Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

that the Olympics and Paralympics were combined?

I know Para Olympics means parallel but it's not, it's on afterwards and doesn't receive nearly as much coverage.

I was seething when on BBC news yesterday they stated that the Great North Run was started by Olympians Chris Hoy from Scotland and Rebecca Adlington from England, completely ignoring Ellie Simmonds from Wales. Physically she is clearly not the largest of people but in heart and soul she is bigger than many of us.

I understand and sympathise with the sentiment of the question but believe that the Paralympics would receive even less coverage and exposure if it ran simultaneously with the "non-para" Olympics. I also think that there would be more crass situations such as the one you describe with Ellie Simmonds.

Let's be honest. Would TV show Usain Bolt in the sprints or the equivalent paralympian?

I think we all know the answer.

Not sure they could run at the same time as they need to use the same venues - wouldn't it get a bit overcrowded?

I think that the Paralympics would be better served by being staged BEFORE the Olympics. That way it might get viewed as a deserved warm-up event rather than an after thought....

Keep them apart on political grounds.

The Olympicas ARE a political exercise, no matter what people might tell you.

The para's should remain neutral to preserve the proud ethos it already has.