TANDEM CYCLING

By: Jens Schroder. Member of IPC Cycling SAEC

The Paralympic Games ended well, following some quite extraordinary mishaps which we shall have time to examine throughout this report.

In this section, we wish to reflect the opinions of the technical personnel responsible for those sports in which our Federation, IBSA, was represented.

Our strong point in Atlanta was, above all, our teamwork, as everyone helped each other whenever it proved necessary.

We had countless problems in Atlanta with our equipment as our bikes arrived three days after us. What effect did this delay have on us? The result was not at all what we had expected - we were unable to carry out our training programme according to the schedule we had drawn up.

But that was not the end of our difficulties. Incredible as it may seem, the problems continued when it came to getting the bikes from the Olympic Village to the practice tracks. Transport problems? Of course, but the surprising thing was that it was not due to a shortage of coaches, but rather to a lack of drivers.

Just one example to illustrate the dismal memory left behind by these Paralympic Games. Following the different events held, I had to wait for two days for the bikes to be returned to the Village. Why was that? The same story again - there were trucks, but no drivers. And the final solution: I myself had to drive a truck - needless to say without a licence - for 25 kilometres.

Following this anecdote which, ultimately, is a sad tale, I shall now outline my assessment of the global problems and the positive aspects - for there obviously were some also - our cyclists encountered throughout these Paralympic Games.

Global Problems.

1- The security check at the entrance gate was totally useless. The little train returned to the Village without passing through any control.

2- The food was tasteless (the ice-cream, steaks, rice, etc. all tasted the same).

3- There were severe problems with the classification criteria, and also with some rules and regulations.

4- Finally, the arrival at the airport was quite an adventure. One example: some national teams had to wait no less than seven hours to receive their credentials in order to be able to enter the Village.

Positive Aspects.

1- As regards the strictly sports-technical side of things, it must be said that the competition track was good and most suitable, and the installations were nice and clean.

2- The timetables and race schedules were well-planned.

3- The road was really good and the competition, in general terms, was very well organized.

4- The doping controls were well organized, most noteworthy being the work of the race steward who carried out his mission to perfection.