Paralympics

“Honorary gold post boxes for Jason, Michael and Bethany…”

Pete Baker on September 13, 2012, 2:56 pm | Readers 53

The BBC are reporting that the Royal Mail have decided that Eglinton deserves an honorary gold post box. As does Glengormley and Seaforde, County Down. From the BBC report The honour was a response to overwhelming public support for the tributes, said Royal Mail. “Honorary gold post boxes for Jason, Michael and Bethany are an appropriate tribute for our local Paralympic heroes given their tremendous achievements and the very clear community support for this,” said Barbara Roulston, Head of External Relations …

IPC to scrutinise future media deals with the US and other ‘under-performing’ Paralympic nations…

Mick Fealty on September 11, 2012, 12:01 pm | Readers 47

Okay, so there’ve been pages now written on how great the Paralympics were in #London2012. But to give praise where it is undoubtedly due, it was probably Beijing that first raised the bar and the status of the Paralympic games to, if not equal status, then a great deal closer to the Olympics than at any time before. London’s achievement was to repackage and reengineer it as a product, not least by giving it the time and public attention that …

“The UK is believed to be the first country to paint post boxes gold to celebrate Olympic and Paralympic gold medal wins…”

Pete Baker on September 9, 2012, 4:49 pm | Readers 78

Apparently, double gold medal winning, and double world record breaking, Team Ireland Paralympian sprinter, Jason Smyth, would quite like a gold-painted post box in his home town of Eglinton. What does anything think, do we deserve a #GoldPostBox in Eglinton because I live and am from Northern Ireland @postoffice @royalmailnews RT — Jason Smyth (@smyth_jason) September 8, 2012 According to an earlier Belfast Telegraph report, he would have the support of Dame Mary Peters and the Northern Ireland Sports Minister, Sinn Féin’s …

In praise of the Paralympics… and Channel 4

Mick Fealty on September 2, 2012, 12:24 pm | Readers 142

I won’t deny that sitting down to watch the Paralympics is, at first, an uncomfortable experience… We are seeing a range of disability that in the normal run of public life are generally kept well out of the public gaze… It’s odd seeing the Chinese backstroke swimmer holding on to a towel in her teeth… And it’s disconcerting when your seven year asks the blunt question ‘what’s wrong with this lot’ as a new set of un-decodable track event athletes ready …

“A spokesperson for the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure said…”

Pete Baker on August 21, 2012, 10:39 pm | Readers 58

The BBC are reporting that 3 men, believed to be associated with the Jordanian Paralympic squad, have been charged following allegations of sexual assault at Antrim Forum. From the BBC report The three men, aged 36, 35 and 23 are expected to appear before Coleraine Magistrates Court on Wednesday. The 23-year old-man has been charged with two counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of sexual assault on a woman and voyeurism. The 35-year-old man has been charged …

Can’t keep water from leaking into the news – this time it’s a late pool

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on August 19, 2010, 12:00 pm | Readers 87

Artist's impression of interior of Bangor's planned Olympic-sized swimming pool

At long last, construction is due to start on the beleaguered plan to build an Olympic sized swimming pool in Bangor, providing a training facility the right length for talented and ambitious local swimmers. News outlets this morning were awash with details that Farrans had won the £38m contract, which includes £15m from the water-themed Executive. The BBC report that “construction on the new facility is due to begin before the end of August. It is expected to open by …