With no shows from the legged basketballers (still out of the play on Spain's not so intellectually disabled Paralympians at Sydney 2000), day one of the twelfth Paralympic Games closed out with medals from the likes of shooting, fencing, judo and cycling.
Aiding a few thousand here and there in the backwash, acid drops and dragon runs to capture an expected surrealism to the opening ceremony was lost. Peacocks playing Country (Celebrity) head leading countries and their players into the cauldron of aired out sweat. An extremely massive tree sitting in the middle of the stadium waiting to be engulfed by the spark and flames of the torch lighting and celebrations. A Daft Punk feel to an opening number and this is what the viewers across the globe via less than half of the Olympic broadcasters were served.
Following the now expected line of reusing Olympic stadiums and arenas for the Paralympians, the crunchers of the organising committee (first ever for both sets) now bite into the throes of watching the numbers game. Fewer broadcasters transmitting events will undoubtedly see a massive drop in the viewership of the couched. However, in the return of the school kids from their holidays, along with the rest of the lazed out Greeks, the committee are hoping higher attendee counts as they aim to usher in the masses into seats on weekdays.
Bodies to compete against the lacklustre number that fronted for the Olympians not too long ago for their five ring circus.
Written on Saturday, 18 September 2004