posted Sep 9, 2008

The problem as I see it is not the crash itself, it is the lap afterwards where there are a few people impeding the correct flow of the race and this really causes an obstruction to at least one of the racers. I think it should be repeated, I also think they should have taken this decision before the medal ceremony.

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posted Sep 9, 2008

Now the medals have been given out it is too late to re-run the race and completely unfair.

It is chaos but I can't see any fairness in collecting a medal and then having to give it back for any reason other than cheating.

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posted Sep 9, 2008

Great to see all of the individuals who fifty years ago were sidelined and written out of any chance of competing in sport. However, these paralympics are the summer version so why isn't there a winter sports version Mr Jacques Rogge. I am sure there are plenty of disabled people out there who would love to try the luge, the tobaggan or indeed the biathlon. How abour curling? Any possibility that you arrange a demonstrative event/events at Sochi?

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posted Sep 9, 2008

You'll be pleased to hear there are winter Paralympics. The next ones will be held in 2010 in Vancouver from Friday, March 12 - Sunday, March 21. For more information about our brilliant team and the sports they compete in, visit www.paralympics.org.uk . Hope this helps

Good luck to all of our Paralympians, and heart-felt good wishes to Woods during what must be a very trying time, to say the least. Whatever happens in the re-run, you will come back home as a hero.

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posted Sep 9, 2008

sionicwmrhondda
Winter Paralympics are 12-21 March 2010 in Vancouver (vancouver2010.com) and then 7-16 March 2014
in Sochi (sochi2014.com). Events for Vancouver include Alpine & Cross-country skiing; Biathlon; Ice Sledge Hockey and Curling. It'll be great. Enjoy!

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posted Sep 9, 2008

The race should not be re run because of the crash. Crashes and falls occur in all sports without reruns. There is perhaps a case for one with the official impeding the race but then again there were 6 injured people on the track. It should perhaps been stopped at the time but once the medals have been handed out then that is it how things should stand.
Maybe the British lady will pick up gold in the rerun.

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posted Sep 10, 2008

The accident & impediment may not justify a re-run, but the combination of accident, impediment AND the presentation of the medals convince me the fairest way forward is to let them keep their medals, but re-run the race also.

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posted Sep 10, 2008

"The problem as I see it is not the crash itself, it is the lap afterwards where there are a few people impeding the correct flow of the race and this really causes an obstruction to at least one of the racers. I think it should be repeated,"

They all enter the race with the knowledge that if a crash happens after 200 meters they know that it cannot be re run, the issue here is that there is no basis is the laws of the sport that permits this re run.

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posted Sep 10, 2008

I can understand the disappointment that the athletes who did not complete the race must feel, however athletes are aware that situations arise in any race, and these may result in competitors being impeded or knocked out of a race, why the officials have decided to re-run this race I find incomprehensible. Is this not a case of wounded National Pride from certain countries rather than the athletes themselves objecting, also why disqualify the Swiss athlete who would not have caused the situation deliberately? I would say that this deision should be reversed and the medals stand.

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posted Sep 18, 2008

It was good to see that the athletes that medalled in this race were the same three who medalled in the re-run, just in a different order.

For some time I was of the view that the race shouldn't have been re-run because of the crash, but I changed my mind when seeing the replay of the official running onto the track. At that time Shelley was in third place and the official clearly impeded the American who was in second place, which gave Shelley the chance to move into second place. So it was on the balance of this incident that persuaded me the re-run was needed: the actions of the official influenced the result and therefore made it unfair.

The medal ceremony should not have taken place and hopefully London 2012 will learn from that fiasco.

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