Paralympics: Thousands brave rain to soak up Games buzz

LONDON: The British drizzle failed to dampen the spirits of the thousands of spectators crammed into London’s Olympic Park on Thursday, as the biggest-ever Paralympic Games got under way.
A sea of umbrellas included many emblazoned with Britain’s Union flag, with a big home crowd hoping their cheers could spur on the British Paralympic squad to a repeat of the Olympics, which saw Team GB finish third in the medals table.
Thursday — the first of 11 days of top-class sport for athletes with disabilities — sees 28 gold medals up for grabs, among them cycling and swimming.
But many in the crowd had failed to get hold of any tickets — which were expected to sell out for the first time in the Games’ 52-year history — and came simply to soak up the atmosphere.
“We’ve come just to be festive and to show support,” said Lavinia Miller, who was wearing Union flag-patterned leggings under her raincoat and a string of red, white and blue bunting around her neck.
“This weather hasn’t dampened anyone’s spirits,” she told AFP.
Like many other Britons, she had assumed it would be easy to buy tickets for the Paralympics and was caught offguard by the high level of interest following a successful Olympics for the host nation.
But the Londoner, who lives in Canada, also put the surge in ticket sales down to British attitudes toward disability.
“I think the British try to be an all-inclusive society and not exclude people with problems,” she said. “We’ve got heart in this country.”
Sue Little, who had tickets for Wednesday’s cycling in the velodrome as well as next Tuesday’s athletics, said Paralympic sport was being taken more seriously at London 2012 than at any previous Games.
“We came to see the Paralympics because we think that’s just as good as coming to see the Olympics,” she said, taking a bite from a damp sandwich as she sat in the shadow of the stadium.
“I’d seen the Paralympic riding in Beijing and found it very moving,” added Little, who runs her own business in the southern English town of Slough. “The architecture is another big reason to come. We think it’s amazing.”
The atmosphere, spectators agreed, would survive a little drizzle.
“It’s a great experience, and everyone is so friendly,” said Milo Walker, a teenager from Cape Town who goes to college in Britain.
“I’m going to see the wheelchair basketball and rugby,” said Walker, bouncing around with a South African flag draped around his neck. “Go South Africa!“
Many in the crowd were Londoners who felt the Paralympics were their last chance to get involved in an event that has taken over their city for the last month and been in preparation since mid-2005.
“When it’s on your doorstep, you’ve got to come, really,” said teacher Christine Brown as she sheltered under the Aquatics Center.
“We watched all the Olympics and couldn’t get tickets for that, and we tried to get tickets for the Paralympics as well and couldn’t get those either. So we’ve just come for a look around.”
Others were looking for a family day out just before the end of the school holidays in England and Wales.
“We thought we’d come to the Paralympics rather than the Olympics because it would be better for the children,” explained south Londoner Sally Shelley, with one eye on her small twin boys.
“We haven’t got any tickets but we’re hoping we might be able to get some for the wheelchair basketball.
“We’ve just come to the stadium to have a look around. I just wanted to bring the children, because it’s a really special experience.”