The Paralympics are returning to their home country for the first time since 1984 when they start in London on Wednesday.
The Paralympics were started in 1948 by a German, Dr Ludwig Guttmann, who had excaped to Britain from Nazi Germany. Dr Guttmann worked at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire and, in that year, hosted a sports competition for British World War II veteran patients with spinal cord injuries. Those first Paralympic Games in Stoke Mandeville were called the 1948 International Wheelchair Games, and were intended to coincide with the 1948 London Olympics. Stoke Mandeville also co-hosted (with New York City) the 1984 Paralympic Games, too. Because of where the Paralympics were born, the mascot for the London 2012 Paralympics is called Mandeville.
In 1948, the world's first Paralympic Games took place when British WWII veterans with spinal injuries took part in a series of sporting events at Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire
The London 2012 Paralympics are to be the biggest ever - in terms of the number of countries participating; in terms of the number of athletes participating; and in terms of the number of spectators who are to attend them.
A record 165 countries are to take part, 19 more than in Beijing. Fifteen countries are taking part in the Paralympics for the first time ever: Antigua and Barbuda, Brunei, Cameroon, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, North Korea, San Marino, the Solomon Islands, and the US Virgin Islands. Trinidad and Tobago are to participate in the Paralympics for the first time since 1988.
An estimated total of 4,200 athletes are expected to compete in the Games, an increase of 250 athletes in comparison to the 2008 Summer Paralympics.
The London 2012 Olympics were said by many to have been the best ever, thanks in part to the huge and very vocal support of the mainly British spectators at the venues, and the London 2012 Paralympics are looking like they will be the same. More tickets have seen sold for these Paralympics then any previous Paralympics. The record 2.1 million surpasses the previous record of 1.8 million tickets sold for the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.
Seb Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee, said: ‘We are absolutely delighted with how the British public has responded so far to tickets for the Paralympic Games.’
Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee said: ‘To have sold the most ever tickets for a Paralympic Games three weeks before the Opening Ceremony shows the insatiable appetite the public has for top class elite sport.
‘So far London has delivered a quite spectacular Olympic Games which has further whetted the appetite of the public ahead of the Paralympics’.
The British Paralympic team is targeting second place in the medals table - which is where they have finished at every Paralympics since the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics.
In the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, Great Britain finished second in the medals table behind hosts China (France, Germany and Italy did not finish in the Top 10). Great Britain also finished second behind China in the 2004 Paralympics. In the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, Great Britain finished second behind Australia and, in the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics, Great Britain finished second behind the USA. It is predicted that at the London 2012 Paralympics, Great Britain will again finish second behind only China.
Highlights of London 2012 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony
Expect breath-taking sights, sounds and performances from world-renowned artists showcasing some of the UK's best creative talent.
The performances will celebrate the Paralympics, London's culture and everything the capital has to offer.
Award-winning film director Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot) heads the team of four talented individuals running the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Royal Mail has launched a set of four stamps featuring British Paralympians to celebrate the London 2012 Paralympic Games:
The Paralympics were started in 1948 by a German, Dr Ludwig Guttmann, who had excaped to Britain from Nazi Germany. Dr Guttmann worked at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire and, in that year, hosted a sports competition for British World War II veteran patients with spinal cord injuries. Those first Paralympic Games in Stoke Mandeville were called the 1948 International Wheelchair Games, and were intended to coincide with the 1948 London Olympics. Stoke Mandeville also co-hosted (with New York City) the 1984 Paralympic Games, too. Because of where the Paralympics were born, the mascot for the London 2012 Paralympics is called Mandeville.
In 1948, the world's first Paralympic Games took place when British WWII veterans with spinal injuries took part in a series of sporting events at Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire
The London 2012 Paralympics are to be the biggest ever - in terms of the number of countries participating; in terms of the number of athletes participating; and in terms of the number of spectators who are to attend them.
A record 165 countries are to take part, 19 more than in Beijing. Fifteen countries are taking part in the Paralympics for the first time ever: Antigua and Barbuda, Brunei, Cameroon, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, North Korea, San Marino, the Solomon Islands, and the US Virgin Islands. Trinidad and Tobago are to participate in the Paralympics for the first time since 1988.
An estimated total of 4,200 athletes are expected to compete in the Games, an increase of 250 athletes in comparison to the 2008 Summer Paralympics.
The London 2012 Olympics were said by many to have been the best ever, thanks in part to the huge and very vocal support of the mainly British spectators at the venues, and the London 2012 Paralympics are looking like they will be the same. More tickets have seen sold for these Paralympics then any previous Paralympics. The record 2.1 million surpasses the previous record of 1.8 million tickets sold for the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.
Seb Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee, said: ‘We are absolutely delighted with how the British public has responded so far to tickets for the Paralympic Games.’
Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee said: ‘To have sold the most ever tickets for a Paralympic Games three weeks before the Opening Ceremony shows the insatiable appetite the public has for top class elite sport.
‘So far London has delivered a quite spectacular Olympic Games which has further whetted the appetite of the public ahead of the Paralympics’.
The British Paralympic team is targeting second place in the medals table - which is where they have finished at every Paralympics since the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics.
In the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, Great Britain finished second in the medals table behind hosts China (France, Germany and Italy did not finish in the Top 10). Great Britain also finished second behind China in the 2004 Paralympics. In the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, Great Britain finished second behind Australia and, in the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics, Great Britain finished second behind the USA. It is predicted that at the London 2012 Paralympics, Great Britain will again finish second behind only China.
Highlights of London 2012 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony
Expect breath-taking sights, sounds and performances from world-renowned artists showcasing some of the UK's best creative talent.
The performances will celebrate the Paralympics, London's culture and everything the capital has to offer.
Award-winning film director Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot) heads the team of four talented individuals running the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Royal Mail has launched a set of four stamps featuring British Paralympians to celebrate the London 2012 Paralympic Games: