Who To Watch For The London 2012 Summer Paralympics

While people may well recognise household sporting names such as Usain Bolt or Chris Hoy from the Olympics, sometimes I get the feeling that equally talented athletes in the Paralympics are overlooked by the general public.

With that in mind, here are some of the most promising athletes in the run-up to the 2012 Paralympics.

Image by Ben Sutherland, some rights reserved.

 

Chinese Superiority

China dominated the 2008 Summer Paralympics with 211 medals, with stunning performances from many athletes.

Especially interesting were Guo Wei, who won gold in his category in Discus, Javelin and Shot put, and intends to compete again in 2012, and the Chinese  4×100 metre teams, were strong in various categories.

Keep an eye on their relay teams, throwing athletes, and on the blind judo.

Great Britain

Needless to say, as host country Great Britain will be looking to do well. As the second placed team in the 2008 Paralympics, they might even be looking to challenge China for the top spot.

If so, they face a stiff challenge, but if they can keep competitors like Darren Kenny, David Roberts and Lee Pearson doing so exceptionally well (with three to four golds each), they might … Read more at FryingPanSports

Cricket, Lovely Cricket

All over the globe, there are aspects of life that can make noticeable contributions to the very identity of a particular location, and in England it’s the game of cricket. The sport is popular in various pockets of the world such as Australia and New Zealand, South Africa, the Caribbean and the Indian sub-continent, but in many countries it’s rarely played and sometimes barely even understood. But if you have never really seen what the appeal of it is, perhaps it’s time to try a little harder.

Cricket has been around for centuries, and it’s a huge contrast of a sport. It can be slow-paced and cerebral, yet it can also be wildly exciting and abandoned. On some occasions it rewards patience, yet on others it requires throwing caution to the wind. It has always been thought of as a gentleman’s game, but it produces occasional bouts of ill-temper and gamesmanship that will hit the headlines all over the world.

The rewards in the professional game are plentiful if you get to the top of the tree, but no-one has ever played the game just for the money. Fast bowlers from Pakistan, all-rounders from West Indies and opening batsmen from … Read more at FryingPanSports

Don’t Miss Out On The Olympic Spectacular

The Olympic Games is the biggest sporting fiesta in the world, and provides some of the most spectacular action you are ever likely to see, ranging from dramatic recoveries from seemingly impossible positions to majestic dominance from the moment an event begins to the second it is won. Every four years, we settle down to watch the excitement unfold, and here are three of the sports to watch out for at London 2012.

Two-wheeled typhoons

The cycling is one of the most breath-taking events of all in any Olympic Games, and this year promises to be a classic. The Great Britain side swept all before them in 2008, and with home advantage they may be even more dominant than last time around. Of the 18 gold medals awarded in Beijing, eight of them went to UK riders. The London Velopark is located in the Olympic Park itself, and will provide spectators with a wonderful day’s entertainment. If you can’t attend, however, watching the action on a 46 inch LCD TV will prove to be just as much fun.

The fastest on the planet

While there are several events in the athletics programme that will undoubtedly catch the eye, the blue … Read more at FryingPanSports

Skateboards Vs Longboards

Skateboarding is one of the most amazing thrill rides that anyone can do. Most people see skateboards as one large lump of sports, and when purchasing a board and deck most people just assume that all boards are made equally and are meant for the same thing. If you have been looking towards purchasing a new ride to get in on the action, you’ll have to know the difference between a street deck and a longboard. There are completely different options as they perform different types of tasks. Consider the following differences between both types of boards to make the ultimate decision when you’re about to purchase your next skateboarding product.

First and foremost we’ll discuss longboards. Longboarding is a popular activity that transcends the initial invention of the skateboard in the 1970’s. The longboard is meant for cruising through town, riding down hills, and pushing less than any other type of board. These specialized boards are longer, have larger trucks and wheels, and are easier to learn on than other boards. In most instances, you will not have to push hard on these options as one push will have you gliding down the road with relative ease. The wheels … Read more at FryingPanSports

The Top 10 Iconic Sportsmen of the 20th Century

 

  1. Michael Schumacher (Motor Racing)

Forget the collisions and the controversies; it is without doubt that this seven time Formula One champion has to make it into the list. Considered one of or the best driver in History – the man who manage to turn round the formula one fortunes of Ferrari and the only driver to go an entire season with a podium finish at every race in the year 2002

  1. Michael Jordan (Basketball)

Basketball player turned Baseball turned Actor – Michael Jordan may have not been all that great at the latter occupations but he was one hell of a Basketball player. The 6ft 6” giant dominated the sport and led his team the Chicago bulls to three Championships. Didn’t do too well at the Baseball thing but we all admired him for his Talent and the fact that he was in Space Jam.

  1. Babe Ruth (Baseball)

Babe Ruth – the most famous Baseball player that has ever lived could in some people’s eyes be one of the most iconic sportsmen. With a career that spanned from 1914 – 1935 and hitting 60 home runs in a season a record that stood for 35 years, this American … Read more at FryingPanSports

How to start your own sports team in five easy steps

Sometimes, it has to be said, organizing team raiding sessions in World of Warcraft doesn’t really fulfill all your social needs. You love the taste of victory, or crushing an enemy and leading your comrades to triumph, but it somehow seems hollow when, afterwards, you’re still sat at your laptop with only half a bag of Doritos and a 2 liter bottle of Mountain Due to celebrate.

If you want to combine that feeling of victory and comradeship with being in the same room as other people, it may be that starting your own sports team is the thing for you. Starting a sports team, whether it’s for a five-a-side football tournament, beach volleyball, bowling or even motorsports is a great way to spend some time with your mates and get a bit of exercise.

To do this, however, you must first complete several important steps, and they will all be (slightly) harder than the montage in that underdog sports movie you love so much.

Step One: Assemble the guys!

You can recruit players from a bunch of different places. Once you’ve press ganged everyone you can from you World of Warcraft guild and your drinking buddies at the bar, … Read more at FryingPanSports