On 29 August next summer the London 2012 Paralympic Games will burst
into life, with remarkable sporting achievement set against a backdrop of
colourful passion and noisy enthusiasm. With the holiday season almost upon us,
now seems a good time to take stock and reflect on the journey we have made so
far – as well as the work we still have to do.
During my visit to Beijing I met some elite Chinese
athletes hoping to be at London 2012.
Athletes at the heart
In everything we do towards ensuring the London 2012 Paralympic Games are a success, it's crucial to keep the athlete at the heart of our preparation. As I know from personal experience, if you get it right for the athletes there's a good chance the Games will be remembered for all the right reasons. To help us achieve this, our Athletes’ Committee reports to the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) board and ensures the athletes' needs are at forefront of all we do.
I am pleased to say that we have secured a series of firsts for the Games – including free TV and internet in the Olympic and Paralympic Village – and are ensuring Paralympic-specific deliverables are identified and supported by dedicated planning. We are also listening to and learning from our stakeholders, including the IPC, NPCs and IPSFs, and have been working closely with ParalympicsGB to ensure we learn from their experiences. These measures should help each and every Paralympic athlete feels at ease from the moment they arrive, and allow them to focus purely on competition.
Lasting change
In line with our vision to inspire change, we are proud to be setting new standards in accessibility, transport, venues, facilities and accommodation, leaving a lasting legacy. We are hugely excited to be building on the London 1948 legacy of Dr Ludwig Guttman, and now have fully accessible world-class facilities in London.
Our goal is to create a Games that inspires lasting change in attitudes towards and opportunities for disabled people. Crucially, public support for the Paralympic Games continues to be strong, with more than a third of UK adults believing the Paralympic Games will bring about a breakthrough in the way disabled people are viewed. We are also helping to change attitudes and inspire young people from all backgrounds.
Accessibility
We are continuing to align our planning to address the challenges faced when hosting the world’s largest Paralympic event. Transport operators are working closely with the Games Family, spectators and groups across both Games. For example, ODA and LOCOG transport teams are now adopting a shared approach to planning across bus and fleet systems, parking solutions and interactions with local government.
The Paralympic Route Network design has been completed, while the London Underground has seen massive improvements: steps have been replaced with lifts and escalators, resulting in 63 tube stations with step-free access from platform to street level. All of these improvements will result in a Paralympic Games in London accessible to everyone.
Clear focus
With less than nine months remaining until the Paralympic
Games, LOCOG is scaling up to
deliver, and hiring staff at an ever-increasing rate. Up to 70,000 Games Maker
volunteers are being sought to work alongside paid staff, while elsewhere we staged
our first Paralympic-specific test event, and the Paralympic Torch Relay continues to take shape
Although we have accomplished a great deal already, we are
not complacent and maintain a clear focus on delivering a great Games next
year, and one that is integrated but also distinct from the Olympic Games.
With 2012 almost upon us, I can confidently say that London is delivering on its promises to athletes, to young people and to the future of the Paralympic Games and the Paralympic Movement. As we enter the final stages of our exciting journey to bring the Games back to where it all began, we are in a fantastic position to put on one of the greatest festivals of Paralympic sport the world has ever seen.
