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GB is Paralympic spiritual home
Friday September 05th 2008. Posted: 08:00
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Beijing's Bird's Nest Stadium will also be the primary venue for the Paralympic Games
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The Paralympic flame is set to arrive at Beijing’s Bird’s Nest Olympic stadium tomorrow (Saturday) to mark the launch of the 2008 Paralympic Games in China.
Some 850 torchbearers are currently taking part in two nine-day Paralympic flame torch relays, prior to converging at the Bird’s Nest for the opening ceremony. The relays are following two separate routes over a total of more than 13,000km - one highlighting ancient China, the other modern China. The 4,000 athletes expected to arrive in Beijing for the Paralympic Games will compete in 20 sports at many of the venues used in last month’s Olympic Games. They will include BT apprentice Richard Fox, who is a member of Great Britain’s cerebral palsy football team. Duncan Ingram, BT Group director for London 2012, said: “In line with its earlier support of Team GB in the Olympic Games, BT is also supporting the Paralympics GB team in Beijing. This, of course, is in addition to the company’s role as Official Communication Services Partner for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.” Great Britain has traditionally been among the top achieving nations at the Paralympic Games - which this year celebrate their 60th anniversary. Four years ago in Athens - competing against more than 3,800 athletes from 125 countries - Great Britain finished second in the medals table behind China, with a tally of 35 gold medals, 30 silver and 29 bronze. This success is appropriate, since Great Britain’s association with the Paralympic Games is viewed in much the same light as the ancient link between Athens and the Olympic Games. The first - unofficial - Paralympic Games were launched in Great Britain in 1948 by Sir Ludwig Guttman. A neurologist at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, Ludwig believed that sport could play a vital role in the rehabilitation of World War Two veterans with spinal injuries. To endorse this belief, he arranged a competition between wheelchair athletes from sports clubs and other hospitals, as well as from Stoke Mandeville, to coincide with the 1948 Olympic Games being held in London that year. Over the next decade, competition grew in Britain as Ludwig's care plan was adopted by other spinal injury units. Then, in 1960, Ludwig took 400 wheelchair athletes to Rome to compete in that year’s Olympic Games, thus launching the modern Parallel Olympic Games - or Paralympic Games as they became known. Since those early humble beginnings in Britain, the summer and winter Paralympic Games have become the ultimate international competitions for world-class athletes with a disability. They are linked to the Olympic celebrations, and athletes aiming to compete must meet strict qualifying standards - set and maintained in the UK by Paralympics GB (the British Paralympic Association). For the last 60 years, there has been no obligation on the host city for the Olympic Games - including the 2008 host Beijing - to host the Paralympic Games as well. The host country has either volunteered or has been approached to host the Paralympic Games. Duncan explained: “This is set to change from the 2012 Olympic Games onwards, when cities bidding to host the Olympic Games will also be required to host the Paralympic Games. This indicates the growing importance attached to the Paralympic Games.” Stoke Mandeville itself - the original launch pad for Paralympic activity - continues to enjoy fame as the home of wheelchair sport. A stadium opened in the town in 1969 later played host to some 1,200 athletes competing in the 1984 Paralympic Games. Duncan added: “In 2003, the Stoke Mandeville Stadium underwent a £10.2 million redevelopment. It now boasts a state-of-the-art sports complex, an Olympic lodge and an Olympic village - all of which will play a key role in hosting the 2012 Paralympic Games.” BT has helped create and run the campaign to support athletes heading to the Paralympic Games in Beijing - and also to encourage investment by the general public in the future of disability sport in the UK. Donations can be made online, by calling 0800 1114321 or by texting SUPPORT to 82010.
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Last updated:
09:56