Croak!

Cheering too much made me lose my voice. It is an interesting thing, to attend an interview and answer the phone in this condition! The Paralympics were superb. I had an absolutely brilliant day watching the GB team vs. USA, and Sweden vs. Belgium in the wheelchair rugby, a.k.a. 'murderball'.
A few highlights, impressions and items spotted:

• Seeing Jonathan Edwards' bum before noon. (Well, a clever art installation on the route between Euston and St Pancras involving painted footfalls of Olympic achievements. So, the footsteps taken towards the triple jump, the jumping off point, and the bum and foot prints of the landing - all sorts of sports represented. Very clever!)
• Seeing a gold medal up close before even entering the park! A few members of the Moroccan team had gathered for filming, and one man was keenly showing off his medal. Couldn't help but grin even more having seen that.
• Seeing her madge's row boat tethered in the river at the low level of the Olympic Park. 
• The most spic 'n' span loos in an event site ever!
• Gigantic police horses
• Catching up with family members I've not seen in a while
• Spotting Boris in the audience - you really can't miss him with that hair!
• I really liked the park itself - nice to have such a large open space so close to London.
• The velodrome is gorgeous. And the basketball court does indeed look like an upturned mattress.
• Seriously impressed with each of the teams we saw: such different skills and tactics used. 
• Impressive array of spare wheels (and I liked the Captain America shields that Team USA had on their wheels!)
• Meeting so many members of athletes' family in the audience - we were only 4 rows back! We were behind Mandip Shemi's mum, near to some of the coaches of the team, near to Aaron Phipp's mum and partner, and next to the USA coach's wife and kids! For the second game, we were next to a lively group of Swedish fans, one of whom was brother-in-law of the captain, and behind us were pals of one of the big goalscorers. We got quite into the Swedish chants: "Sverya!" (Or thereabouts...)
• On the way out, noticing the vast array of different flags hanging from the balconies of the athletes' village.

It was cracking - such a great day. I enjoyed all of it! (And the sun shone, which was nice.)
Links
Murderball film

Lots of people, big signs

Rather snazzy rowboat

Police horses and the giant mattress!

Spare Team USA wheels - they were needed!

We saw the first two games

Team USA support camp - right next to us

Team GB pre-game huddle

After being introduced to the crowd, and prior to national anthems

The final score

Sweden and Swedish supporters before game 2

The introductions to Swedish and Belgian players

More Swedish supporters ( we had a crowd by us too)

The velodrome

High fives!