My Day at the Olympic Park: Part 2

Picking up straight where I left off, we left the Riverbank Arena slightly before the end of the football to make it to the Basketball Arena in time for the evening session of the wheelchair basketball. I've always perceived Wheelchair Basketball to be one of the signature Paralympic Sports so I really wanted to see it! I was also determined to see an event in which Canada were competing as I'd seen my other two teams! (Team GB and Team Canada). 

Feeling Patriotic on my way to the Basketball Arena

My whole family was so so excited for the Basketball! We arrived at the arena to thumping music, chants from the crowd and even a kiss-cam! The game we were set to see was Canada v Australia. There were definitely more people cheering for Australia and as I know many more people from Canada I was rooting for the underdog! 

We arrived as the players were warming up and already I was in awe of their strength and commitment.   The athletes were so so agile and the wheelchairs obviously assisted in their manoeuvrability but I was in awe of the way they prepared for the game! Much to my despair many of the athletes were taller than me and they were sitting down. #5ft5Problems!! The rest I need to explain with pictures,

The national anthems played and I was struck by how the Australians took hold of each other and supported each other throughout. It really humbled me and it was incredible to see. As the team line ups were announced, it was shared with the audience that one of the Canadian athletes was on her 6th Paralympic Games! That means she's been in the games for 24 years!! I was in total awe. 

Another moment which was one of my absolute favourites was that the Canadian athletes that weren't on the court and on the bench were acting as cheerleaders!! Despite all the noise from the 12,000 people packed into the arena, you could distinctly hear the Canadian substitutes above everyone else. It was something else. Honestly it was indescribable. 

After the games, we walked back to the Station and I took a little detour into Forever 21!! You can see a video of all my Olympic Antics and my F21 haul below!

My day at the Olympic Park is something that I will never ever forget. The passion and pride that I Felt is something I'm unsure if I will ever experience again. I'm humbled and overwhelmed and excited all at the same time and it's an experience that I wish I could repeat over and over again! The only thing that could have improved the entire day would have been if you, my beautiful Tone It Up team could have been with me!