Silver lining furore over lost screen

Haggerston Park’s big screen proved itself to be extremely popular during the Olympics, particularly with people living and working close to the green space.

Hackney Council, which was responsible for the facility, claimed more than 4,000 spectators enjoyed watching the opening ceremony on the screen, which on the night of Danny Boyle’s now legendary spectacular, was complemented by food stalls offering dishes from around the world as well as an interactive sports zone.

As the medals for Team GB stacked up over the weeks that followed, the screen too seemed to be going from strength to strength.

How surprising, then, that it was quietly axed before the start of the Paralympics.

The Citizen first heard word about this from several sports fans confused as to why it had so suddenly vanished from the park.

Tim Rushby-Smith, a torch bearer, is among those who have expressed disappointment about its absence during the Paralympics.

He said the facility could have helped galvanise still further support for disabled sport – although it’s only fair to state that Mr Rushby-Smith did also point out that there may have been some justification for the council’s decision.

Our reporter asked the council why the screen had not been left standing. A spokesman would only say that the Town Hall was “unfortunately…not able” to provide the facility during the Paralympics – a somewhat vague answer that leaves a mystery as to the real reasoning.

“More cynical, negative news!” some fans of more upbeat stories might wail.

But take heed, a highly positive undertone exists beneath our front page headline.

As Mr Rushby-Smith told us, the fact people are asking questions about the screen in the first place is a measure of how far we have come.

People are now seeing the Paralympics as an elite sporting event equivalent to the Olympics, and one that should be treated as such.

That is certainly how it is viewed by the able bodied Paralympics obsessives who contacted the Citizen in the first place to ask what had happened to their favourite outdoor venue for watching world class athletes compete as part of the greatest show on earth.