Sochi Opens For Competition

Last night saw the official opening of Sochi 2014 with the opening ceremony of the 22nd Winter Olympics.

The first highlight of the ceremony came as five snowflakes began to morph into Olympic rings but unfortunately the fifth failed to open leaving an incomplete symbol and an image to forget for the organisers.The parade of athletes began with a world map appearing on the stadium floor and opening up as the athletes began to enter with GB being led by flag bearer Jon Eley who will compete in his third Olympics.

The gap in countries representation stems from single athletes such as Nepal, Mexico and Pakistan to the biggest amount in the 230 from the USA and following the parade a colourful journey through  Russian history celebrating art, music and the political and social changes.

The finale saw tennis superstar and hometown girl Maria Sharapova carry the Olympic Flame into the stadium and it passed on to pole vault record holder Yelena Isinbayeva and onto Rodnina and Tretiak who lit the cauldron in the centre of the Olympic Park to the sound of Stravinsky's "Firebird Suite" as the curtain raiser for what should be a superb 16 days of competition.

London 2012 Becomes Sochi 2014

As this blog specialised in covering the Olympic and Paralympic games of London 2012, I have decided to continue the Olympic trend into the upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia which begin early next month on February 7th.


Due to the limited Sochi representation of Team GB when compared to the huge amount that competed in London 2012, the coverage will include a focus on as many events as possible as opposed to just those featuring Team GB.

However this is a blessing of sorts as there is the possibility to feature every sport across the spectrum with there only being a four hour time difference so hopefully with only 18 days to go I hope it will be just as exciting as the past Winter games that I have enjoyed from both a GB and neutral perspective.

Two main highlights that come to mind are the victorious GB Curling team from 2002,an event I watched into the early hours with anticipation so if history repeats itself at least it will be during the day this time and the stunning Skeleton run by golden girl Amy Williams at Vancouver 2010 which saw her become the first individual GB gold medal winner for 30 years.

Roll on February 7th for what should be a brilliant two weeks!
 

Paralympics Closing Ceremony

The ceremony begins with horn blowers signalling the entry of the wind and the dreamers awaking to protect the Agitos (the Paralympic symbol).

The next segment honours servicemen and women and Captain Luke Sinnott hangs the Union Flag followed by the Earl of Wessex and Sir Phillip Craven being driven around the track in a custom-built car.

Lissa Hermans sings the National Anthem and then Rory Mackenzie delivers the opening speech.

The flag bearers then enter the stadium with their respective colours, David Weir and Sarah Storey carry the flag for ParalympicsGB.

The flag bearers formed a heart shape which lights up the stadium and burns into the ground.

Then the festival begins with a procession of flamethrowers carving the ground and a parade of metal dinosaurs and various animal based vehicles entering the stadium.

Two athletes are then awarded for "fair, honest and uncompromising values" which are Michael McKillop and Mary Zakayo.

Tribute is then given to the a selection of the 'Games Makers' by six athletes and Coldplay begin their set on stage with the song 'Us Against the World'.

This is followed by 'Yellow' and a great performance of 'Paradise as 19 fireflies entered from the air.

A group of dancers set free a fellow dancer from a cage of ice while Coldplay sing, the dancer is playing the Snow Queen and is Viktoria Modesta.

Snow confetti comes down from the roof of the stadium as Coldplay continue with aerialists Laszlo Simet and Lyndsay Adams performing.

Lindsay goes on to ignite a ball of energy and leads the festival on to Spring.

Another Coldplay hit rings around the stadium  as 120 enter carrying  parts of a fish symbolised by 600 hub caps.

Coldplay's first special guest enters the stadium - Rhianna and she joins them in singing and then the British Paraorchestra plays to the crowds accompanied by Chris Martin.

Rhianna sings 'We Found Love' while swinging across the centre of the stadium followed by  'Viva la Vida' by Coldplay.

Summer fades away and the Paralympic flag is lowered and the Paralympic Anthem is played by the British Paraorchestra.

The flag is then passed from Boris Johnson through IPC President Phillip Craven and onto Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes.

The Brazilian National Anthem is then played and the Brazilian flag is raised. 2016 will be the first ever Paralympics to take place in South America.

Rio begin their segment of the ceremony and just like in the Olympic equivalent there is a main focus on dance.

As the segment ends the sky is filled with fireworks to light up the stadium.

Lord Coe and Sir Craven enter the stage and give speeches. Lord Coe says ' We have shared some wonderful days.... incredible people have performed feats we never thought possible.' He then tells two stories, the first about a medical games maker who was on his way to the boxing event.

The Games maker (Andy) says he was on duty on 7/7 and said he wasn't sure he could face the event but had seen the worst of mankind and now the best of mankind.'

The second was about Emily another games maker who took part in wheelchair basketball who said' It raised the cloud of limitation'

Lord Coe then thanked the volunteers and said disability would be never be thought of in the same way and quoted ' the cloud of limitation.'

London 2012 - made in Britain his last words caused rapturous applause as Sir Phillip began his speech.

He remarked that these games had been 'the most incredible games and that LOCOG has inspired a generation and the country has enjoyed a feel good factor like never before.'

He went on to thank the thousands of games makers and the British armed and emergency services which caused a massive cheer from  the crowd.

He closed with the words, 'I declare the London 2012 Paralympic games closed but they will live on for an eternity and I call on all nations to meet in Rio in four years to display your sporting excellence' and thanked the entire UK population.


Jonnie Peacock and Ellie Simmonds extinguish the Paralympic flame and the Festival of Flame resumes.

Rhianna reappears joined by Jay-Z singing 'Run This Town', Jay-Z then sings an adapted version of 'Paradise before being accompanied by Coldplay who then thank the athletes and sing 'The Scientist'.

While they are playing a montage of the events of the past 11 days is shown with many success and accolades featured.

Chris Martin asks the crowd to celebrate by thanking all the athletes and volunteers and says goodbye to London with the final song 'Every Teardrop is a Waterfall' which is accompanied by flowing water fountains and a mix of dancers.

The stadium lights up and a barrage of fireworks set off and light up the evening sky to create a very artistic masterpiece. The firework display ends with a sign saying ' Thank You London, Thank You UK.'

What a great four weeks it has been both in the Olympics and Paralympics!



(This blog will stay up for you to come back to reflect on the events of the greatest ever games.)

Paralympics Final Day

The final day of competing saw some success for GB in the marathon with David Weir securing gold in the T54 to secure his fourth gold of the games while Shelly Woods sealed silver in the female equivalent.

They proved to be the last medals for ParalympicsGB and meant they finished third behind Russia and runway winners China as you can see in the final medal table below.

Paralympics Day 10

Paralympics 2012 entered the penultimate day with medal hopes still alive in a good number of events.

Athletically, Hazel Robson finished 7th in the T36 100m and Nathan Stephens missed out on the javelin final so no GB success there today. On a side note, Oscar Pistorius secured the T43/44 400m by 3.5 seconds (a new Paralympic record) ahead of a USA 2-3 with bronze medallist David Prince who set a new WR in the T44 classification with the front two both T43's.

Stephen McGuire misses out on bronze in Boccia while David Smith takes silver after a 7-0 defeat in the final to Pattaya Tadtong.

 Cycling success came from David Stone who captured gold in the T1-2 road race to add to his time trial bronze.

Ellie Simmonds scored a silver in the pool beaten to gold by American rival Victoria Arlen but 2 golds, a silver and a bronze means she has had a spectacular games. Harriet Lee takes bronze in the SB9 100m breaststroke, very brave too after being in intensive care only four months ago.

Jack Bridge set a new British record to seal a final place in the male equivalent of the SB9 but finished fourth in the final.

With one day left, GB sit third to Russia and China with their target of medals complete their other target was to claim second overall so something big needed tomorrow.

Paralympics day 9

After Thriller Thursday saw a wave of success, Day 9 became known as Frustrating Friday with mixed results.
In Athletics,  Josie Pearson breaks the WR by winning the F51/52/53 discus but no further medals as Richard Whitehead finished 7th in the T42 100m, Kyron Duke finishes 8th in the F40 javelin, Mickey Bushell finished 4th in the T53 200m, Shelly Woods finished 6th in the T54 1500m.

Boccia saw David Smith guarantee silver by winning the BC1 semi 5-2 against Norway's Roger Aandalen.

Rachel Morris sealed bronze in cycling in the individual H 1-3 road race but as she and team mate Karen Darke crossed hand in hand over the line together but rules don't stretch to giving both a medal but thankfully both have a medal with Karen Darke earning one earlier in the games.

A mere 0.03 seconds stopped the GB relay team from taking gold in the 4x100m medley relay and meant they had to settle for silver but the team of Heather Frederiksen, Claire Cashmore, Steph Millward and Louise Watkin were very proud to take second.

Elsewhere in the pool, Louise Watkin reaches the S9 100m freestyle final with Lauren Steadman joining her as a fastest loser. Later on Watkin finishes 5th with Steadman in last.

Will Bayley, Ross Wilson and Aaron McKibbin took bronze after winning their team table tennis play-off against Germany 3-0 and the women’s pair of Sara Head and Jane Campbell battled back from two matches down to beat Italy 3-2 and secure Class 1-3 bronze.

Success in the wheelchair tennis as the doubles pair of Jordanne Whiley and Lucy Shuker take bronze who sealed the medal with an ace for a 6-7 7-6 6-3 win over their Thai opponents

 GB stay second and hopefully will improve in the final two days.

Paralympics Day 8

Day 8 was Thriller Thursday and the thrills lit up an amazing day of success for Paralympics GB.

Athletics caused the most thrills with Jonnie Peacock (current WR holder) clinching gold in the T44 100m with Oscar Pistorius only managing fourth and David Weir sealing his third gold of the games in the 800m.

Ola Abidogun sealed bronze on his Paralympic debut in the T46 100m and a new Paralympic record for Hannah Cockroft in the T34 200m while Paul Blake netted bronze in the T36 800m.

Ben Rushgrove took bronze in the T36 200m with team mate Graeme Ballard in fourth while Bev Jones wins bronze in the F37 Discus.

Golden girl Sarah Storey wins gold in the C4-5 road race to equal Tanni Grey-Thompson's record of 11 Paralympic golds. Paralympics GB won their first ever medals in sailing as Helena Lucas sealed gold in the 2.4MR one-person keelboat and SKUD 18 team Niki Birrell and Alexandra Rickham sailed to bronze.

Swimming yet again was the home of medal success beginning with Heather Fredriksen storming to gold in the S8 100m freestyle and it became the 103rd medal of the games for GB meaning their total from Beijing 2008 had been eclipsed.

Susie Rodgers broke the European record to seal bronze in the 400m freestyle S7 with a time of 5:18.93. Gold for 15-year old Josef Craig as he smashes the WR to win the S7 400m freestyle in a time of 4:42.81 with former WR holder Jonathan Fox back in fourth.

Silver and bronze for Stephanie Millward and Louise Watkin in the SM9 200m IM with Claire Cashmore in fourth.


GB move to joint second with Russia with GB placed ahead by way of more silver medals but both still behind China.