This Summer, Watch The Olympic And The Paralympic Games In Rio | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Sports

This Summer, Watch The Olympic And The Paralympic Games In Rio

The best in the world of sports converge on Brazil in September.

65
This Summer, Watch The Olympic And The Paralympic Games In Rio
YouFirst Sports

Everyone should watch the Olympics this August! They only come around every four years and they showcase many of the greatest athletes in the world. We will witness the return to the spotlight for Michael Phelps, the presumed dominance by Carmelo Anthony and Team USA in Men's Basketball and we will be exposed to sports we haven't seen on such a big stage before like Rugby Sevens!

But wait!! What happens after the Olympics are even better (in my opinion)! If you stay tuned on NBC for just a few weeks longer you will see the 2016 Summer Paralympics!! This is one of the world's largest adaptive sports events ever from September 7th to September 18th with "over 4000 adaptive athletes competing in 22 sports."

“These athletes are more than just Paralympians, they are sports heroes and ambassadors for all that the Paralympic Movement represents." -- Mark Levy Senior Vice President, Original Productions and Creative, NBC Sports Group

On Monday, July 18th, NBC premiered a TV special: "Road to Rio: 2016 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials" which highlighted the path that many of the athletes have to go through to be expected for the Paralympic Games. It gave us a preview of Swimming, Track and Field and Cycling as well as what it took to get to the Summer Paralympics this year. Many athletes in many sports compete in 'Paralympic Trials' in June and July to qualify however some of the team sports like Wheelchair Rugby are selected earlier based on performances in other tournaments.

I've written articles in the past about Wheelchair Rugby and about Wheelchair Tennis, with both sports being featured in the coming Paralympics. While it's important to highlight what goes on outside of the Paralympic cycle, there isn't anything that compares to this event. We will see the ruthless nature of Wheelchair Rugby, the grace and determination that goes into Wheelchair Tennis and the pure uniqueness of a sport called Goalball (along with many other sports) all in one grand event!

This video wraps up just about everything you need to know about many adaptive and Paralympic athletes: "Yes I can." These athletes weren't given any help to get to where they are and they aren't receiving any special treatment because of who they are. What they are doing is proving to themselves and to the world that they can do anything they set their minds to and anything that anyone else can do and more.

I truly believe Paralympic and adaptive sports are some of the most interesting and exciting events to watch in the whole world and I am trying to spread that sentiment to the world. People will see this at the Paralympic Games. People will see this when a local organization has an event nearby. People will see this when a friend shares something cool on Facebook (that's why my family started Athletes Roll). But this isn't consistent. Unfortunately, adaptive sports don't have the recognition that other sports do. Right now you would never see them on ESPN, on magazine covers in the grocery store or plastered on a billboard in your nearest city. Fortunately there are many amazing organizations pushing for this change (and I believe it will come). But for now if you find this interesting in any way, I strongly encourage you to seek content about adaptive sports and adaptive events out. It would certainly mean a great deal to everyone involved and you may even find it entertaining!

Here's a pic from the awesome and intriguing sport of Goalball which is played by blind athletes who must block a ball based on their hearing. Anyways, I think this is really cool and I hope you do too...watch the Paralympics!!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Disney magic for New Year!

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

4828
Disney magic kingdom castle on new years
StableDiffusion

Disney movies are well known and very popular in today's world. Although many people appreciate the plot and the storyline, not many people appreciate the wisdom these characters possess. Every Disney movie has unique advice that can be applied to everyday life. Here are 11 Disney quotes to help start your New Year off right:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

40 Gift Ideas for the Indecisive

It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. But also a time of stressing over the perfect gift.

119161
Christmas gifts around a tree
StableDiffusion

It's officially December. There is less than a month of 2024, and I still feel like yesterday was summer. Now comes the merriest time of the year, the Christmas season.

Everyone has been waiting for this time of year since mid-October (which is way too early, in my opinion) or before. It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. A lot of times when I ask friends and family what they want, I get a lot of "I don't know" or "I don't care."

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Bucket List To Live In The Now

Find excitement in your life and start exploring wherever you are right here, right now.

1120
mu bucket list

I was sitting at my cubicle, now that I am an adult, looking at the rain pouring down on the windowsill, bumming on life, wishing for the rain to just stop for a full day.

There are moments where we count down the hours until work is over and how many more days till the weekend, and this many weeks until something exciting. Or something like that? Well, I was bumming because my next day off from work is not until Memorial Day weekend, which is not until the end of May. And since this is my first year out of college being a “real person,” I am totally missing the winter, spring and summer breaks. I am sure all of us have felt this way even if just for a hot minute…

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

11 Ways To Survive Finals As Told By Leslie Knope

Because you know you're going to be stressed out, and Leslie knows exactly how to survive.

805
Everything hurts and I'm dying

So finals are on their way. That's right everybody, finals are about to start.

But hey, don't panic. Start getting your affairs in order and prepare for a week of hell. Here's a few things Leslie Knope wants you to do to make your finals week just a little bit less stressful:

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

10 Signs You Go To Kent State

You know you're a true Kent Stater when...

875
Kent State University
Great Value Colleges

If you go to or went to Kent State, then more than likely you have done or will do some of these things.

1. You’ve slipped and fallen on the ice at least once.

The winters at Kent are brutal, and while the heated sidewalks and some great snow boots are always a help, there’s no chance you won’t bust it on the ice at least once in your four plus years at school.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments