Paralympics – Day Ten (Party Time!)

After the Closing Ceremony we were invited to the IPC staff Party where everyone could unwind and celebrate both the end of grueling schedules and the success of the Games. This post is 100% behind the scenes.

Here’s Susannah and me with Caro, our “handler” and main contact throughout the Games and new, very good German friend (Caro we love you!). And yes, we are all very, very tired.

Here’s Lieven, one of the two official IPC sports photographers we met. Lieven is a really nice guy and we’ll totally look him up if we ever get to Belgium. Check out his fantastic sports shots on his website.

Let the dancing begin!

IPC folk – spot yourselves!

Here’s Susie!

Here’s me with some very cool new friends

IPC board members party on.

I love this shot – it’s one of my favourites. Sir Philip stopped to say goodbye on his way out and I asked to have a photo with him. More and more people joined in (I have a whole series of these) until eventually we had this group. It’s a great testament to the IPC, it’s organization and it’s leadership that this “family” of people are so close. We are very grateful to have been a part of it.

On a different note, here’s the only shot from the evening of Susannah and me together. This is why I think you should always hire a professional to shoot your important moments. It’s shot on one of our cameras, but just having a good camera is just not enough. Say no more.

I do think we look a little less exhausted in this shot than in others though

That’s the end of the Paralympic 2010 coverage. It’s been a great experience, a fantastic learning opportunity and a hell of a lot of fun. Rest assured, we’ll be tuning in for 2012 in London.

Things I learned from participating are:


a) the athletes are not disabled athletes, they are athletes who have a disability. What that means is that with or without their disability they will always be able to compete at a level that I for one could not. They are simply fantastic.

b) Society as a whole needs to think and plan more inclusively. I now understand the importance of accessibility and of opening people’s minds.

c) Think positively – you can dwell on the negative and what you can’t do or you can look forward and see what you can do. This applies not just to disabilities, but to every aspect of life. It’s a form of empowerment.

I didn’t know much about the Paralympic Games before 2010 was planned but now it’s something I would totally like to be involved in. I was very disappointed in the local coverage of the Paralympic Games on Canadian TV and I feel that the ball was totally dropped – Canadian television with an emphasis on Canadian content had an enormous opportunity to introduce and educate the public to the Games, the athletes and the sports.

Politics aside, the Paralympic Games in Vancouver and Whistler were something Susannah and I consider ourselves very lucky to have been a part of. And we think it was a HUGE success.