http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/09/athletics_needs_to_take_action.html en-gb 30 Fri 01 Jan 2010 02:38:40 GMT+1 A feed of user comments from the page found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/09/athletics_needs_to_take_action.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/09/athletics_needs_to_take_action.html?page=17#comment8 It's great to hear your comments Tanni. Having attended the last two games, I can defintely attest to the increased depth in athletics in Paralympic sport over the past 10 years..David Weir's performances in Beijing were great, but probably not on the same scale as Kurt Fearnley's of Australia. 5000m - Fearnley out foxed and out sprinted Weir for Silver. They both missed the Thai though.800m - the offer of a re-run was given by the IPC due to an INCORRECT lane draw, protest or not, there was an error at hand and Fearnley wasn't given the opportunity to compete as entitled. It was true sportsmanship on his behalf to deny the re-run. Imagine what have happened if Weir had been dealt lane two instead of 7!! How many lane protested did team GB lodge during the games?? The only difference was their's were upheld prior to races commencing.1500m - Fearnley in perfect position with 500m to go gets taken out by another athlete and Weir glides past due to his poor position and sneaks his way to gold. Fearnley rockets back with a broken wheel to take bronze, overtaking a couple on his way.Marathon - Fearnley holds off six japanese and world's fastest Ernst van Dyk to take gold in a Paralympic record time. Weir watches on TV.True heart and amazing performances from Fearnley, Weir grabs two lucky golds.Fearnley, male wheelchair athlete of the meet. Thu 25 Sep 2008 07:11:21 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/09/athletics_needs_to_take_action.html?page=15#comment7 Having shared two paralympic games with Tanni in my role as a paralympic swim coach I totally agree that decisions have to be taken. Perhaps it is time to leave the mantle to others. There were athletes as well as swimmers who over the years have more or less been guaranteed medals including gold. The 2008 games have proved, as Tanni so rightly says, the world of disabled sport has moved on and in some areas and sports at a unbelievable pace and left some of the 'stalwarts' in their wake.Come on lets search and train the new talent which we have in Great Britain, motivate them with the videos of Beijing and get them ready for 2012.Thanks Tanni for your great coverage.Steve Rafferty Wed 17 Sep 2008 20:30:52 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/09/athletics_needs_to_take_action.html?page=13#comment6 Great to see GB's Paralympians AND Olympians far surpass expectations (apart from in track and field, where they both fell slightly short but should still be seen as far from disastrous). Wed 17 Sep 2008 20:16:36 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/09/athletics_needs_to_take_action.html?page=11#comment5 After seeing that Britain's Paralympic team did us proud I regret to say that the BBC didn't give the Paralympics the same coverage on this site as the Olympics. Wed 17 Sep 2008 18:14:15 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/09/athletics_needs_to_take_action.html?page=8#comment4 The rest of the world certainly is pushing on - and what a good thing too. It means that disabled athletes across the globe are receiving the training they require to gain elite status, and recognition that an elite athlete is an elite athlete, disabled or non disabled.Thanks so much to the BBC and all commentators and summarisers for truly fantastic coverage. Commentaries and interviews to match the performances, and stories that engaged us. Finally, sincerest thanks to all athletes of all sports for holding us enthralled for the last few weeks. It's been wonderful- you have been wonderful. I sincerely hope that we will hear of you again long before 2012.... and to Dave Roberts -16 golds? You can do it, Dave! Wed 17 Sep 2008 16:57:06 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/09/athletics_needs_to_take_action.html?page=6#comment3 congratulations are in order to all the paralympians for their efforts and sportsmanship as well as being so gracious and articulate whenever they are on tv (premiership footballers take note) - also congrats to the BBC for the excellent coverage - would have liked it on either BBC 1 or 2 live as opposed to the red button though, and the commentators have all done a terrific job especially Ron and Ade in the wheelchair basketballlet's hope that the BBC will provide more coverage of disabled sports on mainstream tv so that come 2012, the memories of Beijing 2008 and the likes of David Weir, Shelly Woods, Dave Roberts, Heather Frederiksen, Ellie Simmonds etc; etc; isn't filed away and forgotten Wed 17 Sep 2008 14:21:37 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/09/athletics_needs_to_take_action.html?page=4#comment2 Wow! What a performance by GB in the Paralympics!! I didnt watch any of it as i work during the day and 2 weeks off normal olympics is enough to send the work bandwith through the roof.However, If we cant push on in 4 years time then there is really no hope.I hope the UKA and everyon gets behind this push for a successful 2012! After all the turmoil over the last week or so in the finance world, this could be what we need to get the happy factor back in the UK! Wed 17 Sep 2008 12:31:12 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/09/athletics_needs_to_take_action.html?page=2#comment1 great performance by our team all round. didn't think we could possibly exceed our medal total in Athens and we have.athletics quetsion though - the chinese athlte who lit the torch in the opening ceremony was a high jumper - why was there no high jump competition this year?good luck to all in the long build up to London - we'll be there to support you all Wed 17 Sep 2008 11:28:51 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/09/athletics_needs_to_take_action.html?page=0#comment0 Bang on Dame Tanni. The chinese more than any nation are showing that lower level disability athletes can be ligitimately poured into the racing categories to devastating effect. It will be tougher than ever next time around.It certainly focuses the mind for London 2012 and I hope encourages the major supporters of paralympic sport to continue to put the resources into an area, where, let's face it GB are pretty damn good!F1 chairs as well as F1 cycles do you think?PS Good job in the booth with Crammy and what a display form all the paralympians - world class sport and world class entertainment.David BurdusSport Promoter Wed 17 Sep 2008 11:20:51 GMT+1