Yes I am one of over 3 million people in the UK hooked on the paralympics. Yes it's exciting sport (not usually interested in sport), more exciting than the Olmpics perhaps, and more interesting because there are sports and abilities you've just never seen before. Though some disabled people like to own the term 'disability', it really feels time now for a new term for this group of athletes who, let's face it, can do much much more than most of us will ever be able to do. Of course, with fit athletes like this to look at, it's not all about the sport.
Oscar Pistorius
Oscar Pistorius running - how many Golds this time - it's really hotting up - in all senses.
Oscars' hobby outside sport - looking gorgeous
Mickey Bushell
21 year old Mickey Bushell winning Gold a few days ago - and more to come.
Mickey more gorgeous while bathing in glory.
Just imagine him on a magazine cover after he's had the QG/Pistorius/Becham stylist treatment.
Jon-Allan Butterworth
Cyclist John-Allan Butterworth. The gorgeous eyes were always there but the cycling has helped him get those chiseled features, having lost a lot of weight in the last few years.
Butterworth working for his 3 Silvers. He only started cycling less than 4 years ago.
If you were wondering how he lost part of his arms - that's him centre back - says it all. There have been some great stories of how athletes got to the olympics and part of that story is how their so called disability originated.
Channel 4 the Olympic Broadcaster
And I love the irreverrent post daily events show on Channel 4, Adam Hills Last Leg, hosted by Australian comedian Adam Hills (himself with a prosthesis foot) who along with other disabled and non disabled comedians, athletes and celebrities take the piss out disability, look at the triumps and taking questions from online tweeters in the segment - 'Is it alright to .....' - and let me tell you these tweets really push the boundaries. They showed a pic 4 year old girl
with her leg in a cardboard tube - not a crack at disability, but
because she wanted to look like her hero runner from the games. A knitted doll of Hills with his missing foot is on ebay and Hills has been following it on the show - it started off at a few pounds and is now over £10k - money going to charity.
Australian comedian/presenter - presenting Channel 4's nightly 'The Last Leg'
Channel 4s promotional campaign (BBC did the Olympics and Channel 4 is the Paraolympics channel) is the their biggest campain since they opened. It's amazing. Funky, sexy and is helping change the concept of disability. They will definately win awards. Unfortunately, this morning they showed the world press rooms in the Olympic grounds and most of them had left after the Olympics, even NBC. It is now suppossed they must be kicking themselves as the popularity of the games is growing like crazy here. It's increasing slowly and much smaller elsewhere but this is partly because people haven't been given a chance to see it.
Not everyone loves the superhuman tag but most do.
On TV and billboards all over London - thought this was a great tag - placing the Olympics as a warmup - and the Paralympics are becoming more popular than the Olympics.
Ellie Simmons
Swimmer, Ellie Simmonds has been the poster girl for the GB team. There was a worry that the huge picture of her overlooking the Olympic park, might put too much pressure on her but she has 2 Golds and going for another tonight.
Videos of the campain
Videos of the sexy channel 4 campaign from Youtube:
Love the music in the first one especially, by Public Enemy - funky, sexy, goes perfectly with the great editing.
No comments:
Post a Comment