London 2012 blog

A large number of the LOCOG team recently visited Stoke Mandeville Sports Stadium for the Disabled, the birthplace of the modern Paralympic movement. We were welcomed by the Chairman of Wheelpower, Kevan Baker and its CEO, Martin McElhatton.

Four things struck me in particular.

First, the facilities at Stoke Mandeville are impressive and clearly well used by both the Paralympic and local communities at pretty much all levels of ability – a superb example of how the facilities being built for 2012 should be used in legacy.

Second, whilst watching a game of Wheelchair Rugby being played by the training squad from the GB Wheelchair Rugby team, I found myself focussing hard on the intricacies of the game itself, the level of skill required, and the tactics being deployed. Disability is a part of the game but it does not define it. Projecting that forward to 2012, we’re all in for an amazing spectacle of high level Paralympic sport in 2012. I think I would choose to watch Wheelchair Rugby over many other sports of all sorts!

Third, we were treated to a show from The Signdance Collective, a troupe of performers with disabilities who use a unique visual language to entertain both deaf and hearing audiences with their musical dance theatre. This provided an example of the many possibilities to integrate the Paralympics into London’s Cultural Olympiad.

Finally, in our workshop session at the end of the day, it was clear how much belief the LOCOG team has in the Paralympics, but equally how much work remains to deliver the full 60 day festival of sport and humanity in 2012. Of course, I’ve no doubt we’re up to the challenge!