Alexandra and Arne love doing puzzles. The two of them are especially fond of large puzzles. Now they are faced with a giant puzzle - a wheelchair disassembled into all of its components. It needs to be put back together as quickly as possible. Once this is achieved, the wheelchair will represent a fine specimen of medical technology cooperation between Germany and Australia. 

The wheelchair had to be entirely disassembled because one of the frame tubes was cracked halfway through. This model is made of titanium. Welding titanium requires special filler wire. Since I have never done any welding myself and orthopedic technicians tend to be very critical readers when it comes to technical details, I will refrain from delving deeper into the details of their craft.

Suffice to say that the workshop currently did not have the required filler wire in stock. What to do? Nick Morozoff, a technician from Australia, talked to his contacts on the Australian team. After all, it never hurts to ask. It turns out they did indeed have the required titanium filler wire on hand and provided some right away.

Small favors like that are usually not mentioned. However, they are a big reason for the pleasant atmosphere in the Paralympic Village. Every day, people are helping each other, expressing their sympathy and sometimes even sharing the pain of others across all nationalities and cultures.

Last night, the "Bird´s Nest" was packed with 91,000 spectators. Katrin Green from the USA won gold for Germany in the 200 meter final and said she was totally shocked as she reached the finish line. Her goal was 3rd place. She said that once she reached the half-way mark, she no longer saw anything but just ran. It was the second-best time she ever posted. But gold, that seemed like a rather far-fetched idea before the race. And it still looked that way about 30 meters before the finish line.

April Holms, world record holder from the USA, had a significant lead. Then she lost her balance and ultimately fell hard. In doing so, she crossed the path of Le Fur from France who also fell and unfortunately struck April Holmes in the face with her spikes. A terrible scene. At the finish Katrin Green was among the first to look after April Holmes. All the other competitors responded as well. The bad fall suffered by Marlon Shirley in the 100-meter final was similar. In severe pain, the US runner hopped across the finish line on his prosthesis since, as members of the US team stated today, he suffered a rupture of the Achilles tendon. The audience spontaneously responded with resounding applause in support of the athlete.

Oscar Pistorius from South Africa, who beat newcomer Jerome Singleton for the gold in an incredible finish, only accepted quick congratulations from the other competitors in the final and went right over to Marlon Shirley. Two bitter moments in these Paralympics, where two great athletes fell on the way to a medal, were followed by deeply moving emotional responses.

You might say it is the Paralympic spirit, international solidarity between athletes or simply humanity. Powerful emotions in a giant stadium. Harrowing and moving at the same time. But definitely unforgettable. One thing is for sure: Professional athletes have once again shown that they are fighting for medals with each other, not against each other. Way to go!