I have just watched a snippet on the Thai guy winning the Gold in the Paralympic Games, what an example to us all those athletes are, and what a response they got from the crowd.

Have to admit to welling up, is it just me that found it humbling?

I too give these guys a lot of respect. I have a friend who is the member of the same club as myself who won silver in sailing in the parlympics. I remember having to lift him and place him in the boats so he could race. We had to rig a special chair so he could go to the high side during a tack. Once he failed to release the chair in time and was held on the low side with his head underwater and the boat sailing at full speed. A crew member pulled his head out of the water so he didnot drown,for he was to weak to do it himself and they were forced to tack. He went on to win silver that year. Since then other members have won medals but I havenot kept track.

These athletes are some of the most competitive people out there. They get little or no support rom their countries,but if they win the country will take the glory. My club pretty much supports all our members when they compete with little outside help. We convert boats for them to practice on in Canada,give freely of our coaching staff.

Quite interesting this and i was also wondering will the marketing giants in Thailand be awarding the medalists with gold and money the same as the other athletes that won medals last month?

Even the government was offering suitable rewards i seem to remember but really none of the same levels of media coverage or exposure of these great individuals.

Why?

http://www.paralympicthai.com/

Quite interesting this and i was also wondering will the marketing giants in Thailand be awarding the medalists with gold and money the same as the other athletes that won medals last month?

Even the government was offering suitable rewards i seem to remember but really none of the same levels of media coverage or exposure of these great individuals.

Why?

http://www.paralympicthai.com/

It seems that private companies will be on hand, in front of the TV cameras of course, to hand out benefits when the athletes return. I read a report that, reluctant to give support before the Paralympics, they are eager to show their philanthropic faces to the media now that the athletes have commanded public attention and admiration.

Blatant example of big business gathering kudos with phony generosity it certainly is, but it is nice to know that the athletes will be receiving extra and well deserved cash from these companies

Elwood

Strangely enough the Thai Paralympic sportsmen scored more gold medal and had a higher overall medal count than the fully fit Thai sports teams.

Did anybody watch the ParaLympics in Thailand or was in not available or perhaps it was a case of well they are disabled and won't win anything anyway attitude.

I am full of admiration for most Olympic athletes but disabled athletes HAVE to work harder just to overcome their disability and that is before they train to compete.

Good luck and best wishes to all the Paralympic competitors especially the Thai ones.

I don't think we should really be surprised at the Thai Paralympic sportsmen gaining a higher medal count than their able-bodied counterparts. It isn't like being disabled in Thailand is easy. I have a childhood friend who ended up in a wheelchair following a nasty car accident when he was 18. I have heard every last detail of how life is made easier for him in England and how he feels it can improve for the better. Whenever I am on the move around Bangkok I look at what a disabled person has to deal with and I know that, if they continue to persevere with their lives here, they are FAR mentally stronger than the average Thai person. I find it tough enough pushing my daughter's pram down the pavement!

is it just me that found it humbling?

+1

It is definitely incredible/humbling to see

Just finished watching the ceremonies and awards for these athletes. I was all holding back the emotions all through it. It was so good to see them get the money they did. My gf and I watched it together neither one of us could talk through the whole thing. Congratuulations to all of them.