Murderball, which followed the United States wheelchair rugby team during their 2004 Paralympic campaign, gathered a string of glowing critical reviews from the movie critics. The film centres on the USA and Canadian teams, following their fierce rivalry from the 2002 World Championships to Athens two years later. It gives an insight into the ferocity of the sport in which wheelchairs often collide at high speed. The Academy Awards Committee nominated the film for its prize as the best documentary of 2006. Empire Magazine said it ‘strips away the layers of delicacy with which the able-bodied treat the disabled’ to reveal ‘the spirit and joie de vivre of those to whom disability is their making, not breaking. When Murderball came out, everyone in a wheelchair saw the movie and wanted to play the sport, but you have to have limitations in all four limbs. Murderball really changed how people thought about people in wheelchairs. People now look at those in wheelchairs and see them for what they can do rather than what they can't do'.

Pray: that the abilities that wheelchair users will have may not be restricted by the perceptions of those more able. (Dt.8:18b)

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/disability-sport/19484847

A delegation of more than 40 church leaders from 12 of the nations where major sports events will be taking place over the next few years met this week in London to learn from the valuable lessons learned by More Than Gold over the past three years. It included a dozen from Brazil who are getting ready for the World Cup in two years time and the Olympics two years
later. The week-long in-depth briefing included representatives of churches, missions and Christian sports organizations from Brazil, Scotland, Canada, USA, Korea and Russia. The representatives visited churches in action and were briefed on areas ranging from running community festivals, sports outreach, mission teams, social action and prayer to finance, operations and communications. The Brazilians have already been in the UK for some months receiving hands-on experience in running community festivals. Carla Mendes, one of the More Than Gold Brazil team, said ‘We breathe sport in Brazil. It’s in our DNA. So we are already starting to train people how to use sport to engage with their community and are encouraging more than 10,000 churches to work together for 2014.’

Pray: for increased international Christian contributions into sporting events to grow from seeds sown by More Than Gold and other Christian agencies. (1Cor.3:6)

More: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2012/s12080089.htm

Four Paralympic flames have been kindled at the top of the highest peaks of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland ahead of next week's Games. They were created on Northern Ireland's Slieve Donard, Snowdon in Wales, Scotland's Ben Nevis and on Scafell Pike in England's Lake District. Four teams scaled the highest peaks of the home countries to spark the flames which will come together at Stoke Mandeville on Tuesday. The Games start the following day. The flames are being carried down in lanterns ahead of celebrations in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast over the Bank Holiday weekend. A 24-hour relay will leave Stoke Mandeville, the spiritual home of the Games, to arrive in Stratford in time for the opening ceremony in London.

Pray: that the flames will once more unite the nations.

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19333610

Stoke Mandeville Stadium, the birthplace of the Paralympic movement, is to host the world's first Paralympic opening night community festival. According to a news release, the event will feature adults and children of different abilities having fun together. The free event, from 6pm to 10 pm on Aug. 29 marks the opening of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Between three to five thousand people will experience huge inflatable games, opportunities to try Paralympic sports, a multi-sensory zone, art and craft activities, puppets and giant bubbles. The news release said the opening ceremony will be shown on a big screen, accompanied by a free barbeque. The organizers are the Aylesbury Churches Network, comprising 14 churches of different denominations. The group is also underwriting the costs and providing at least 200 volunteers on the night. The Aylesbury churches are working with More Than Gold, the agency helping churches use the Games to serve its communities and visitors.

Pray: that the festival will bring a wonderful spirit of unity with those of different abilities sharing together. (Php.2:1-2)

More: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2012/s12080166.htm

Four years ago Ellie Simmonds burst into public consciousness amidst an eruption of tears which followed her historic 100m freestyle victory in Beijing. Great Britain's youngest-ever Paralympic champion at 13 went on to claim another gold in the 400m six days later and the teenager returned to the UK as the new superstar of her sport. Simmonds though is not someone who craves the limelight and she admits that her journey from China to London has not been an easy one. ‘I loved every moment of Beijing and when it finished I was on such a low,’ Simmonds told BBC Sport. It has also taken the swimmer time to adjust to her near celebrity status and frequently being stopped in the street by members of the public requesting photographs. ‘Sometimes you think 'can you just leave me alone' and I can become a bit agitated, but you just have to roll with it.’

Pray: for all athletes that they would be an inspiration to other participants and to those who will watch. (2Cor.3:13)

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/disability-sport/19361665

Jon Burns, UK director of More Than Gold said other nations have picked up ‘real gems’ from their London experience. Countless churches have used the Games as opportunities to serve communities. One church in the East End hosted a holiday club that’s been packed with Muslim children, and parents were saying they want their children to ‘hear this stuff.’ Mr Burns commended cross-denominational groups for working together and gave the examples of five churches in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire who attracted crowds of 6,500 to watch the opening night on big screens. Volunteers operated on a ‘traffic light’ system - working in a LOCOG or ‘red area’, they simply served the community - working in a church area ‘green area’ they talked openly about their faith.

Pray: that the Christian legacy of unity will continue long after the Olympic and Paralympics finish. Pray also for even more success as churches build up towards the Paralympics big screen and holiday club events. (Jn.17:20)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/churches.see.incredible.results.in.outreach/30463.htm

Weymouth’s Bayside Festival for the Olympics has gone into liquidation. But churches from the area are helping shocked stallholders and security staff. Festival organisers closed their gates on Friday, blaming poor attendance. The Rev Anni Douglas, co-ordinator of Weymouth and Portland churches Refresh 2012 said, ‘We sent our volunteers round the site to see how people were feeling, listening to them and providing refreshments. They really appreciated it and we had a good response,’ she added. Refresh 2012, set up by the local churches to provide activities, youth events and exhibitions at the Olympic sailing site, were also hit by the closure. Refresh 2012 had offered to meet with the festival organisers Mainsail Ltd and the borough council on Friday to try to rescue the event. But their offer to mobilise an army of 300 local church volunteers to run the site and keep it going fell on deaf ears.

Pray: that the Christians in Weymouth will still be able to serve the community with offers of God’s love. (1Pet.4:10)

More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16898

The umbrella organisation pulling together evangelistic efforts for the London 2012 Olympics has just embarked on its last church training tour before the big event begins in just a few months. More than Gold's nine-week tour will give churches in 15 cities a final heads up on effective engagement during the Games and the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The Get Set training days will give churches valuable advice on how to prepare high quality activities and serve their communities. Sessions will cover how to serve as lay chaplains at key transport hubs or as 'Games Pastors', how to run successful festivals and big screen events, and how to use the torch relay to engage with the community. The tour began in Sussex and in the coming weeks will visit Cardiff, Glasgow, Belfast as well as the English cities of Reading, Stoke, Bath, Gateshead, Barnsley, Weymouth, Bolton, Stevenage, Nottingham, plus three London venues.

Pray: that these training days will truly equip these Christian volunteers for the task.

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/churches.get.set.for.olympics.outreach/29276.htm

A church in Otley, Yorkshire, is celebrating the Olympic silver medal win by Lizzie Armitstead as she finished the Women’s Road Race on Sunday. She grew up in Otley and was in Junior Church at the Bridge United Reformed Church. She was also part of the Bridge Church Scout group. Her parents, John and Carol, are still members of the church, and her grandfather, the Rev Jeff Armitstead, is a retired URC minister. The congregation sent a card to Lizzie prior to her big race and sped home from Sunday worship to make sure they didn't miss her fantastic cycle road race. The church had planned a special ‘Sing Olympics’ for the evening worship and the mood was especially celebratory after Lizzie won Team GB's first medal of the London 2012 Games. Church Treasurer Andrew Howard said, ‘Many of the church members have known Lizzie since she was a baby, and have watched her progress over the years. We are all absolutely thrilled that one of our own has had such success.’

Pray: that Lizzie and other Christians living in the Olympic Village will shine and reveal the Light of Christ amongst their fellow Olympians. (Mat.5:14-15)

More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/church.celebrates.lizzie.armitsteads.olympic.win/30378.htm

Up to 9,000 Christians gathered at Leyton Orient Football Stadium last Saturday for a day of prayer and worship for the London Olympics. The stadium is located next to the newly completed Olympic Park, which in just a few weeks' time will welcome athletes and thousands of spectators from around the world for the London 2012 Games. Light the Fire is the only stadium event of its kind taking place in Britain this year that is dedicated solely to praying for the Olympics. The event is brought together Christians from different churches across London and the UK to pray that God's purposes will be achieved during the Games. They are also prayed that people will come to know God's love as a result of the church outreach that will take place during the Games. Project Director, Rosy Ashley said, ‘God has given the church in the nation an amazing opportunity to share His love with the thousands of visitors flocking to the capital.’

Pray: for ‘Light h Fire’ and let us all add to their prayers for the Olympics over the coming weeks. (1 Ch.16:31)

More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/christians.pray.ahead.of.london.olympics/29910.htm