With the London 2012 Paralympics games getting under way yesterday, as a viewer, as an avid sports fan, I have to concede it’s a new experience.
I credit my effort to tune in ahead of the Diamond League meet in Zurich that featured superstars like Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake, possibly down to the games being held on home turf, in addition to Channel 4 covering the competition, which makes the spectacle more accessible to the armchair enthusiast. Ticket availability problems seem to be a thing of the past as well with a broad spectrum of ticketing options available.
It is immediately evident on tuning into the Paralympics that sporting venues like the Excel Arena, Olympic Stadium, Aquatic Centre and the Velodrome respectively have entertained capacity crowds from the off, despite the games only now in their second day of proceedings.
Such interest is not confined to the dedicated stadia, initial television viewing figures accumulated during Channel 4’s coverage of GBR v GER men’s wheelchair basketball peaked at 3.3m. About three times the average UK audience for a live Premier League game.
Prior to broadcasting specific disciplines, Channel 4 utilises a simple ‘Lexi guide’ to each sporting classification.
This for me is essential to many viewers and a big plus during coverage. With so many different Paralympic classifications with varying degrees of sporting aptitude dictated by athletes ‘disabilities’ or more accurately, abilities, as the Paralympics is all about what you can do, not what you are restricted from doing.
These guides give an audience a greater understanding and involvement of what is to unfold.
Here is the link to the Wheelchair Basketball Lexi guide;
http://lexi.channel4.com/wheelchair-basketball.html
Men’s Preliminary Group B - Team GB v Germany - 30/08/12
With such encouraging audience figures for Team GB’s opening wheelchair basketball game in Group B’s preliminary round against the Germans, you should very well feel aggrieved for missing it, shame on you.
The game itself, a replay of the European championship final was a compelling one, both GB and Germany trading the lead over the course of the match, after the Germans early dominance.
At one time leading by a gap of 18 points, arguably attributed to Great Britain’s nervy start in front of a packed home crowd majority.
It proved to be a great advert for the sport as I’m sure the Paralympic platform will prove to be for so many sporting pursuits on show.
Despite a convincing first half lead for the Germans of 18 points, the capacity crowd on hand at the North Greenwich Arena was in for a treat, a true British fight back was to unfold in the 3rd quarter, concluding in a Team GB lead of 53 points to the Germans 47.
Terry Bywater was amongst the top scorers for GB spearheading an incisive ’pass and move’ attacking style throughout the third quarter with the influential Ade Arogbemi who was easily the fastest man on court to overturn the 18 point margin inflicted by Germany.
The fourth quarter was a much more tense affair with GB attempting to build on their 3rd quarter resurgence and Germany looking to assert their dominance once again to see off the hosts.
Despite the guidance of head coach Murray Treseder and leadership of experienced mainstay 44 year old Simon Munn, who himself has stoically represented Britain since Barcelona 92’ and newly appointed captain Abdi Jama who won a bronze medal in his first Paralympics in Beijing as well as being a double European champion at junior level, Team GB struggled to maintain their authority over the German side.
Both sides traded the lead throughout the fourth and final quarter of regulation time.
The long arms of Jan Haller affording Germany an overriding power going forward with renewed impetus and quickness on rebounds, coupled with Passiwan leading the scoring, arguably the most gifted player on the court.
The assistance of Wolk provided efficiency by definition, the only way the Germans know how.
With the game tied at 66 - 66, the last attack fell to Team GB’s consistent scorer Terry Bywater with 3.5seconds of the game remaining.
Bywater had amassed 19 individual points thus far, however the chance came and went with Terry off balance and narrowly missed the basket.
For those wondering, the basket in wheelchair basketball is the same height as regular basketball.
At the final whistle, scores were level at 66 points a piece, over time was inevitable.
Many experts summise that who scores first in overtime goes on to win, and so it proved to be.
Germany took the immediate initiative with the first two baskets, and in truth GB looked fatigued and laboured as the first period of overtime ensued with a lack of control when in possession becoming more telling on the GB players.
Germany stretched to a seven point lead, putting the game beyond GB.
Final score: Team GB 72 - Germany 77
In the post match interview, Great Britain’s influential captain Abdi Jama was upbeat declaring ‘Team GB played well but didn’t have the edge, Germany played well, think if we build on this it’ll be ok. Crowd was right behind us and helped push us on’
Great Britain’s Australian head coach Murray Treseder was objective in pointing out the technical differences between the two sides; ‘gave too many turnovers, and their quicker rebounds and quality in possession was the difference’.
Plenty to build on however, with an abundance of quick fire fixtures coming GB’s way in the coming days.
Up next is Canada for Great Britain, the reigning silver medallists, with kick off scheduled tonight at 21:15. Coverage courtesy of Channel 4.
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