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"Paralympics" means parallel Olympics. The prefix "para" means equal or parallel to. That is the idea of the Paralympics. It is to be equal and equivalent to the Olympics. Some people think "paralympics" refers to paralysis...it does not.
Well Donna, Heather and I have experienced that these Athens Paralympic Games are parallel to the Olympics. Both they way they are run and how they are viewed by the Greek public here.
I had an opportunity to take off my USA clothes, put on regular clothes and be a spectator. Felt like I was behind the scenes. Was neat for me! In the next few days Donna and Heather will get to do the same from their perspective. They will get to be an athlete and spend the day with me here at the Olympic Village. Don't worry they won't have to train with us on the bike or anything!
So...what did I see and feel. Well, first off I sat in the stands with Donna and Heather at the Velodrome (cycling track) for most of the day on Sunday. It was packed! All the seats were filled (over 3,500 I believe). There was standing room only! There were crowds seven people deep standing at the top of the rows watching. The crowd was electric...cheering, waving flags, yelling, stamping, banging their seats. Was simply awesome!
There were several medal rounds that day and it seemed like every medal contender had family or friends in our section. So...that made it really neat. Germans, Italians, Spanish, French, Americans. Many flag and shirt colors. Oh, by the way...Heather is the biggest USA cycling fan. She cheers and yells loudly and wildly waves her big USA flag. She now knows all of my cycling teammates since everyone comes into the stands before and after their races. Heather even reached out and gave Paul Martin her U.S. flag when he medaled. Great scene with him riding 2 laps after his race with the flag. Wow! Overwhelming feelings of Patriotism and just plain emotion. He signed her flag and now she wants all the U.S. cycling medalists to carry her flag around afterward. So far, our womens tandem medaled twice along with Paul. We expect more in next two days.
A picture in my mind I will never forget is seeing the gold medal winner in one of the events cheer to the crowd. After his race he got off his bike on the track in front of us, jumped on one leg (he is a above the knee amputee - so only has on leg), lifted his bike above his head upside down with outstretched arms and moves it up and down above his head in excitement to the crowd. Place went nuts! We all cried. Was an incredible sight! Full of emotion. I think for us...its also about our journey. About the will to win... the sacrifice and what lies ahead for us this weekend for our road race events.
Heather and Donna have experienced how incredible the feelings are to be here competing in this elite sports competition. I think they now fully understand what we have accomplished just by being here. Of course, participation is not our goal...we are hungry for a medal. So, all this emotion has helped us stay focussed and get pumped for the road race on Saturday. Heather is hooked. She is pleading for me to go after this again. She wants to come to another one!
While I was with Heather and Donna, we walked next door in the Olympic Stadium complex to the Aquatic Center. Wow...it was even more stunning than what we saw on TV during the Olympics. Was incredible actually being there. A beautiful venue. Very nice! Was neat seeing the one arm butterfly! We took video to show Megan. Shows the power behind the butterfly kick! And we also learned how the blind swimmers make their flip turns...they have coaches on each end of the pool with poles that have styrofoam on the end. When the swimmer is one stroke from the wall, the coach reaches the pole out and taps the swimmer either on the back between the shoulder blades or gently on the head. The swimmer then feels the tap and immediately does a flip turn. Don't need to see to swim! Neat stuff! Anyway, we sat next to a Canadian who lives in Athens. She and her family had been to both Paralympic and Olympic events (swimming, track and field and basketball). We asked her what she thought of the Paralympics and she said that in the Athens media and at the events, the Greeks are treating it all the same. She said that there was absolutely no difference in how the Games have been run or the feel at the venues. Same preparation, same music, same announcers, same everything! She says it is the same. Wow! That was great to hear. Made me feel really good. That is how it should be. That is how my teammates described Sydney four years ago. Wasn't sure if it would be the same here in Athens. Didn't expect that from the Greeks. But after being a spectator for a day...wow! Really feel the love!
Even in downtown Athens and everywhere...there are Athens representatives (wearing yellow) at the Olympic venues, downtown, at the historic sites...welcoming people. There are signs and banners all over the city that say "Athens Paralympic Games". The outdoors shops at the Plaka (outdoor shopping area) has tons of Paralympic items. Neat. Pretty impressive.
I have signed autographs and had pictures taken with people I don't know. Neat stuff!
Well viewed here as an Olympic athlete...as it should be. After all, it is the same. I hoped for that but did not expect it...now I have expereinced it. Quite the feeling!
- Jason
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