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Songshi QuanParalympics Coverage – It’s an embarrassment!
September 9th 2008 02:16
Paralympics Coverage – It’s an embarrassment!
Well, another glorious day in Beijing for our heroic paralympians! I would expect the nation is firmly fastened in to their arm chairs for the 24 hour coverage provided by our Olympic broadcaster, Channel 7… sorry, ohh, ok, yeah, it seems these athletes aren’t photogenic enough to get much air time in this country.
Never mind the incredible adversity these athletes have overcome in their lives to even survive, let alone compete at the highest levels of sport. Don’t let the fact that Australian Matt Cowdrey was gunning for a record breaking 8 gold medal tally in the pool, a feat achieved for the first time ever by Michael Phelps a short time ago. Unfortunately Matt came 2nd in the 100m butterfly (S9) yesterday, preventing his historic run for 8 gold, but he did break the world record and claim gold in the 100m freestyle (S9) in a time of 55.30 seconds.
Christine Wolf won gold and set a new world record in the women's long jump. The Australian’s men’s 4x100m track relay team finished fastest in their heat to make the final. Given Australia’s struggle at times to win many athletic medals, I would have though these races and competitions to be broadcast six or seven times a day, much like our swimming heroics in the able-bodied Olympics.
I almost feel sorry for Matt Cowdrey though. The poor fellow will no doubt be swamped by the media and paparazzi everywhere he goes from now on and he’ll probably get photographed in a passionate embrace with Stephanie Rice, along with many other male swimmers it would seem.
For those who actually care and it is clear that doesn’t include the executives at Channel 7, Australia now has six gold medals, five silver and nine bronze and we are currently 4th on the medal tally which is currently led by China.
Credit where it is due though to the ABC who are providing 7 and a half hours of coverage per day of our paralympians in action. Good job ABC, thanks!
The people of Australia are right behind you team! You do us proud already and we stand in awe of your determination and sporting prowess.
Woof!
Business Beagle
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Comment by Songshi Quan
I was just thinking about this - about how poor it was that all our athletes weren't receiving the 'media love' that they deserved (...knowing the media, perhaps this is not such a bad thing?...another blog perhaps?).
To be fair, they also received a grand send off from Canberra. Most of my disappointment and ire is directed at channel Seven - obviously our paralympians aren't 'pretty enough' to bask in the purity that is Seven.
Maybe it's something to do with our own psyche. I mean if these 'handicapped' (...yes, I do use this term deliberately and derisively, these magnificent athletes are anything but...) people can get themselves motivated to train to become some of the most premier athletes in the world, then what does that say about us couch potatoes?
Uncomfortable thought...yes?