The Games are done. Heading home.

Standing with Robbi Weldon and Lynn Bessette, flag bearers for the Closing Ceremonies
These 2 entered 4 races and won 4 Gold medals

Time for my last post.

Yesterday marked the end of the 2011 Parapan American Games. Guadalajara did a beautiful job although many thought it might have been sketchy. Although the day is usually focused on the Closing Ceremonies, I was up at 5:30 getting the clinic organized and mostly packed. We can’t really shut the operation completely off as we still need to be available for all our Canadian team members until they are out of the Village and have left for home. We have to itemize everything that goes in each crate and box. Customs is quite picky about what comes in and what leaves the country. It is painstakingly slow to assure all the athletic tape, electronic medical equipment and, yes, every medication is accounted for. I set it up so that the day after Closing, it will take only the morning to get everything taped up, wrapped up and listed on our manifest…..then I get to go and take the afternoon off with the 2 remaining medical staff personnel: Bruce and Agnes.

With Agnes and Bruce 

The Ceremonies were impressive. The speeches were inspirational and focused on Panamerican countries’ need to integrate all individuals through sport regardless of any disability. They presented an energetic video inviting the Americas to come and compete in Toronto in 2015 at the next Games. As for the Olympics/Paralympics, the Pan Ams/Parapan Ams cycle every 4 years.

There was a show that finished with a loud band that had the look of Captain Jack Sparrow leading Spinal Tap. One has to recognize the movie references to truly get how odd that combination looked but it did rock the stadium and athletes from all over were jumping a bouncing with the music right up front at the stage. I even saw people “body surfing “ an athlete in a wheelchair! It was great!

Athletes who won medals also received a Mexican wrestling mask from the CPC at our own Ceremony. They were a hit and they couldn't stop wearing them. These 3 are walking as we enter the Stadium for the Closing.

Marching into he stadium for Closing

When the show ended, we were all escorted back to the Village by every organized bus transport system for the rest of the evening. Great Mexican food was available for a special evening meal in the dining hall…….couldn’t they have done this for the whole duration instead of the usual….?

A lot of pride displayed as Canada enters the Stadium

I hung out with Bruce, Agnes and some of the men and women’s basketball team in a small sports bar-like place in the International zone until way too late. This is when participating at these Games takes a different turn. Hanging out with great athletes in social settings. There are no disabilities in this type of environment. Watching the highlight videos of these Games presented during the Ceremonies cannot leave the viewer unimpressed. I can show you my pictures and blog about it but one must experience this level of sports excellence to understand. I invite you to come and visit Toronto in 2015 and buy tickets for these events. You will not believe your eyes.

The tennis tennis: Philippe, Joel and Coach Kai

Sports exist in every country of the world. It unites peoples from different cultures. Here we see that it allows a lot of individuals to feel barriers removed and provide them with a method of integration that is unequalled. Being part of it was an honor.

Body surfing a chair during the concert!

I managed to leave the Village today and we went to a very nice area of Guadalajara called Tlequepaque. An area with a plaza, a few nice stores, beautiful art galleries and some street market vendors. A great meal for lunch and some shopping before coming home was just what was needed for personal re-energizing. This evening, the whole Mission Staff had the night out at a great restaurant called El Tequila. One can only guess at their specialty. This area is renowned for tequila production and I hear over 200 varieties exist. It is also the area where Mariachi and the sombrero come from and these eventually grow on you….

I’m packed and ready to go. All day of travel tomorrow and I get home at 9 pm. Looking forward to seeing Darlene, Gabrielle and Lukas again. It has only been 17 days but it does feel like I have been here for much longer. I’m sure it feels even longer on the home front. 

See you all soon.

Signing off.

Richard