Talk:2008 Summer Paralympics/Archive 1

Archive 1

Large field of Chinese disabled athletes?

I don't see a symbol for wheelchair racing or for handcycling. I also don't understand the statement that China will field the most athletes; I've been to China and the only people in wheelchairs there are the old, at least in public. How they will manage to dig out a large number of disabled people in the year since I visited is a mystery to me. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.87.23.20 (talk) 07:04, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

Wheelchair races are part of the sport of athletics and handcycling is part of cycling. As to the numbers, whether or not you saw them the athletes are there. China has fielded large numbers of athletes at previous Paralympic Games and will do so in Beijing as well. Don't forget that it is not just wheelchair athletes at the Paralympic Games. Blind and visually impaired athletes, athletes with cerebral palsy, and amputee athletes also compete. - Eron^Talk 11:37, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

Indeed. China fielded a large delegation in 2004, and won 141 medals, of which 63 gold, topping the medal chart. China has a large pool of highly skilled athletes with disabilities. Aridd (talk) 14:19, 16 August 2008 (UTC)

There are 60 million disabled people in China, I'm sure they had no trouble cobbling together a team. A team which by the way was the largest in Paralympic history and will no doubt see China storm the medal table.--EchetusXe (talk) 14:54, 6 September 2008 (UTC)

Athletes' parade: Guinea?

The official list on the IPC website says Guinea didn't participate in the athletes' parade, although Guinean athletes will compete at the Games. Now, unless I'm going completely insane, I distinctly remember Guinea being there at the athletes' parade. They came in first, making them rather hard to miss. If I recall correctly, there was one chap carrying the flag, and another man behind him. I was watching it live on the Beeb, and I seem to recall the commentators saying that the athletes would arrive later. So presumably the Guineans at the athletes' parade were officials. But that doesn't tell us who their flagbearer was. Aridd (talk) 17:51, 6 September 2008 (UTC)

Botswana

It looks as though Botswana are out. They're not on the IPC's list, and commentators said something about their participation having been cancelled. I can't find a written source for it, though. Aridd (talk) 18:04, 6 September 2008 (UTC)

The lack of anyone in the team list at the official site would seem to suggest they haven't sent any competitors. Can't find out why at the moment. Basement12 (T.C) 18:19, 6 September 2008 (UTC)

On that site, the pages of other delegations are empty too, so it may not mean anything. I still can't find anything. I'll keep looking. Aridd (talk) 23:05, 6 September 2008 (UTC)

List of music

Does anyone happen to know the list of songs used during the opening ceremony, specially during the parade of nations? —Preceding unsigned comment added by JoaoPinheiro (talk • contribs) 15:40, 10 September 2008 (UTC)

Macau?

Just watching the Opening Ceremony now, somewhat shocked to see a delegation from Macau. What's THAT about?! Do we have an article here about them? doktorb _words^deeds 12:20, 6 September 2008 (UTC)

I've just made a stub about it. :) Nothing much there yet other than the names of its two athletes, sorry. Yes, it was a little surprising, but they've been participating in the Paralympics since 1980. Oddly enough, unlike Hong Kong, they weren't at the Olympics. I think Macau is the only entity which has sent a delegation to the Paralympics but not to the Olympics. Aridd (talk) 15:45, 6 September 2008 (UTC)

If the Faroe Islands sent a team as the article claims then there are two at the Paralympics who weren't at the Olympics. Basement12 (T.C) 15:49, 6 September 2008 (UTC)

Macau has it's own NOC and NPC, but Macau NOC isn't the member of IOC, so they can not particapite in Olympics, they only can particapate in Asian Games and East Asian Games as Macau NOC is member of AOC and EAOC, Macau NPC is the member of IPC, so they can participate in Paralympics.Tony Black (talk) 07:50, 7 September 2008 (UTC)

Is there an article on the Macau NOC and NPCs? It'd be nice to know why the NOC isn't an IOC member, and such. 70.51.9.124 (talk) 08:29, 14 September 2008 (UTC)

Protestor

There seems to be no mention of the person who managed to break through the group of officials and reach the parading athletes during the opening ceremony. Is there any particular reason for this lack of information? TheTrojanHought (talk) 17:34, 7 September 2008 (UTC)

Feel free to add it. From what I understand, little information is available anyway. Chinese authorities say she's mentally disabled. Aridd (talk) 18:02, 7 September 2008 (UTC)

I don't really seem to be particularly well placed to add any information as I only briefly saw it on BBC news last night. TheTrojanHought (talk) 20:27, 7 September 2008 (UTC)

i can't find any particularly reliable info on it at the moment. I don't think one small incident with (a possibly mentally ill) "protestor" necessarily warrants mentioning on the main article about the games anyway. Basement12 (T.C) 20:34, 7 September 2008 (UTC)

It's not really a small incident to be honest as the BBC said something like it being the first time anybody other has got close to parading athletes in many years. TheTrojanHought (talk) 21:11, 7 September 2008 (UTC)

Participating NPCs

Place in order of appearance (march)? I'm sure it was different. Place the SARs of China together. -- 李博杰  | —Talk contribs 09:38, 7 September 2008 (UTC)

On a similar topic, I notice someone has moved Chinese Taipei from T to C - messing up the length of the columns without fixing it in the process. When the Olympics are held in a country with a Latin alphabet, Chinese Taipei always parades under the letter T. So I'm moving it back to where it should be. To answer your question, we've listed the NPCs alphabetically, not in the order they marched in, as that would be too confusing in an English encyclopedia. Aridd (talk) 16:10, 7 September 2008 (UTC)

See the article for the 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony - this article lists in order of marching. -- 李博杰  | —Talk contribs 02:08, 8 September 2008 (UTC)