/Tom Shaw
Picture of two athletes talking in the Paralympic Village Sports Complex
New competitions at the Paralympic Games – and a renewed appetite to win
The ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games is the place to be for the ever-expanding sports world of the disabled. Women’s judo lines up on the mat with the men’s competition for the first time in history.
Many women, like Briton Maxine Ingram who is visually impaired and will compete in the under 63kg class, are eager to grapple a medal if possible.
Another category at ATHENS 2004 is also making its debut. Wheelchair Tennis is an increasingly popular sport played by over 70 countries. The Eligibility requirement is a permanent substantial or total loss of function in one or both legs. The innovative category- new to Athens- is the Quadriplegic division which requires that a player has a disability in three or more limbs.
I hardly need to say that is an immense challenge and they play at a blistering pace because I have seen them. In a case of 1+1 = 10, two such Quad players have combined to make a formidable doubles team. Sara Hunter is seeded 5th in the world and Brian McPhate 15th, but couple are so effective at backing up each other they have zoomed up to the rankings to be number one in the world according to Janet Petras, head coach of Tennis. She is from white Rock, British Columbia and says she has high hopes of winning a gold medal.
Good luck to her. Yet another discipline that has been introduced at the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games is visually impaired five-a-side Football. At the Sidney Games 2000 there was only the 7-a-side competition when the Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) which governs this sport decided to add 5. The players wear eye patches and eyeshades and goalkeepers are sighted, acting as guides. In this game of ingenuity the ball makes a noise when it moves. The IBSA has collaborated with FIFA in making the competition really exciting. Judging by its popularity the matches are a real success. It is played all over the world in 21 countries.
Peter Pitt
Ελληνικά
19 September 2004
Hair Play for Germany
“Canada surely deserves a gold medal: in the last four years, they’ve only lost one game. But maybe, just maybe, we will catch them on a bad day…” These were the words of Ben Doering of the German Wheelchair Basketball Team, referring to their ‘rival’ team of Canada. Ben is 25 years old and works for a pharmaceutical company. He has always been keen on Basketball and this shows when he speaks about it: “I consider Wheelchair Basketball an amazing sport. The player has to control the ball and the wheelchair at the same time, in addition to taking care to pass the ball in the best way. Arguably, it is one of the most complex sports.”
This is the first time he participates in the Paralympic Games and he declares that he is very happy to see them hosted by Greece: “This colour you see on my hair, I had it done especially to come here, in Greece! I have to say, though, my boss is not that happy with this restyle.” On the same vein, all his teammates have made the pledge that, if they win a medal, they will all shave their heads. We can only tell them that the hairdresser of the Paralympic Village awaits…
Efthymia Ntivi
A Paralympian with a mission to help others
Santiago Velazquez Duarte is 51 years old and comes from Mexico. Though he has a formidable history in wheelchair rugby, he decided to try a new sport two years ago. He now competes in Wheelchair racing (T-51 category). He wanted to try something that was completely based on individual challenge as a new experience in living.
He took part in the Pan American Games and the 2002 World Championships in Argentina. Throughout the year, he tells us, I will probably travel to 5 or 6 different countries to compete. The world is a great place and I try to go everywhere.” His times are equally impressive for the amount of time he is competing in this sport: 100m (21”); 200m (41”); 400 (1.28”).
Of course, Santiago was careful to inform us about the different classification sections in his sport and how just two days ago he was in T-52. “Such small changes mean a lot to athletes competing against different disabilities and different body muscle proportions,” he stressed. “But then again, for me, the sport is a way of life. There is something else more valuable to my life than sports.”
His ultimate pride is the International Organisation of Independent Living also known as Vida Independiente, of which he is the President. His goal with this small NGO is to assist quadriplegics in their every day life so that they are able to get out of their home and into the city in which they live; so that they can secure employment and even venture beyond their own limitations; and ultimately get more out of their hospital rehabilitation.
For Santiago, the “thank you” he receives from his patients and their family members is better than his own achievements in sport. Understanding that there is more to life than winning, we appreciated the comment but tried to get even a further smile from Santiago, who admitted that he is always smiling from inside when he helps quadriplegics, “but also when I win!”
Symeon Tsalicoglou
Welcome to the Athens Paralympic Village - a brilliant place to be!
http://www.athens2004.com/athens2004/page/paralympicvillagenews?cid=6cd8c1d509afdf00VgnVCM3000002a13...
Peter Pitt
I am writing to you from the Paralympic Village Pulse offices from where we publish a daily online newspaper, which concentrates on the lives of 4,000 athletes from more than 130 nations and gives all the information they need.
Let me introduce myself: My name is Peter Pitt. For 20 years I worked for BBC TV producing documentaries as a reporter but all that stopped quite abruptly. I am disabled having suffered a stroke 5 years ago. I could not walk, talk, speak or properly see. I was hospitalised for 14 months. However, I survived to be in Athens volunteering to support this amazing Paralympic experience.
Ironically, it was only one year before my stroke that I was supervising a documentary called “Able Seaman” about a quadriplegic yachtsman, Geoff Holt. I remember meeting him and instantly forgetting about his disability. He was so charismatic, so enthusiastic. He took me to a spinal hospital at Salisbury in England where I met some paraplegics undertaking rehabilitation and talked about the immense challenges and mind-bending change into disability. Geoff had told me it was a question of balance: not being overwhelmed by your impediments and concentrating on life.
Oddly enough, I had to face many of my own challenges, but I am having the time of my life! I am half British and half Greek from my mother Aspasia Theodossi who was born in Moschato, Athens. As such, one could say that I have a dual Olympic origination in my psyche. The Paralympic Games, which originated in England at Stoke Mandeville Spinal Hospital during the 1948 London Games and the Olympic Games which started in Greece.
It’s all a question of balance. During these days I will try to give you a taste, here from the Paralympic Village, of the greatest show on earth with all the fun, the spectacles and the victories.
Peter Pitt
Sailing Image Gallery - 18 September 2004
Ireland's sailing athletes compete in Race 2 of the Mixed Sonar (3-Person) event at the sailing competition on 18/09/2004 © ANA/STYLIANOS AXIOTIS
Greece's sailing athletes "at the wheel" during Race 2 of the the Mixed Sonar (3-Person) event at the sailing competition on 18/09/2004
ANA/STYLIANOS AXIOTIS
The sailing team of the Netherlands competes in Race 2 of the Mixed Sonar (3-Person) event at the sailing competition on 18/09/2004
ANA/STYLIANOS AXIOTIS
Shooting Image Gallery - 18 September 2004
Manuela Schmermund (C) wining gold Medal and Sabine Brogle (R) wining silver medal and Myung Sook Her (L), in Women’s R2 10m Air Riffle during the Medal Ceremony. Markopoulo Olympic Shooting Centre
ATHOC/ANA/A. BELTES
Manuela Schmermund (C) wining gold Medal and Sabine Brogle (R) wining silver medal and Myung Sook Her (L), in Women’s R2 10m Air Riffle during the Medal Ceremony. Markopoulo Olympic Shooting Centre
ATHOC/ANA/A. BELTES
Football 5 - a - side Image Gallery - 18 September 2004
France's Philppe Amaouche (2-L), Odile Gerfaut (3-L), Bouchaib El Boukhari (R) and goalie Sebastien Munos (2-R) are positioned in front of their team's nets ready to catch a foul shot by
opponent team Spain, during the preliminary match France vs Spain at the Paraympic Football
(5 - a - side) Tournament, at the Olympic Hockey Centre at Helliniko, on 18/09/2004
ANA/ALEXANDROS VLACHOS
Brazil's Damiao Ramos (L) tries to block a shoot by opponent Korea's Ho Kyoung Kim (2-R) during the preliminary match between their teams at the Olympic Hockey Centre at Helliniko, on 18/09/2004
ANA/ALEXANDROS VLACHOS
Brazil's Marcos Felipe (R) shoots under pressure by Korea's Goo Myoung You (L) at the preliminary match between their teams at Football (5 - a - side) Tournament, at the Olympic Hockey Centre at Helliniko, on 18/09/2004
ANA/ALEXANDROS VLACHOS
Cycling Track Image Gallery - 18 September 2004
Paul Martin of the USA races during the mens individual pursuit qualifier on 18/09/2004
GETTY IMAGES/Brian Bahr
Kelly McCombie (L) and Janet Shaw (R) of Australia warm down after a race in the womens 1k time trial (blind 1-3) on 18/09/2004
GETTY IMAGES / Brian Bahr
-
Darren Kenny of Great Britain races in the Mens 1K Time Trial (CP Div 3/4) on 18/09/2004
GETTY IMAGES/Brian Bahr
Darren Kenny of Great Britain receives gold medal after winning the Mens 1K Time Trial (CP Div 3/4) on 18/09/2004
GETTY IMAGES/Brian Bahr
Saturday 18 September - Daily Summary: 1
Day one of the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games
First competition day of the 12th Paralympic Games and curtain was raised for 8 sports in 8 Competition Venues around Athens. The day had a lot of excitement, as the first Finals took place in Judo, Cycling Track, Wheelchair Fencing and Shooting.
Three world and one Paralympic record were broken today during the opening day of the Cycling Track competition at the Athens Olympic Velodrome. British Aileen Mc GLYNN (B3) and pilot Helen HUNTER were triumphantly named Paralympic Champions capturing the first gold in the Athens Paralympic Games, in the women's B 1-3 Tandem 1Km Time Trial with a new world and Paralympic record of 1:11:160. The silver went to the USA's Karissa WHITSELL (B3) and pilot Katie COMPTON, who finished in 1:11:221, and the bronze to Australia with Lindy HOU (B2) and pilot Janelle LINDSDAY in a time of 1:11:784.
On the first day of the Paralympic Shooting Competition in the Markopoulo Olympic Shooting Centre, Germany seized two medals in the first event and China won the gold in the second event. Manuela SCHMERMUND (GER) made history as the first gold medallist of the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games.
In Judo, the twenty-nine-year-old Japanese athlete Satoshi FUJIMOTO made Paralympic history as the second Paralympic judoka to win three consecutive gold medals after Simon JACKSON (GBR) (Atlanta, Barcelona and Seoul). Moreover, female judoka Susann SCHUETZEL (GER) became the first gold medallist in the Women’s –52 kg category on the first day of the Paralympic Judo Tournament.
Today was also the first day for Table Tennis. Matti LAUNONEN (FIN) is considered to be a living legend in the Table Tennis Event. This is the fifth Paralympic Games he is taking part in. His goal is to once again win a gold medal in the Men’s Individual, Class 1 and Men’s Team, Classes 1/2 events.
Brazil, Argentina and Spain were victorious in the first day matches of the Football 5-a-side Tournament of the 2004 Paralympic Games, establishing a Latin domination.
In Wheelchair Fencing the Finals took place in the Women’s Individual Epee, categories Α and Β and in the Men’s Individual Foil, categories A and B. JANA Saysunee (THA) and YU Chui Yee (HKG) won the gold medals accordingly in Women’s finals, while FUNG Ying Ki (HKG) and HUI Charn Hung (HKG) were the gold medallists in Men’s categories.
http://www.athens2004.com/en/ParalympicResults/paralympics/results/pastday?day=1
Athens Medals Table - End Day 1
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 Hong Kong 3 2 0 5
2 Germany 2 1 1 4
3 Great Britain 2 0 0 2
4 China 1 1 2 4
5 France 1 1 0 2
6 Cuba 1 0 0 1
7 Thailand 1 0 0 1
8 Poland 0 1 2 3
9 Australia 0 1 0 1
10 Korea 0 1 0 1
11 Macedonia 0 1 0 1
12 Spain 0 1 0 1
13 Brazil 0 1 0 1
14 Ukraine 0 0 2 2
15 Hungary 0 0 2 2
16 Russia 0 0 2 2
17 Austria 0 0 1 1
18 Finland 0 0 1 1
19 Czech Rep 0 0 1 1
http://www.paralympics.com/results_previews/medals_table.htm
and it isn't being televised this year unlike the Sydney Paralympic Games.
My wife Volunteered at the Atlanta Paralympics spent a lot of time with the Athletes treating them ... Some simply amazing stories...
There doesn't seem to be as much interest by news/sports interests,
but will probably increase once the events get under way.
Should still be fun!
Thanks. Great start to the board too.
Let The Games Begin !
17 September 2004, Olympic Stadium:
Dancers parade at the Opening Ceremony of the 12th Paraolympic Games
ANA/KATERINA MAVRONA
Athens welcomed the 12th Games with a spectacular Opening Ceremony which was held in the Olympic Stadium. 3,837 athletes, representing a record number of 136 nations, paraded in the crowded Stadium. The impressive lighting of the Stadium’s Cauldron by G. Toptsis signaled the start of the Games. [more]
The first day of competitions starts at 9:00 and promises to be highly interesting, as the first Finals will take place in four sports.
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