Ade Adepitan diary from the Paralymics in Beijing

September 16, 2008

I really am in and amongst something quite special here in Beijing. Not only have team GB scored more medals than Athens in 2004, but my great friends in the wheel chair basketball team won bronze yesterday. They were obviously over the moon and thrilled to beat the awesome USA in a nail biting game. Terry Bywater and captain Jon Pollock played superb as the guys matched their bronze of Athens in 2004.

But it hasn’t all been plain sailing here, with my co-commentator, three of the wheel chair basketball team, and head coach all falling ill over the last week. My good friend, and assistant coach Sinclair Thomas, took the reins of the team, and even though I’ve been flat out commentating for two, I definitely had the urge to drive onto the court to replace the injured players.

It’s been a dramatic week for the guys. In the quarter finals - German player Ahmet Coskun was sent home for taking a drug he said was meant to fight hair loss. He was scoring ten points a game for them, and we just managed to out-score them in a closely fought quarter final. However, it was the favourites Australia who beat us in the semi finals. We didn’t do ourselves credit and played poorly, but the guys picked themselves back up in the bronze medal game, and defeated the Americans who had just come off a harsh loss in the semis.

The USA v Canada semi was one of the greatest wheel chair basket ball games I’ve ever seen with USA blowing a lead of 14 points and choking in double overtime to lose to a courageous Canadian team. The post-game celebrations were another big highlight for me – Chinese soldiers rolled out the carpet and podium in perfect military precision led by a commander while the 18,000 person crowd sat in silence. It was a beautiful moment and one I’ll never forget.

In amongst my long days of commentary I managed to sneak a quick look in the Water Cube and see 13-year-old Eleanor Simmonds win gold in the 400m freestyle. Being so talented at such a young age is very exciting looking towards London 2012. I also popped into the Bird’s Nest where three nights this week have been a sell out of 92,000 people for the athletic and field events. The Chinese are 110% behind their athletes and the amount of noise made in the stadium can be heard for blocks. If we can match that home support in four years time, I can guarantee success above and beyond the spectacular British performances in Beijing.