Paralympic Spirit lives Letters to the Future

Tonight the Paralympic Games have closed in China.

In a very emotional closing ceremony, the Paralympic Athletes gathered once again in the National "Birds Nest" Stadium to pay tribute to thier achievements, triumphant and corageous.

These Paralympic Games have truly been a watershed for the movement and something all of China can be most proud. All fans of sport for athletes with a disability should be proud of their achievements too, for it is they who have travelled to the venues and stages of Beijing, and to China from near and far via the internet and television like never before.

From a personal perspective, the most emotional and uplifting moment this evening has been the segment entitled "A Letter to the Future". Each of the 90,000 crowd, spectators and broadcasters alike received a special postcard and envelope on which they can write a message to the world about what they were thinking and feeling on this special night. These cards and envelopes were only available in Beijing and can only be posted in China.

Over the next week or two these postcards will be delivered around the world with the messages inside them. A message for the future of sport for elite athletes with a disability.

Transcendence, Integration, Equality ... the mission accomplished, the spirit of Beijing will live on, just as it has done so in Sydney. My personal dream would be for the volunteers of Beijing to form a group similar to ours and not just remember this dream but continue to live it as we have done these past eight years.

More success for Jayme Paris in Beijing

Jayme Paris just missed out on a second Bronze medal at the Beijing Paralympics on Wednesday being pipped by New Zealand's Paula Tesoreiro by just four hundredths of a second.

In posting her time, in the 3000m Individual Pursuit, Jayme beat her personal best by 15 seconds.

Well done Jayme we're so proud of your achivements.

Jayme Paris - Bronze Medallist

On what must be the proudest day of her life, Jayme Paris has triumphed against all odds to become a Paralympic Bronze medallist at her first Paralympic Games today.

In an emotional interview after the medal ceremony Jayme thanked those who have inspired her to reach her goal.

Our group first met Jayme in May this year during our regular lunch meeting. Hearing Jayme tell her life story inspired so many of us as well.

Jayme, all of the Spirit of Sydney team are so proud of what you have done, for yourself, your family, your country and our members.

As you have said, nothing is impossible, your efforts are testament to that, and a message to those who need to re-kindle faith in their dreams.

Congratulations Jayme.

Beijing, Paralympics Opening Ceremony

Beijing, Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Originally uploaded by guidofoc.

Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games

The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games will be televised by the Internet. In addition to this the games website is now available (see screen shot).

To sign up for video updates please visit paralympicsport.tv and to view the official games website please visit Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games

Beijing 2008 Volunteer Manuals Launched

The volunteer manual for volunteers at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games has been made available on-line via the Beijing website. The following links point to the various sections of the manual and make very interesting reading. (Note : You need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to read these, and I'd recommend a fast internet connection.)

Cover
Contents
Volunteers and Volunteering
Olympic Movement and Volunteers
BEIJING 2008 and Volunteering
Organisation and Administration
Volunteer Positions and Requirements
Volunteering Skills
Olympic Cities

Beijing's Smile Wristband

The "International Version" of Beijing's Volunteer "Smile Wristband" has been launched at the New Year Celebrations on the site of Beijing's Drum Towers.

The wristbands feature the words "Volunteers Smile - Beijing's Image", the logo's of the Olympic and Paralympic games, and a bar code.

FULL STORY

Remember Sydney 2000

Our resident poet Vera Rothwell has been at it again writing another excellent poem recapturing the Spirit of Sydney during the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Tags: olympics, paralympics, sydney2000, spirit of sydney, volunteers

DO YOU REMEMBER?

Do you remember that night in September,

When all of our dreams came true,

When the horse reared on high against the night sky

And the world was enthralled - where were you?

Were you part of the crowd, cheering out loud?

Feeling your heart burst with pride?

Or were you watching at home with family around?

Feeling that warm glow inside.

Did your heart skip a beat when the flag was unfurled

To flutter so high in the sky?

When the athletes marched in did you feel that the world

Should always be on the same side?

Did you rise to your feet when the Aussies marched in?

Was there a quiet tear or two?

At what we’d achieved, all the work we’d put in

Did it mean that much to you?

When the crowd roared as one to welcome the Flame

Did you feel it’s warmth in your heart?

When Cathy stepped forward did you shout out her name

Then pray for the damn thing to start?

Do you think back to that time and “remember when?”

People were friendly, trains ran on time

Do you sometimes wish we could go back to then,

And follow along the blue line.

So, do you remember that night in September?

Does your heart still swell with pride?

I’ll never forget, I’ll always remember

It will be with me till I die.

London reaching out to Communities

The London 2012 weblog had a post recently about the community programs being run to reach out to the Sikh community in London.

Peter Konnecke from spiritofsydney.com posted a comment on his experiences when he spoke to community groups in the lead up to the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Read the full story by clicking here and visiting the London 2012 weblog.

Technorati Tags: spirit of sydney, london 2012, olympics, london olympics, sydney 2000, volunteers, olympic volunteers, olympic games

Sandy Hollway on London 2012

Sandy Hollway gave a brief interview to the London 2012 Weblog recently. He spoke about London's Olympic plans, and the good progress being made towards delivering a successful games in 2012.

Click here to view the video on-line.

Technorati Tags: london 2012, olympics, olympic games, olympic volunteers, volunteers

Vancouver Volunteers

According to the Vancouver 2010 website, volunteer applications will open in 2008. Some of our readers might be inclined to look to Vancouver for their fix of Olympic spirit in the time between now and London in 2012.

Technorati Tags: vancouver 2010, volunteers, peter konnecke, spirit of sydney

IOC and IPC sign agreement extension for 2014 and 2016

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) today signed an extension to their current agreement, which will continue to see the IOC support the IPC and the Paralympic Games through to 2016. The present accord, which runs through to 2012, will now be extended to the Games of 2014 and 2016 respectively.

www.olympics.org