Hello Marg, I know this is off topic, but I strongly agree with the sentiments enclosed and have added my name to the bottom of the list, and tried to help in a small way. I apologise for sending this to the list, as is is a sort of chain letter, but the more people who can help in this small way, might make some paralympians day. Many thanks.....Robyn Arkinstall. Where's the spirit? Original Message----- From: [email protected] [SMTP:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, 9 October 2000 9:33 As I was travelling to work on the ferry this morning I noticed that overnight workmen had begun to remove some of the Olympic rings. As you all know, the Paralympics are now only 2 weeks away, yet Mr Knight has decided to slap the athletes of the world in the face by removing this great unifying symbol! I am very angry. The paralympians deserve our respect and our support equally as much as their able bodied counterparts. Indeed most of them have had to surmount far greater obstacles to reach the pinnacle of their sport than most of us will ever face. Just imagine that you had not only spent considerable time overcoming a physical or mental disability, but then years training so that you could compete in front of your home crowds. Then imagine you had witnessed the last two weeks of the Olympics and felt the huge generosity of spirit that overcame us all - you'd be so inspired at the thought of what lay ahead, wouldn't you? Then imagine that with a fortnight to go you saw the symbol that had burned brightly on the bridge torn down, the symbol for which you have been spending our soul in training every day, the symbol that is meant to overcome the barriers of race, religion, sex and disability. How would you feel? The wet weather that has spread across the city will mean that no more can be done until the heavens clear. Accordingly, given that email can spread like the wildfire that has surrounded Sydney over the past few days, can you please place your name on the petition below and send it on to those you think may do likewise (hell, forward it to those who won't - it will only take them 10 seconds to press delete and get on with their day). If you are the 20th / 40th / 60th etc person on the petition, please also forward it back to me <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] I will be contacting the media through some paralympic sources to see if there is any interest in this issue. Please do this small thing to support those that have overcome so muchand who stand on the verge of the time of their lives. Please don't let petty political decisions marr the great generosity of spirit that has blossomed in our most beautiful of cities over the past weeks. Please act. PETITION We the undersigned urge the NSW Government to retain the Olympic Rings on the Sydney Harbour Bridge as a symbol of excellence and unity for the Paralympic Games. 1. Matt Keogh - Mosman, NSW 2. Samantha Selmes - Chippendale, NSW 3. Erin Fitzpatrick, Edgecliff, NSW 4. Jill Chambers, Edgecliff, NSW 5. Elena Rodriguez, Sydney, NSW 6. Becky Bowyer, Sydney, NSW 7. Scott Mundy, Sydney NSW 8. frank taylor sydney NSW 9. Mark McHugh Sydney NSW 10. eva frengstad sydney nsw 11.Jason Slade Sydney NSW 12.Mark Dillon Sydney NSW 13. Daniela Russo, Sydney NSW 14. Bonny Bayne, Sydney NSW 15. Andrew Blockley Avalon NSW 16. Halee Smith, Avalon NSW 17. Michael O'Connor Randwick NSW 18. Scott D'Ornay Randwick NSW 19. Jeri D'Ornay Randwick NSW 20. Sydney D'Ornay Clovelly NSW 21. Margaret D'Ornay Clovelly NSW 22. Andrea Mumm, West Pennant Hills, NSW 23. Catherine Graham, Cremorne, NSW 24. Betsy Hone Lindfield NSW 25. Carley Reibelt, Sydney NSW 26. Brent Hakainsson, Sydney NSW 27. Fiona Gray, Sydney NSW 28. Darren Simpson, Sydney NSW 29. Bev Gray, Sydney NSW 30. Bill Gray, Sydney NSW 31. Melissa Stevens, Central Coast NSW 32. Chris Stevens, Central Coast NSW 33. Bill Lockrey, Brisbane QLD 34. Allison Lockrey, Brisbane QLD 35. Robyn Arkinstall, Gosford NSW 36. Bill Arkinstall, Gosford NSW