An annual festival of disability sport will be held in the Olympic Park as part of the efforts to create a lasting legacy from the Paralympics.
The London Legacy Development Corporation has announced plans to pledge £2 million towards the event which will be held annually in London. Next year’s event will be held in early summer following the redevelopments within the Olympic Park, renamed the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park , and organisers hope it will help build on the success of the Paralympics and raise the profile of disability sport.
The north part of the park is due to reopen on July 27, 2013, exactly a year after the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, and the south of the Park will open the following spring. There will be variety of disabled sports facilities available including boccia, goalball, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby at the Copper Box and a pool lift will be added to the Aquatics Centre. There are also plans for housing for disabled people to be made available within the park.
Daniel Moylan, chairman of the LLDC, said: “Thousands of people will be inspired to get involved in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and we want to make sure there are opportunities for everyone.”
The LLDC are also aiming to ensure 5% of the employment opportunities on offer will go to disabled people.
Xavier Gonzalez, chief executive of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), added: “By working with the operator of the venues on the Park now, they are ensuring that Paralympic sports will continue to be at the heart of the sporting legacy.”
Beth Shine, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
