please empty your brain below

I was there last night too. I didn't realise so many people left early. It was a great night.
I was there right until the end too - those who did were rewarded for it with that amazing final world record-breaking discus throw!
I was watching on TV, and at first thought the empty seats that started appearing were the "Paralympic family" ones, you know, like the Olympics... Then realised as the night went on that no, people were leaving in droves. I too was trying to work out why, and eventually came to the sad conclusion that maybe all the UK competitors were done so folk didn't feel the need to stay. Really sad.

I'm also a bit uncomfortable with the huge disparity in support between TeamGB and others - it didn't sit well with me when I went to the Olympic marathon and there was a GamesMaker rousing the crowd purely about the TeamGB athletes (but not the many, many others).

Still... I'm off to see the athletics next Saturday, and all I can do is a) make sure I'm there to the end (wild horses couldn't drag me away) and b) cheer like a loon for everyone.
I expect some Romans left the Colosseum early, to be sure of getting a litter to take them home.
And then missed the best fight of the night.
I was there last night too - until the final throw. Got to disagree with you about there only being 10% of the crowd left, looked busier than that to me.

I have been at Athletics meets before where the track events are done and there are field events still going and inevitably there's a bit of an exodus - spectators generally prefer track excitement.

And, yes, ParalymicsGB team members get the biggest support. Why not? I would only see a problem with that if everyone else was being ignored or jeered - and, much like at the Olympics, nothing could be further from the truth.
One thing I noted today, which was quite a British thing. I saw Wheelchair Basketball - Turkey v Italy. He asked us at the beginning who we all wanted to win, and there was a half hearted cheer for either team because apart from the minority, no-one *really* cared.

Then Turkey spent most of the first period trouncing Italy.

I have never seen a crowd get behind a team so quickly. Whenever Italy got on the ball after that, the excitement was palpable. When they equalised, it went insane.

And all because, apparently, the British like an underdog.
I've seen that underdog thing too in the Olympic Basketball. As soon as a team looked like it might be rubbish the British crowd adopted them as their own and cheered on every small success.

It's a counter-intuitive way to celebrate success, but it is very British.
"There were so many inspirational performances..., far more than able-bodied athletics ever provides" - Absolutely
I and my family were one of the ones who left early. In my defence I have a child who is disabled and does not cope with moving in large crowds well (as I have experienced when leaving Wembley) and unlike DG I live on the opposite side of London and yes while there are later trains running from Stratford to Central London there is only one extra train out of Euston and THAT is an hour after the normal last train. When you are travelling with a 9 year old and you are coming back for a day ticket the following day AND you have a 2hr journey home THAT is why you leave before the rush at 9:15

Sorry rant over but we are not ALL single and living within spitting distance of the stadium!
peewit - point taken.

There are always a significant number of people who need to leave early, which of course is fine.

What amazed and disappointed me was the phenomenal number of people who appeared to leave because they'd seen enough, or were bored, and so the athletes in the final events had to perform to a mostly-empty stadium.
Having been to a few Olympic and paralympic events the thing I have noticed is how many families and young children are present a pleasant change from male dominated packed stadiums for many other sports. The downside is that children and non cognoscenti parents started getting bored after a few hours of watching sports they dont fully understand. We left events early partly so my young daughter could get home before midnight and because while 2hrs of fencing is quite fun 4hrs becomes a bit excessive. On Saturday night I would say at least three quarters stayed to the last events in the athletics stadium.

Thanks for all your fascinating blogs on the Games they have been much appreciated.
Underdog? I was at the athletics on Saturday morning. There was a continuous ovation for about 8 minutes (like a Mexican wave in slow motion) while the athlete from Djibouti slowly completed the last couple of laps of his 1,500 meters, after everyone else had lapped him twice and finished. The whole crowd was on its feet at the end - almost as loud as when Richard Whitehead (British double leg amputee) won the 200m (very slow start but blisteringly fast finish).
I too was there, and was equally surprised at the 9pm exodus once the track events had mostly finished. Then I nearly joined in at half 9, fearing a crush at Stratford later (unfounded, got straight on jubilee line in a mostly empty front carriage!), but my girlfriend made me stay. I'm glad she did, as we then managed to amble down unchallenged to the very front row right by the 100m straight, and saw that phenomenal last throw of the evening in closeup! I'd recommend trying the same for anyone high up in the stands, it was amazing being right down with the action.
I too was there Friday night, only bought my tickets Wednesday afternoon and what a result that was!!
World Record thrown as I took my seat at 7pm and stayed with the few to see the big Russian Chap hurl his huge world record with the very last throw of the evening. I couldn't imagine how the Olympics experience could be topped but on Friday I found out - wonderful.
you should be writing about olympics corruption and asking how many council official took illegal payments and then checking bank accounts










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