I have been watching the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland and I am so inspired by the tandem riders, I had to share it!

Apparently para-cycling has been introduced in this Commonwealth Games, and it involves tandem bike riders racing around the track at up to 60km/hr (about 37 mph). Picture a bike with two seats, the front taken by a ‘pilot' and the back seat by a vision impaired cyclist who must put their trust in the pilot to act as their eyes on the track.

The trust between the two riders is so inspiring. The other morning I watched a tandem sprint with Australia and Scotland up against each other, the pairs each had to react quickly when the other pair made a move, it was so exciting. In the race I watched, it went to the third and final decider to award the medal.

Indeed it was at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne that the first athlete with a disability carried her country's flag (Canadian Chantal Petitclerc) in the integrated opening ceremony. It gives me great hope for our world, improvements do happen.

Oh and if you must know, Scotland won.

(READ a related news report in the Australian)

Photo credit: Nottingham Trent University via CC license, British para-cycling coach, Chris Furber