At the event held today in Bonn, Germany, he reiterated to IPC members and Paralympians present that LOCOG’s aim is to deliver a festival of sport, culture and diversity that will inspire a new era in public attitudes towards disability and will enable athletes to perform to their best.
London 2012 is the first organising committee to plan and design the Paralympic Games and Olympic Games together from the outset. Integrating both functions is fundamental to LOCOG’s work and will help ensure it makes its vision a reality. This integration will also make sure that sport and athletes are kept at the heart of London 2012.
Since the start of London 2012’s bid for the Games, LOCOG’s vision has been to use the power of the Games to inspire change in all aspect of people’s lives. For the Paralympic Games in particular, this means a new era in public attitudes towards disability and a new profile for disabled athletes. London 2012 wants to ensure that the Paralympic Games in 2012 will be a catalyst for change with regards to raising people’s awareness, challenging stereotypes and inspiring understanding.
Seb Coe acknowledged that in order to achieve this change, there was still work to be done such as educating the general public on Paralympic sport, ensuring that disabled children and young people have access to the same sporting opportunities as their non-disabled friends and giving community sport coaches and clubs the confidence to include young disabled people in their sport activities.
Seb Coe commented:
'It is a real pleasure to be here in Germany today celebrating 20 years of the International Paralympic Committee. The IPC has been instrumental in taking the Paralympic movement forward and raising awareness of Paralympic sport and Paralympians.
'In the last decade, this movement has gained strong momentum – especially with regards to an increased awareness and respect for the Paralympic Games and Paralympians.
'I know the IPC will play a huge part in helping us ensure that London 2012’s vision becomes a reality. I very much look forward to continuing to work with the IPC and making sure that by the 29th August 2012, we deliver a spectacular sporting showcase for the world’s great Paralympic athletes whilst at the same time helping to change society’s attitude towards disabled people'.
