Re: The Olympic And Paralympics Thread (merged)

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And another gold for Ellie!

Simmonds Storms To Second Gold In The Pool
London 2012 poster girl Ellie Simmonds wins her second gold medal of the Games - becoming the third Brit to taste double gold.

Britain's Ellie Simmonds has claimed her second gold of London 2012, smashing another world record and joining two other GB athletes who have tasted double gold success.

Just 48 hours after winning her first gold, the teenager took the title in the 200m individual medley.

This time there were no tears, just a trademark beaming smile. The 17-year-old said: "I'm just so pleased - another world record.

"I'm just so chuffed."

The win makes the Swansea-based swimmer the third British Paralympian to taste double gold success, alongside cyclist Sarah Storey and equestrienne Natasha Baker.

That's a bit better than that unseemly squabble yesterday between two of the track athletes - one prima donna in particular should be ashamed of himself.

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The hair-raising wheelchair rugby starts today:

Screaming blue murder! Paralympic athletes prove wheelchair rugby is not for the faint-hearted as 'murderball' tournament begins
Home nation outscored world number one in first quarter of pool match
But couldn't cope with U.S. side's passing and movement to lose 56-44
Young team are hoping to land Great Britain's first Paralympics medal


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2198689/London-2012-Paralympics-Paralympic-athletes-prove-wheelchair-rugby-faint-hearted-murderball-tournament-begins.html#ixzz25cqy8hSv



Crash, bang, wallop: Will Groulx goes flying after being knocked over by Britain's Aaron Phipps (left). Heavy contacts are actively encouraged in the sport

I share the Countess of Wessex' horror:



Apparently there are welders on hand to fix the chairs....

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I lost track of the athletics a bit, but am now watching the Closing ceremony. It's different...first pics here:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2200650/Paralympics-Closing-Ceremony-London-2012-set-end-bang.html

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It isn't Beltane again already, is it?

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Fantastic high wire act!

Someone is setting fire to a 'ball of energy'....

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OMG! Rhianna doesn't look any too secure in the giant swing...

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WOW!!!!! Amazing lightshow ending this segment, with Coldplay.

From earlier in the show:





Ruling the Waves: A mechanical steamship complete with puffing smoke chimneys and metal rigging chugs into the Stadium


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2200650/Paralympics-Closing-Ceremony-London-2012-closes-bang.html#ixzz261KaR4qq

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Music and dance from Brazil, and more fireworks.

Oh, Seb Coe is going to make yet another speech...

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Music time; Jay-Z is on with Rhianna and Coldplay.

Might have known Rhianna couldn't manage to keep her bits covered up for an entire evening.

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And that's it, after the most stunning lights and fireworks display....

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And that's it all over for another four years.

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