Just got back from Athletics. Saw a couple of world records and a CANADIAN winning gold. Yay!!!!
Saw Tara/Hunter in person. *cough* I'mma keep it cute.
Anyway, yesterday someone asked what it's like being in the stadium with all the events going on at once: terrible. I saw sitting just before the racing finish line (fabulous seats, second row, right in the middle of the medal ceremony podium and the finish line.)
The long jump, shot put, and javelin throw were happening on the opposite side of the stadium. We could see things happening, but couldn't see see, if that makes sense.
Also, they didn't replay any of the field event happenings for us. So, there was a world record and a Paralympic record broken and my side only knew because the board flashed "World Record." Show it to us, fools! (When the track athletes were finished, they'd show one or two field throws or a long jump or two, but my side missed most of it.)
I found it harder to keep abreast of what was happening than when I went to table tennis (and there were six games going on at the same time there.) It's probably just the size of the stadium.
Last thoughts: French fans aren't that great. Sorry. They're really loud and boisterous with their own athletes, but give practically nothing to others. This isn't just for athletics; I've felt this way for all the events I went to.
The way Chinese athletes are treated is really sad. I felt like I was the only one cheering when relay team got their gold. Also, the male runner in the Chinese squad is even more attractive in person.
The Azerbaijan anthem is a legit bop. The US silver medal winner (long jump) was grooving along to it to.
The Stade de France is so f'n far away from the RER station. I thought GMaps was exaggerating when it said a 20 minute walk. Nope. You have to walk for at least 25 minutes to get from the station to the entrance. (And the stupid cops won't let people walk on the closed roads, so you have a good 10,000 people trying to fit on a small-ass sidewalk.)
The friendships been some of the athletes is really sweet. The US and Azerbaijani long jumpers seem like they'll be great friends/competitors in the future.
Remember how I told you we weren't shown replays of the field events? Well, the one replay the shady camera people decided to show was that of the Italian runner falling during the race. They showed it TWICE. So mean.
I had a great time and I'm glad I got to see as many events as I did. My love of archery remains strong and am I now a boccia fangirl? I think so!
For those of you in Milan or Los Angeles: if you get the chance when the games come to your city, please attend. The Paralympics still aren't getting as much love as the Olympics (though, I hope that will change by those games) but the athletes are amazing and so much fun.
I am legit starting my scheming on how to get to the LA paralympics because of your comments. So thank you for these bb. When did you buy your event tickets?
Doooo iiiittt! I wasn't planning on being in Paris at all, and decided at the very last minute to go. Because of this, all of my tickets were pretty much bought a few days before each competition, a lot the night before, and one four hours before.
There were a few events I wanted to see that I was never able to get tickets to (like blind football) but those tickets were probably sold out the minute tickets went on sale, months before.
I think for smaller sports, like table tennis and boccia, you could probably find tickets a few weeks before. And remember, some people will buy tickets thinking their team will make to to the semis/finals, and then put them up for sale when that doesn't happen.
All this to say, if you want to see blind football in LA, buy tickets as soon as they go on sale. If you want to see something less popular, you can probably wait/hope. Worst case, you buy a ticket for something else and discover a new sport instead (how I ended up at boccia when archery was sold out.)
thank you for answering my question about what it’s like to watch track & field. 🔭
re: LA28, I live in the SF Bay Area so I have no excuse, I must go to the Paralympics for at least a weekend! especially after I’ve tried to promote it on social media. lead by example!
so that’s the plan right now. I hope Sheetal Devi will be back in LA; I’d love to see her shine in person 🏹
My pleasure, bb. I thought of you as soon as the long jump started (on the other side of the stadium) and I realized I couldn't see shit!
You have to go! Between flights, food, accommodation, and tickets, I've spent a lot of money this money...and I realize I don't care. I had money in my savings account and the experience was so worth it.
No! I had tickets to see it on Thursday morning, along with tickets to see the Iron horse from the opening ceremonies, and when I tell you it RAINED on Thursday. Like RAAAIIIINNNEEEED. There was no way I was trying to see anything outside in the weather. I wouldn't have been able to hold an umbrella and camera to take pictures. It RAINED. So I went to see boccia, indoors, instead.
They had tshirts and caps and mascots. They had this dumb thing where you HAD to pay with a Visa (and if you didn't have Visa, you had to buy a prepaid card at Point A and then buy your merch/food at Point B.) It was so annoying, for someone without a Visa, that I didn't bother to see what other stuff they had.
Buuuut, your girl found a free t-shirt! I was in my seat-- no lie-- looked down and there was a tshirt still in its plastic wrapper at my feet! I don't know who dropped it, how it got dropped, but it was just there. No one ever came to look for it, so I took it home. It's a black t-shirt with the gold Paralympic logo.
Saw Tara/Hunter in person. *cough* I'mma keep it cute.
Anyway, yesterday someone asked what it's like being in the stadium with all the events going on at once: terrible. I saw sitting just before the racing finish line (fabulous seats, second row, right in the middle of the medal ceremony podium and the finish line.)
The long jump, shot put, and javelin throw were happening on the opposite side of the stadium. We could see things happening, but couldn't see see, if that makes sense.
Also, they didn't replay any of the field event happenings for us. So, there was a world record and a Paralympic record broken and my side only knew because the board flashed "World Record." Show it to us, fools! (When the track athletes were finished, they'd show one or two field throws or a long jump or two, but my side missed most of it.)
I found it harder to keep abreast of what was happening than when I went to table tennis (and there were six games going on at the same time there.) It's probably just the size of the stadium.
Last thoughts: French fans aren't that great. Sorry. They're really loud and boisterous with their own athletes, but give practically nothing to others. This isn't just for athletics; I've felt this way for all the events I went to.
The way Chinese athletes are treated is really sad. I felt like I was the only one cheering when relay team got their gold. Also, the male runner in the Chinese squad is even more attractive in person.
The Azerbaijan anthem is a legit bop. The US silver medal winner (long jump) was grooving along to it to.
The Stade de France is so f'n far away from the RER station. I thought GMaps was exaggerating when it said a 20 minute walk. Nope. You have to walk for at least 25 minutes to get from the station to the entrance. (And the stupid cops won't let people walk on the closed roads, so you have a good 10,000 people trying to fit on a small-ass sidewalk.)
The friendships been some of the athletes is really sweet. The US and Azerbaijani long jumpers seem like they'll be great friends/competitors in the future.
Remember how I told you we weren't shown replays of the field events? Well, the one replay the shady camera people decided to show was that of the Italian runner falling during the race. They showed it TWICE. So mean.
I had a great time and I'm glad I got to see as many events as I did. My love of archery remains strong and am I now a boccia fangirl? I think so!
For those of you in Milan or Los Angeles: if you get the chance when the games come to your city, please attend. The Paralympics still aren't getting as much love as the Olympics (though, I hope that will change by those games) but the athletes are amazing and so much fun.
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There were a few events I wanted to see that I was never able to get tickets to (like blind football) but those tickets were probably sold out the minute tickets went on sale, months before.
I think for smaller sports, like table tennis and boccia, you could probably find tickets a few weeks before. And remember, some people will buy tickets thinking their team will make to to the semis/finals, and then put them up for sale when that doesn't happen.
All this to say, if you want to see blind football in LA, buy tickets as soon as they go on sale. If you want to see something less popular, you can probably wait/hope. Worst case, you buy a ticket for something else and discover a new sport instead (how I ended up at boccia when archery was sold out.)
Reply
re: LA28, I live in the SF Bay Area so I have no excuse, I must go to the Paralympics for at least a weekend! especially after I’ve tried to promote it on social media. lead by example!
so that’s the plan right now. I hope Sheetal Devi will be back in LA; I’d love to see her shine in person 🏹
Reply
You have to go! Between flights, food, accommodation, and tickets, I've spent a lot of money this money...and I realize I don't care. I had money in my savings account and the experience was so worth it.
Reply
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Was there any good Paralympics merch?
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Buuuut, your girl found a free t-shirt! I was in my seat-- no lie-- looked down and there was a tshirt still in its plastic wrapper at my feet! I don't know who dropped it, how it got dropped, but it was just there. No one ever came to look for it, so I took it home. It's a black t-shirt with the gold Paralympic logo.
Reply
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