To say that the last 10 days have been inspiring is putting it mildly,my views towards disabled athletes has changed and I think I can say without fear of contradiction that the same can be said of huge numbers of fellow Britons.
So what has changed what has been different well I have gone from thinking aren't they doing well for disabled people to appreciating that these are amazing sportsmen and women, the appreciation that Johnny Peacock and Jason Smyth are words class sprinters in their own right,that I will never forget the way Hannah Cockcroft annihilated the rest of the world in a sprint double and no matter how many times I watch David Whitehead I still don't believe he can turn 20 metre deficit into a 20 metre win within the home straight and as I may have said in a Facebook post just drooled at the site of Oscar in full flow down the final straight of the 400 metres
My highlight of a wonderful inspiring life changing few days was not a gold for GB but a silver,the quite amazing women's 34 point medley relay as 4 nations came into the final few yards neck and neck.with Australia just pipping GB for the gold but the result didn't matter it was a quite pulsating swimming race.
Secondly the attitude of the competitors has if possible been even more inspirational than the performances,congratulations and hugs from losers to winners words of praise straight after the races from defeated athletes (and I will forgive Oscar) to the victors and a total resurrection of sportsmanship that will have Baron De Coubertin grinning from ear to ear wherever he is,and yes i will say to footballers cricketers F1 drivers etc they have set a standard that you have got to follow or be forever dammed.
And finally Channel 4,well I was not looking forward to their coverage believing that the BBC would be so much better and after the first morning I thought I was going to be proved correct,but then came the evening and Claire and Ade anchoring the show superbly a standard they kept up the whole games as the daytime presenters started to get their act together.But the jewel in the crown has to be The Last Leg with amputee's Adam Hills and Alex Brooker and Josh Widdecombe as the token able bodied person bringing a humour that epitomised how in these games disabled athletes are finally looked on as athletes per se ,for those who have not seen it ask your mates about some of the "Is it OK's"
So to the athletes,broadcasters and everybody involved with these fabulous games thank you from the bottom of my heart,it has certainly changed me hopefully for the better
