The 2016 Paralympic Games start on the 7th of September through to the 18th. So here's a thread for those sports and participants that once every 4 years people remember are amazing in their own way. I know that posters will sometimes be bored, sometimes be cynical, and even sometimes be absolutely enthralled once they get into the competitions. Whatever the administration faults, the marketing, the apparent lack of interest from the home public, this is a worldwide event and will undoubtedly be enjoyed and celebrated overall. Terrestrial TV coverage is provided by Channel 4 in the UK: http://paralympics.channel4.com/ BBC provide their usual comprehensive information service on their website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport Like the Olympics before it, there's an App for Android and Apple in which to follow the Paralympic sports: https://www.rio2016.com/en/paralympics/app
I'm looking forward to the Paralympics starting tomorrow but if like me you get a bit confused as to how two people are in the same race (or not) here's the BBC's official classification guide which explains it all. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/18934366 The wheelchair rugby was good last time so I'll be looking out for that. Let's hope they all get the support they deserve and Rio does them proud.
Dame Sarah Storey broke her own world record to qualify for the final of the C5 3,000m individual pursuit on day one of the Rio Paralympics. She will take on fellow Briton Crystal Lane in the final at 21:12 BST. Can she become the most successful British female Paralympian of all time. We are also guaranteed medals in the C1-3 3,000m individual pursuit after Megan Giglia beat her own world record by clocking 4:03.544 to reach the final. Also Steve Bate and Adam Duggleby overcame a false start to reach the final of the men's B 4,000m individual pursuit in a new world record time of 4:08.146. Our swimmers are going well too and GB men won their first match in the wheelchair basketball. Records tumbling everywhere. Looks like we will soon get a few medals to get us on the table.
Dame Sarah Storey wins Gold and makes history. Storey, who was born without a left hand, has now picked up 12 Paralympic gold medals - five in swimming and seven in cycling. Brit Crystal Lane wins silver.
Gold for Steve Bate and Adam Duggleby in the Men's B 4,000m individual pursuit. Steve Bate has only has a 10% field of vision so it's on a tandem.
Gold for para-cyclist Sophie Thornhill and pilot Helen Scott as they win the women's B 1,000m time trial. Our other Gold medal winner from yesterday was Bethany Firth in the S14 100m backstroke.
Gold medal - Jody Cundy Men's C4-5 1,000km time trial. He got disqualified in 2012 so brilliant for him.
I'm in South Wales in my guestroom with just the S2 charging while I use it here. So I can't be bothered to go off and see whether we've overtaken China yet. But I'm guessing we will anyway. Eventually.
Brilliant gold and world record for Sasha Kindred, 38 years old in the pool and reinstated this afternoon after he was disqualified in the semis.
