Adaptive Sports and Recreation Breakdown: Early August 2012

Adaptive Sports and Recreation Breakdown: Early August 2012

The goal of the "Breakdown" is to feature the best of the web from the recent past as it relates to adaptive sports competitions, Paralympic information, disability sport, videos, news, information and more.

For submissions of video, sports reporting, articles, pictures and anything news worthy please send submissions for consideration to adaptivesportandrecreation@gmail.com

Video of the day!

Overview of the Canadian Paralympic Committee

Competition Results:

Finland Wins at Goal Ball

Goalball is a sport played by individuals with visual impairments.  Finland has a very strong team which geared up for a potential Paralympic podium by winning the Men's Intercup Goalball match.

Blind Archer Competes in the London Olympics

South Korean archer Im Dong-Hyun is another athlete with a disability who is competing in the Olympics.  He broke his own record last week in the 72 arrow event.  Unfortunately he was knocked out in the next round and didn't advance.  This was the first world record broken at the London 2012 Games.  

Oscar Pistorius Olympic highlights (includes video)

The name and man is now known all over the world.  Watch his ground breaking entrance into the Olympic Track and Field Competition last Saturday.  This race is a great moment in sports history which will be remember for years to come.  

Polish Table Tennis Player competes in Olympics

Natalia Partyka who was born without a right fore arm was very happy with her performance at the London Olympics in Table Tennis. "For me, disability is nothing," she added. "I am playing the same lines as the others. I am doing the same exercises."

Australian sets new world record

Sprinter Evan O'Hanlon has broken his own world record in the 100 meter dash with a time of 10.83.  O'Hanlon is one to watch in London as he won 3 gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.

Paralympic

IPC website to feature steaming video of London games

The International Paralympic Committee is going to be the first to feature a new web based streaming video system for the London 2012  Paralmypic Games.  This player brings you the games (SMART) Sports Media Action in Real Time.  If your country is not showing the Paralympics on prime Ttime TV this will definitely work.  

New Mobility Magazine "What will London Bring?"

This US based publication has put together a great piece on the Paralympic movement. This is a must read.  “The Paralympic Games sparked the development of disability sport around the world. It is breathtaking to think about how these Games have shaped our own lives and the lives of hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities across the globe.” -Ann Cody, former Paralympian

Ottobock Commercial

Ottobock has created a great advertisement 

to get you excited about the 2012 London Paralmypics

Is Oscar Pistorius Doping?

The LA Times has published a piece on Oscar Pistorius and the "unfair advantage" of his legs.  Many in the sports world are wondering if his racing in the Olympics is going to open up sporting events to intragration of other athletes with disabilites.  Oscar has been fighting this debate for many years.

11 Athletes with disabilities have competed in the Olympics

All the hype about Oscar Pistorius competing in the Olympic Games is much deserved. Did you know that he is not the first?  There have been athletes with disabilities in the Olympics as far back as 100 years ago.

Eye Candy

Dropping in Teaser

Jeremy McGee is getting after it in the teaser video 

to his full film to yet to come.  With a team of ski mountaineers

he climbed and skied the Bloody Couloir in the Sierra Nevadas

Nike: What's Your Excuse?

Mike Scott wants to know your excuse 

for not getting out and getting active?

Four More Feet

Blind Hiker Randy Pierce and his dog Quinn 

climbing all 48 4000ft peaks in New Hampshire in

one winter season

Blind rider completes the RAGBRI ride (includes video)

Adaptive Sports Iowa fields a cycling team for the famous RAGBRI ride across Iowa each year.  With record heat this year this visually impaired athlete shares her story.

Make a Hero Commercial 

Make a Hero is an organization with a message that

life isn't over if you acquire a disability.  In fact it has just begun.

Warfighter Sports and the Denali Climb

5 Veterans with disabilities share their story about 

their attempt to climb Denali 

Humans

Michael Murry is heading to the Paralympics

Did you know that individuals with intellectual disabilities compete in 3 events at the Paralmypics.  Michael Murry is the only representative from the United States.  He will be racing in the 1500m track event.

Tatiana McFadden is fast (includes video)

Athletes have a very busy schedule getting ready to compete.  Tatiana McFadden shares her experience with training for the wheelchair track event.  Her story is pretty motivational too.

Nick Springer is featured in Vanity Fair

Nick Springer is a champion wheelchair rugby player.  He has a picture and article in the latest edition of Vanity Fair.  Paralympians are popping up all over the place.

Meet the Paralmypic Mascot

This is the cartoon version of the creation of

the Wenlock and Mandeville

Sir Ludwig Guttmann the founder of the Paralympics

The BBC has produced a documentary about the founder of the Paralympics Sir Ludwig Guttman.  This two part series called "The Best of Men" will be shown later this summer in the UK.

Education

How Oscar Pistorius's running blades work

Learn something new.  Like how the prosthetic legs of a Paralympic runner work.  This is amazing technology.

Chris Noack and Sport Rehab for Veterans

Chris Noack is a veteran of the Marine Corps and the director of the Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events.  His blog post is focused on Harnessing the Value of Adaptive Sports for veterans.

Ottobock's Paralympic Exhibition

Paralympic sponsor Ottobock has set up an

interactive exhibition to educate about the Paralympics 

and adaptive sport

Games for Kids in Wheelchairs

All kids have the right to play.  All sports can be adapted with slight modifications.  Here is an article about a few of them.  

Intro to the Skud 18

Two person crew and with a name like Skud 

you know it is going to be fast.  

One of 3 Paralympic class boats

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The Adaptive Sport "Breakdown" is meant to be shared. Please take a moment and post in social media. As well please leave a comment below on how we can make this update better in the future.


Thanks for tuning in.

Knowledge is Empowerment!
-RAM

  

Adaptive Sports and Recreation Breakdown: Late July 2012

The goal of the "Breakdown" is to feature the best of the web from the recent past as it relates to adaptive sports competitions, Paralympic information, disability sport, videos, news, information and more.

For submissions of video, sports reporting, articles, pictures and anything adaptive sports news worthy please send submissions for consideration to adaptivesportandrecreation@gmail.com

Competition Results:

National Junior Disability Championships:

The National Junior Disability Championships took place this week in Mesa Arizona, USA. This annual event is hosted by Wheelchair and Ambulatory Sports USA and the 2012 local partner Arizona Disabled Sports . Youth from all over the world attend to compete in athletics, archery, power lifting, swimming, table tennis and more.

British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championship: 

Dutchwoman Esther Vergeer have not been beaten in wheelchair tennis is 9 years. She claimed her 12th British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championship title this week.

What is Goalball?

Canada has the win in Goalball! (includes video)

Canada beats Japan to win the fourth International Goal Ball Classic in Alabama. This exciting sport is a blast to play, highly competitive and all spectators need to keep extra quite so the player can hear the bells in the ball.

Paralympics:

London 2012 Smart Phone App:

The official London 2012 App for Smart Phones has been released for the Olympic and the Paralympics.  This app was designed with the sports fan in mind and includes useful information on venues, schedules, scores and more.  

Everything you need to know about the Paralympics, but were afraid to ask

The UK newspaper the Guardian has published a short article answering some hot questions about the Paralympics that some people might be afraid to ask. Where did the name Paralympics come from? How hard do Paralympians train? How should I behave around Paralympians? Find answers to these questions.

Channel 4 "Meet the Super Humans" commercial makes a big impression (includes video)

Channel 4 has a good thing going.  They created a TV spot called "Meet the Super Humans" about the 2012 British Paralmypic Team that has gone viral on the Internet.  This is a short article about the making of the piece which includes a high definition clip of the ad.  Watch it once and you will have to watch it again.

Wheelchair Rugby (AKA Murderball) schedule for London 2012

The International Paralympic Committee has released the schedule for the London 2012 Wheelchair Rugby Match ups. The tickets are scarce so plan on watching this on TV and tell your friends.

Eye Candy:

Erik Weihenmayer, the first person with a visual impairment 

to climb the seven summits runs class 3 white water

Challenged Athletes Foundation interview (includes video)

Blake Leeper, who is sponsored by the Challenged Athletes Foundation , is on his way to the London 2012 Paralympics. The Fox 5 news team interviews him.

Ce-Ce Mazyck, a wounded warrior, introduces us to 

the art and technique of javelin 

South Sudanese Wheelchair Basket Ball Team

These individuals have over come the ravages of war in a developing national.  The wheelchair basketball team from South Sudan is hoping for a Paralympic berth.

Nike: Find your Greatness

Features some adaptive athletes

Humans:

Oksana Masters posing in the Bodies Issue of ESPN magazine

Individuals at the top of their game, fit, toned and naked. Each year ESPN releases the Bodies Issue and it always causes a stir. This year was no exception. Oksana Masters, a Paralympic rower is featured in her birthday suit. You be the judge.

Athletes Prosthetic Arm Stolen

Arnaud Assoumani, who one a gold medal in Beijing 2008, has gotten his gold arm back.  French police saved the day when they returned it after thieves stole it.

Alana Nichols on "Qualified"
First athlete to win a gold medal in the both
the Summer and Winter Paralympics
(Check out the "Gun Rack" at the end)

Hang gliding...good clean fun

Hang gliding is a sport not for the faith of heart. This activity does have it's risks but it also has the reward of soaring like a bird. These individual are stepping up and leaving their disability on the ground.

Education:

Adaptive Archery (includes video)

This very blog "Adaptive Sport and Recreation" published an informative post this week on Adaptive Archery for persons with disabilities. This great pastime can be enjoyed as a recreation or as competition. It sure is making the headlines these days.

Adapt2Achieve Conference

Disabled Sports USA is hosting their Adapt2Achieve Conference in Seattle Washington on August 19-21. Developed with the adaptive sports program in mind this conference will feature train sessions in adaptive archery (see above), adaptive climbing, and nonprofit administrative topics.  CEUs will be offered from ATRA.  Register today!
  

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The Adaptive Sport "Breakdown" is meant to be shared. Please take a moment and post in social media. As well please leave a comment below on how we can make this update better in the future. 

Thanks for tuning in.

Knowledge is Empowerment!
-RAM

Adaptive Archery for Persons with Disabilities

Archery is an ancient pastime which today is a very popular activity.  Hollywood is bringing this accessible sport and activity to the mainstream with the movies the Avengers, Hunger Games and Brave.  It is practices by athletes, hunters and as a recreation all over the world. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to access adaptive archery as it is a fun way to get active.  As well it is a featured competition at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. This blog will give anyone interested in archery a taste for how adaptable the sport has become.

The first year that archery was in the Paralympics was 1960 in Rome, Italy 

although it was featured at the Stoke Mandeville Games in 1948.

These young athletes are double and triple amputees

Matt Stutzman "The armless Archer" and a member of the

US Paralympic Team.  Double arm amputee.

Blind and Visually Impaired Archery Competition

Some resources for someone looking to learn more about archery with a disability: 

(Click on the organization to be taken to their websites)

World Archery Federation: (click on the Para-Archery Tab): This federation oversees all international archery including Paralympic level competition.

Archery TV:  The Internet TV station for the World Archery Federation.

United Foundation of Disabled Archers: This organization supports persons with disabilities who desire equal access to bow hunting and outdoor adventures.

USA Archery: National Governing Body which oversees archery in the United States. Includes Paralympic information.

140 Athletes will shoot in nine medal events at the London 2012 Paralympics

The event will take place at the Royal Artillery Barracks

The Physically Challenged Bowhunters of America: The name says it all. Another organization to assist persons with disabilities to get outside and hunt.

History of Archery: The history of archery as told by Wikipeda.

Disabled Archery USA: Grass roots organization which provides information on training, equipment selection, rules and many other aspects of adaptive archery

London 2012 Paralympics Archery: The official site for archery at the London Games.  View schedules, rules and more.

International Paralympic Committee Archery: The IPC oversees all international competitions and rules around the sport of archery. This is a good starting point for international visitors.

Youth shooting archery from a wheelchair

The Boss is the name for the target on an archery range.

British Paralympic Athlete Danielle Brown
is the current women's world archer champion


Arrows for Paralympic competition are made of carbon graphite.

Archer Antonio Rebollo lighting the 1992 Olympic Flame

Paralympian Matt Stutzman breaking the 

Guinness Book of World Records for longest accurate archery shot.

There are introductory archery clinics for persons with disabilities around the United States and around the world.  This accessible activity is inexpensive to get into and a lot of fun.  What are you waiting for?  Find your local archery club or fish and game club today and get out there.  

Knowledge is Empowerment!

-RAM

True Inspiration in Adaptive Sport

This is a personal observation on being an "inspiration".

Sport and recreation is some thing that everyone regardless of ability level should get involved in.  I make this bold statement because its true.  There are multiply benefits such as for your health, for fun, it's social, do it for someone you love, it is a great way to spend an afternoon, etc...  Being involved in adaptive sport and rec for several years I have been the fly on the wall to many conversations between persons with disabilities and the general public.  To sum up several of these conversations:

Spectator at the bottom of the hill: "I saw you flying down the trail, is that hard?"

Guy in a mono ski: "It takes a lot of practice, but it is a ton of fun"

Spectator at the bottom of the hill: "What do you call one of those?"

Guy in a mono ski: "It's called a mono ski"

Spectator at the bottom of the hill: "I have not skied in about 10 years, I have sore knees. What your doing is incredible.  Your an inspiration."

Guy in a mono ski: "Thanks?"

An inspiration you say?  The dictionary does say that an inspiration is something or someone who inspires.  Does the guy in the mono ski really feel that he is an inspiration?  Will the Spectator who has sore knees be inspired to get back on the slopes?  Maybe yes maybe no in both instances. I do know some people with disabilities who cringe when anybody uses the word inspiration to describe them.  To them they are just out doing what they do.  The fact that a mono ski enables an individual with a disability to literally fly down the ski slope is pretty impressive to an innocent by standard. One would hope that inspiration comes in the form of changed perceptions about individual ability.

Now the real inspiration happens when these same ripping mono skiers have that effect on an individual who is in there similar situation.  Maybe someone who is new to using a wheelchair or a parent who might have thought that their kid was never going to be "normal".  When this happens now that is inspiring.  Getting it to click in someones head that you don't have to walk or see or have both legs to ski, swim or play basketball is an amazing feeling.  Watching people come off the sidelines and get into the game is the goal.  This style of inspiration is what it is all about.  

Now if we could only convince the guy with sore knees that with a few adaptations he too could be getting after it on the ski slope... 

Knowledge is Empowerment.

-RAM

Extreme Adaptive Sport: Video Blog

This blog post is about getting extreme with adaptive sport and recreation. For instance this is what happens when your average person decides to strap a parachute on their back and jump off a perfectly good bridge.  I call this the "Red Bull Effect". Take a great past time like skiing add Red Bull and people might start doing backflips.  Now I am not saying that Red Bull is the answer.  What it does take is a lot of practice, training and guts to do what these individuals are doing.  I thought that it might be fun to shed some light on those individuals in the Adaptive Sport and Recreation community who are raising the bar.

The is a video of a paraplegic base jumping off a bridge

Josh Dueck hucks the first ever backflip in his sit ski

Aaron Fotheringham first ever double backflip in a wheelchair

Blind Skier breaks world speed skiing record

Clay Egan, who is a Quadriplegic,  Rock Crawling

Bethany Hamilton, Soul Surfer

All of these activities can be done at an introductory level and are very safe and fun.  Extreme adaptive sports are not for most people but they do make for great entertainment and to see where a sport can really go.  

I hope you enjoyed these videos of trained professional athletes with disabilities pushing themselves and their sport.

Knowledge is Empowerment!

-RAM

Adaptive Resource Guides: Part 4, Sports Abilities BONUS: Interview with Founder

BONUS: Scroll down to read an interview with Sports Abilities founder John Vcelka

This is part four in a series about resource guides for United States based Adaptive Sport and Recreation events and programming.  This information should benefit a participant, a parent, a volunteer, or anyone looking for information about what is going on in adaptive sport and recreation around the US.  Showcasing four resource guides over the next four blog posts part 4 is about Sports Abilities.

Sports Abilities:

• Founded in 2010
• Aim is to be the premiere resource calendar for adaptive events in the United States.
• Works directly with adaptive sports programs and organizations
• Searchable calendar by state on website
• Site also includes links to adaptive:
• Sports Associations
• Sports Equipment
• Sports Venues
• Disability Blogs
• A Classified Section

Sports Abilities includes motivational videos like this one 

which is a trailer for the documentary film "Recovering"

Sports Abilities created a very easy to use online community that shares information about adaptive sport and recreation around the United States.  

• Sports Abilities searchable calendar by state can be found by clicking here

Sports Abilities is doing a fantastic job connecting participants and volunteers with programs.  I had a chance to speak with the founder of this company John Vcelka over the phone and what follows is what he had to say.

John Vcelka Interview: Sports Abilities Founder and Director

RAM- What is your background?  

John Vcelka (JV)- I am originally from Illinois and moved to Colorado several years ago.  I have been involved in adaptive sports for seven year since my injury.  I really enjoy being active, networking and making connections between friends and organizations.

RAM- When did you start Sports Abilities?

JV- Sports Abilities as it is today was launched in June 2011 and the idea for this current version got its start in about 2 years ago on a trip to Chicago.  Although it can be traced back for several years as I was running a calendar and newsletter for friends in the Denver Colorado area since that time.

RAM- Where did you get the idea for Sports Abilities?  

JV- It got an organic start from a need I saw in the Denver CO area for a comprehensive calendar of Adaptive Sport and Recreation area events.  Then I went on a trip a couple of years ago to Chicago.  I ran into several road blocks when I asked a couple adaptive programs in that area if they could help me find a tennis partner.  These programs were unable to assist with my request. I then started a calendar in Chicago but said to myself why stop there.  Why not create a national wide calendar which would benefit adaptive athletes and adaptive programs alike.  The real motivation came when I told people about my idea and they said, "That's impossible"  "Good luck" "You will never be able to do that".  I love a good challenge.

RAM- What has been the feedback so far?


JV- If numbers of site visitors are any indication it has been a great response.  Since the launch of the site in June of 2011 we went from several visitors a month to thousands.  We now get hits monthly from all 50 states and some international.  Some of the best feedback is when I hear that the site benefited someone who needs it most.  Stories of individuals with disabilities getting off the couch and getting active are fuel for me to keep going.

RAM- What have been your successes with the calendar?


JV- As I stated the motivational stories are the number one success.  But I would also say that adaptive sport programs are really starting to get on board and post events through their google calendar.  Programs are now using the calendar to plan their events.  When making a sports schedule or planning a major event they can get on Sports Abilities and see what else is going on in their area on a particular day.  They can then plan accordingly.  This has been one byproduct but success of the site.

RAM- On the other side what have been the challenges?


JV- In the same sense that adaptive sports programs are starting to get on board they have been reluctant to share their event calendars.  For whatever reason when there are several programs in a geographic area programs are hesitant to share this info.  I see it as a benefit to them to get the word out in every way possible.  They are starting to come around but it is still a struggle.

RAM-  What is your process for finding organizations to list?


JV- I spend a lot of time on the Internet searching and reading online newsletters.  Although there are lots of organizations with incomplete websites and event calendars. In the beginning it was a goal to get to 100 organizations.  Then once I hit that I wanted to get all 50 states covered.  We now have over 500 organizations listed.  And programs are starting to contact me to get listed.

RAM- What would you like others to know about Sports Abilities?


JV- That healthier = happier.  I know personally getting involved in sport and recreation after my injury was a turning point for me and I began to become much more productive in my life.  That is my goal for Sports Abilities not to get rich but to give back to organizations which are all in it for the same goal.  To get everyone regardless of ability active.

RAM- What does the future of Sports Abilities look like?


JV- I have a number of ideas which I am working on.  We are going to add a social networking piece to the site which will allow individuals to create profiles and network.  This should be launched soon.  I would one day like to see others get involved in maintaining their states profile page.  Updating state events, organizations and possibly reporting on events.  We are also going to be adding a nonprofit side to the company to accept donations.  These donation would go directly back to the organizations which are listed on the site.  Right now Sports Abilities is really starting to move along and I am pleased with the results.  Hopefully we can  get more individuals with disabilities active.

RAM- John thank you so much for your time with this interview.  I hope that it is helpful information for everyone interested in learning more about Sports Abilities.  All the best with your efforts.

JV-  Thanks for helping to spread the word.  


To learning more about Sports Abilities and get your event or organization listed on the site please click here.

Knowledge is Empowerment.


-RAM

Adaptive Resource Guides: Part 3, Special Olympics

This is part three in a four part series about resource guides for United States based Adaptive Sport and Recreation events and programming.  This information should benefit a participant, a parent, volunteer or anyone looking for information about what is going on in adaptive sport and recreation around the US and internationally.  Showcasing four resource guides over the next four blog posts part 3 is about Special Olympics. 

Special Olympics is:

• Founded in 1968
• Motto "Let me win; but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."
• Open to individuals with intellectual disabilities 
• Providing year round training and competition world wide
• Offering opportunities
• to develop physical fitness
• demonstrate courage
• experience joy
• create community

Special Olympics operates in over 170 countries world wide.  There are regional opportunities to get involved and also international games and competitions held annually.

• Special Olympics offices are located in many countries.  Click here to find out if your state or country participates and go out and get active.

Special Olympics has been a leader in adaptive sport and recreation for individual with intellectual disabilities for over 40 years.  Stay tuned for part 4 of this series about Sports Abilities.

Knowledge is Empowerment.

-RAM