With only 24 hours left for the 2012 Paralympic Games to be declared open, the city of London is hoping for “yet another success” after the eye-catching Olympic Games.
Promising the “best attended” Paralympics in the 52-year history of the event, British high commissioner to India Sir James Bevan said the people of London were looking ahead to another 12 days of sporting extravaganza.
Over 150 nations will take part in the Paralympics, which will see close to 4,000 athletes in action. “We think we delivered our best at the Olympics, and the Paralympics will take it ahead.
“Our aim is to repeat our success and leave behind a sporting legacy, that will inspire future British generation to take up sport,” said the high commissioner in the capital.
The Paralympic Games — which originated in London in 1948 as a vehicle to inspire injured soldiers from the World War II, giving rise to the Paralympic movement — will see participation from close to 1,500 women athletes this year.
“That make it more than one third of the total athletes and it is a landmark. The women will compete in the 18 of the total 20 sport at the competition,” he said, adding that the country planned to use its Olympics infrastructure to the optimum. “The stadiums, the facilities, the Athletes’ Village will all be put to use during these Games, following which we have plans to convert the Village into a community housing system to boost the economy.”