We are all done

The Paralympic Torch at Maracaña stadium

I haven't written for a few days. This is typical of other games when I have written blogs. The last few days are mixed with a lot of various things including some sport coverage, escaping to get at least a little free time in the host city, packing up the clinic and attending some final events. Then late at night, I don't feel like writing.

So lots has happened.

First thing that comes to mind ids the death of the Iranian cyclist. Everyone knew the course was difficult and had dangerous parts. Many would have seen the serious crashes during the Olympics taking out some of the leaders in the men's race and one of the women had a serious head injury when she catapulted over her bars during her descent. It was early in the race and the information came quickly on the IPC information network that a serious  injury was sustained by an Iranian cyclist and further details were to come. The details were limited but everyone was informed he was taken  to hospital and due to a severe head trauma, he passed away. That is the first death in an Olympic or Paralympic competition since 1960. Many will remember the death at the luge event the day before Opening Ceremonies at the Vancouver Olympics. This would be a death during training.
It doesn't matter if it is before the games begin or near the end; it brought the atmosphere down many notches. There was something that bothered me though.As you saw in one of the first posts I made, there is a mina avenue in the Village with every nation's flag. The IPC and Iranian flags were lowered to half mast. Why weren't all flags? I would have thought the solidarity of the nations at these games would have led to a collective lowering of all flags as a respectful gesture. Maybe I'm not up on protocols but I was surprised. I thought it would have been proper.

Photo: Matthew Murnaghan, CPC

Not much is said about sailing as it last many days and is usually farther away. In Beijing it was 3 hours away. Here it is close enough that all sailors are staying in the Village which is not always the case. We got to know John and Jackie very well during these games. A fun couple with very different stories joining them not only together as a crew but as a couple. They had a great event coming up with a Silver medal!

John and Jackie

Photo: Matthew Murnaghan, CPC

Photo: Matthew Murnaghan, CPC

Coincidentally, the Globe had an article about them on the day before their last competition day where it mentioned they were fighting for a possible silver. You can read the article

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/olympics/canadian-paralympic-sailing-couple-enjoying-swan-song/article31941281/

We have been packing up the clinic trying to get ready to get everything sent back to Canada. If we plan well, we will have more free time after Closing Ceremonies to have some leisure time. We don't want to be packing all day after the games so we start early as the athletes are not competing then we slowly decrease our work space.

I manage to get a few hours to get out and explore. When I was here in 2007 for the Parapan Am games, I have already been to the "touristy" spots including a trip to Christ the Redeemer (the massive statue overlooking Rio, Sugarloaf Mountain, etc. I therefore didn't need to get back there. I had been at a nice open air market and since it is opened only on Sunday, I went over there with Nancy, Amaya and Helen, members of the health care staff. It got us out on a beautiful sunny day checking out typical crafty things and some nice art. I didn't buy anything. We then went for lunch overlooking Ipanema beach which was jammed packed with people enjoying a day at the beach. We didn't get a chance to go as we had to head for the Village to get ready for Closing Ceremonies. Since it's about an hour taxi away, we had to get going.

one has to get the local drink: the caipirinha.

typical market

lots of original art

Hard to see but each colourful line is raised thick paint with black dots creating abstract view of tons of people on a beach

Here's where things got a little odd and, in retrospect, could have been dangerous. So we ask a taxi at Ipanema if he can take us to the Paralympic Village. He says he can. We drive off and after abut 45 minutes are just east of the Paralympic Park and he tries to get in the preferred lanes saving him the long loop around the neighbourhood. Even if we flash our accreditations, the police deny our passage so we take the right turn heading for the loop, which we do often when we return in games' buses anyway. Then he stops by the side of the road and, in Portuguese, tells us he's not going farther and he wants us out and walk the rest of the way. It's not impossible but will be at least 45 minutes walk in 30 degrees and we're in a rush to get ready for Closing Ceremonies. We don't have the luxury of time for this nice walk. Amaya, our massage therapist, conveniently is fluent in Spanish which can be better understood than english when speaking to Brazilians. Even with all her efforts of telling him he told us he could take us and we don't want to walk, he is not going anywhere. We therefore decide to get out of the cab and head for the BRT; the public bus system for which we have a free card as accredited personnel with the Games. I decide we aren't paying him as the plan is: if you don't take us where we asked as you promised, then we aren't paying. As we get out and leave, he becomes aware we are not paying so he comes after us asking for payment. We tell him if he can drive us where we asked, we will pay him. He still refuses. We say our goodbyes. He says he'll go tell the police which is all over the place. I tell him I will gladly go with him .... but we head to the buses. That was the last we heard and we made it to the Village in time to get all organized for Closing. It is only later that we think....what if he decided to get real angry and pull a gun. Oh well, he didn't! We always have 2 RCMP officers attached to our delegation. They are in charge of liaising with local forces and keeping us aware of all threat issue. It's the usual messages: don't travel alone, inform someone of your destination plans, don't flash expensive jewelry and cameras, don't leave your possessions unattended. They weren't impressed of our little event. 

Getting organized

Chantal Petitclerc delivering the last message to the Canadian Team

So we get all organized head out to the buses for Maracanã stadium. At all other games I have been involved with, Closing ceremony is are more of a celebration affair. All athletes march in as a group with no separation of countries. One big loud cheering group of about 4000 come in after the announcement of "And now, let's welcome the athletes of the Paralympic Games". Before this we are waiting and staging under the stadium or on an adjacent covered field of some kind. The show has already started but, unlike Opening Ceremonies, we enter at the beginning and all get to sit and watch the final event. Last night, we are all getting off buses and walking toward the stadium at about 6:15 and the show starts at 8. We quickly realize we are heading straight onto the main field and are directed to chairs and are told to sit down in respective areas. Of course we wander as there's nothing to do. Not many paying fans are in the seats yet. So there is no march, no announcement. We are just sitting there for almost  hours...waiting....

Then there's some version of "pre-show" event going on the stage with 2 guys seemingly entertaining whoever are the early arrivals n the stands with lots of yelling and loud music. We can't tell what is actually going on. Eventually the "show" begins. Loud, very loud, music starts. It looks like a Metallica lead guitarist with long hair playing head banging music. Then a few singers come on stage. evidently well known to the Brazilians. The music is not recognized but it seems the fans like it. Most of the athletes are dead quiet and getting restless. Some eventually get into the beat and start conga lines, and there's some semi dancing around to the beat but generally a quiet field of athletes. Usually the speeches, IPC flag lowering, flag exchange to the next host city , it will be Tokyo in 2020, playing the Paralytic anthem, and other ceremonial stuff is done early and it finishes with the musical party-like atmosphere. This time it was the other way around. So when the musical entertainment stops and the ceremonial events begin, we are all looking at our watches thinking of leaving...then it starts pouring rain! Where did this come from???? Great sunny day all day, sunny evening as we drove to the stadium and now it pours and the wind starts blowing. Just like at opening ceremonies! Now we head for the exits. Just as the president of the IPC starts his speech, mentions the terrible death and offers condolences most of the athletes are up and heading out. It must not have looked good on TV. I wonder if it was mentioned by CBC colour commentators. 

Lowering the Paralympic flag

The medical gang hanging out at Closing

After the Closing Ceremonies, Canada, the Brits and New Zealand were hosting a post-party. Wine from New Zealand and Canadian beer served at our place and various other beverages served in the other building where GB and Australia are. The rain eventually stopped which allowed people to wander. I tried visiting the Brazilian residence to trade some of our clothing with some of theirs. That's a tradition that happens at this time. They were nowhere to be seen! Also the few we saw said they "weren't allowed to trade". That was odd. I saw some of our folks hanging on with team Ireland jackets, some Spanish jerseys and a few did scam some Brazil hats.

Oh well. I'll try again tomorrow.

Going visiting the Brits

Since the Kiwis were pouring the wine, they brought their friend 

The Kiwi bartenders

So there it is folks. I think this pretty much does it. I hope you enjoyed some of these random thoughts.

These Games are fantastic and allow one to witness not only great athletes at work but even more. I hope I was able to allow you to be part of it.

Please visit the Canadian Paralympic Committee website for great pictures of these athletes by skilled photographers. Go check them out on their Facebook page as well.

See you all soon.