Demonstrations of all of the 20 Paralympic sports at the London 2012 Paralympic Games are taking place at London’s Trafalgar Square Thursday where an official invitation will be issued to athletes around the world to compete in the London 2012 Summer Paralympic Games.
The Paralympics follow the Olympic Games and run from August 29 to September 9, 2012.
Representatives of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) are in London and the heads of National Paralympic Committees from more than 100 competing countries will have the chance to see many of the Games venues.
IPC President Sir Philip Craven said, “the foundations for what could be the most successful Games ever are being laid in London. All we need now is the athletes”.
London 2012 chair Lord Coe said, “I want to see lots of people in Trafalgar Square. Whenever we have showcased Paralympic sport in busy locations it has always been a success.
“This is a great opportunity for young people to understand what they are watching, that – and we are going to have to redefine some of these terms – 99 per cent of able-bodied people could not get within a country mile of.
“For everybody, Paralympic sport is, and would be, a challenge”.
The BBC reports the events at Trafalgar Square kicked off with the first round of sports being showcased and a world record attempt for the longest rally in a sitting volleyball match.
Tickets for the London 2012 Paralympic Games go on sale September 9.
