And there are those tingles again! The London 2012 Paralympic Games kicked off in style last night, with British stars of the past, present and future playing leading roles at a spectacular Opening Ceremony.
An incredible peak of 11.2 million people watched the ceremony, with an average audience of 7.6 million viewers tuning in to see legends - sporting and otherwise, zip wires, fireworks, apples, dancing and lots of umbrellas!
The ceremony, called ‘Enlightenment’, was certainly enlightening, celebrating the aim of the Paralympic Games to change public perceptions of disability. It featured world-renowned British scientist Professor Stephen Hawking, described by organisers as “the most famous disabled person alive in the world” and actor Sir Ian McKellen as well as a cast of 3,000 volunteers.
Unlike the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, athletes entered the stadium early on and were able to witness the bulk of the action. In all, 4,200 athletes from 164 countries were represented and they were greeted by Lord Coe, chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee, who said: “To the athletes I say, you will hear us. The enthusiasm for these Paralympics is extraordinary. The crowds will be unprecedented. These will be Games to remember.”
Wheelchair Tennis star Peter Norfolk had the honour of carrying the British flag, with the GB party featuring many of the 300-strong home team – the biggest at these Games – and their support staff.
The Paralympic cauldron was lit by Margaret Maughan, an 84-year-old veteran of five Paralympics. She also claimed Great Britain’s first gold medal, in Archery, at the inaugural 1960 Games in Rome.
She was handed the flame by Dave Clarke, GB’s 5-a-side Football captain at London 2012, who received it from 24-year-old former Marine commander Joe Townsend, a triathlete from Eastbourne who hopes to make his debut when his sport is included in the Paralympics for the first time at Rio 2016.
The aim for ParalympicsGB now is to improve on the 102 medals, 42 of them gold, that secured them second place in the medal table in Beijing four years ago, and we’ll be behind them all the way. Let’s go, GB!
Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
Image credit: London 2012
