Millions of people watched the grand opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympic. Many more were busy tracking the daily events right from the opening ceremony till the closing. However, worldwide TV coverage failed to show us something just as spectacular in the 2008 Beijing Paralympic. If it were only given enough coverage, I am sure it would have won over many new followers. I have always been a big fan of the paralympic. Many people viewed it as just a bunch of disables competing among themselves. I see sportsmen and sportswomen of the highest calebre performing professionally and with great proficiency in the sports they are known for. Many when watching the events would shed tears out of pity for them. I shed tears seeing their great courage and true grit.

A paralympians commented after winning a Gold Medal, "I don't want anyone's pity. Don't cheer me for overcoming my disability, just cheer me for my ability."

This was very much the tone of this Beijing Paralympics, started by the President of the International Paralympic Movement Sir Philip Craven, a no nonsense 58 year old former wheelchair basketball player from Bolton who declared a sort of war on the word 'disability.' He told the world to focus on the ability of the athletes, admire their skills and ingenuity to compensate for the difficulties they face.

And so it was that as the swimmers first stripped off their tracksuits to reveal the plain truth about their bodies that often end at the shoulder or the knee. We were equally confronted with the plain truth that here are people who don't need pity because they are really gifted at what they do. And so the sport took over and the disabilities started to fade into the background as each athlete pitted their skill and strength against one another.

And perhaps this is the greatest gift to the world of the Paralympics, that they inspire us. For perhaps what really grips us about any great sport is that little glimpse where we see the glory of GOD shining through as athletes express themselves with their talents. And it helps us to be a bit more grateful to GOD for what He has given us and makes us want to get out there and use it as an act of worship to Him. So let's get playing and to GOD be the glory.