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	TX: 18.09.08 - Paralympics Round Up PRESENTERS: LIZ BARCLAY

	Downloaded from www.bbc.co.uk/radio4 THE ATTACHED TRANSCRIPT WAS TYPED FROM A RECORDING AND NOT COPIED FROM AN ORIGINAL SCRIPT. BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF MISHEARING AND THE DIFFICULTY IN SOME CASES OF IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS, THE 麻豆约拍 CANNOT VOUCH FOR ITS COMPLETE ACCURACY. BARCLAY And the 2008 Paralympic Games came to a spectacular climax last night in Beijing, Peter has been there reporting for us and the rest of the 麻豆约拍 and before leaving he sent us this final report. BEIJING PARALYMPICS ACTUALITY Finally the time has come for me to declare the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games closed. Shishear Beijing [phon.]. WHITE As the crowds stream away from the Birds Nest Stadium for the very last time the focus shifts to London and 2012. So what can London learn from Beijing? Closing ceremonies are notoriously places of euphoria, I've yet to go to a games which wasn't declared the best yet at the end. But the Beijing Games does have quite a lot to be euphoric about, especially considering some of the dire predictions before they began. They would be stiff and formal; the Chinese weren't experienced in dealing with access; what would be the level of interest amongst the Chinese public? All proving to be unfounded. Every athlete I've talked to so far, and I've talked to quite a few, has been glowing in their praise of access and the level of help both in the village and around the Olympics stadiums. As for stiff formal - well listen to them they're not very stiff and formal here. Every nation has its own manners and morays, part of the excitement of coming to the games is watching how another culture approaches them. But the absolute highlight for me has been the crowds. I suppose because I'm blind how crowds react is a crucial part of my enjoyment of sport, so to hear a full throated roar of over 90,000 people as a wheelchair racer crosses the line is thrilling. So definitely a job well done but what have other British visitors made of the games? One unexpected spectator was actor Richard Wilson. WILSON There was a time in Britain and probably there are still some who sort of mock the Paralympics and sort of say why should people go. The Chinese - you have to queue for at least an hour to get through security, there are so many people trying to get in, it's wonderful. COE What has most impressed me? I think returning from an Olympic Games into a city that smoothly transitioned into a Paralympic city. I also take the full venues that the Paralympic events have witnessed. I went into the Birds Nest the other night - 91,000 people sitting there - I watched Peter Norfolk win the singles tennis title in front of more people than were watching Nadal and Federer. So I think that there has been a sea change in attitude towards Paralympic sport. JOWELL I take the atmosphere of these Paralympics, which I think is different from the summer games that we were at just a couple of weeks ago. If you go to the Olympic green, which is where the distinctive Birds Nest Stadium and the Water Cube are instead of it being a rather sterile area only with people who are going to specific events making their way to the venues it's now full of people - Beijingers - just, if you like, sort of mopping up the atmosphere. WHITE Tessa Jowell, the minister responsible for the Olympics; Seb Coe, chairman of the 2012 London organising committee and a rather chirpier than usual Victor Meldrew, also known as Richard Wilson. It would be daft to suggest that everything went perfectly here in Beijing and some of the things which didn't have got more to do with the nature of the games than any problem with the Chinese capital. So what lessons need to be learned for London? Well first the International Paralympic Committee has to do something about classification of athletes. As we've explained before competitors have to be divided into precise groups to make sure like competes against like. But far too many events have been marred this time because of arguments about whether people are in the right group, whether they are as disabled as they say they are - it leads to accusations of cheating, athletes are upset and the public very confused. This has got to be sorted out if the Paralympics wants to hold its spectators. The assessment has to be independent, transparent, take place before events begin and then be fixed until the end of the games - no chopping and changing and arguments during the events. One other thing which may be needs some thought - Beijing had more volunteers than they knew what to do with, will London 2012 attract equal enthusiasm? London Mayor, Boris Johnson, in town to accept the Paralympic flag, was typically bullish. JOHNSON I don't know whether we're going to produce one million trained volunteers but I think people are a little bit sceptical and cynical about the natural helpfulness of the British people. I think actually lots of people are longing to volunteer. I met a guy in the street the other day who said he was retiring and he was looking forward to becoming a volunteer. And there are many, many people who I think would greatly enjoy it and I've no doubt that they'll be coming forward. WHITE Boris Johnson. And it's now his job and the London organising committees to take up the challenge. Meanwhile it seems unlikely that Beijing will ever be quite the same again. Back to the Transcripts homepage Back to the You and Yours homepage The 麻豆约拍 is not responsible for external websites

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