Paralympic News

Still not sure what to apply for? See latest London 2012 news on Paralympic tickets.

The application period for London 2012 Paralympic tickets has reached its halfway point and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has confirmed that whilst some sessions are already oversubscribed, there is still good availability across all sports. The application process closes at 6pm on 26 September 2011.

- Evening sessions for Track Cycling and Swimming are oversubscribed at higher price categories – the first time that a Paralympic Games will have oversubscribed applications for individual events

Still good availability across sports in the Olympic Park – including those at lower price categories in Cycling and Swimming – as well as ExCeL, Eton Dorney, Greenwich Park and Brands Hatch
Evening sessions for Wheelchair Basketball and Wheelchair Rugby also proving popular
£20.12 tickets for Opening and Closing Ceremony oversubscribed

Applications for tickets can be made at www.tickets.london2012.com until 26 September 2011 or via a postal application using the London 2012 Paralympic Ticketing Guide which can be found in Lloyds TSB branches in England and Wales, Bank of Scotland branches in Scotland and public libraries in Northern Ireland. In recognition of Visa's longstanding support of the Paralympic Games, only Visa (debit, credit and prepaid) can be used to purchase tickets online. Payment for postal applications can be made by cheque and postal order.

LOCOG Chair Sebastian Coe said, “It is great news that one year out we can say that for the first time in Paralympic Games history, some sessions will be oversubscribed, but there are still lots of opportunities to be part of London 2012. There are great prices and of course tickets include a Games Travelcard, making them even better value. The Paralympic Games offer world class sport at world class venues – plus with ParalympicsGB aiming to emulate their spectacular success at the last Games, there will be some memorable British sporting moments to be part of. The application process is open until 26 September, so now is your best chance.”

Prices start at £10 for adults and £5 for those who are 16 or under and 60 or over on 29 August 2012. Tickets for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies will start at £20.12 with a top end price of £500 for the Opening Ceremony. A Games Travelcard, for use on the day of the event on public transport in zones 1-9 in London and for travel between London and Eton Dorney and Brands Hatch, is included within the price of a ticket.

Different types of tickets are available for the Paralympic Games. Tickets to a specific session will guarantee entry to specific sport sessions either on a general admission basis or in reserved seats. General admission means spectators will choose their seat on arrival at the venue on a first come, first served basis. Day passes will be available, enabling spectators to see a range of sports taking place in the Olympic Park, ExCeL or The Royal Artillery Barracks on that day on a general admission basis. This will enable spectators to see a selection of different sports – from Wheelchair Tennis, Wheelchair Rugby, Goalball, 5-a-side Football, Wheelchair Basketball and 7-a-side Football in the Olympic Park; Judo, Table Tennis, Sitting Volleyball, Wheelchair Fencing, Boccia and Powerlifting at ExCeL and Archery or Shooting at The Royal Artillery Barracks. Tickets for Athletics, Cycling, Swimming and some finals of other sports will be sold on a reserved seating basis only.

Group Organiser tickets will also be available, with group organisers who apply for 20 tickets or more per session and are allocated tickets receiving additional tickets at no extra charge. A group organiser applying for 20 tickets would receive two extra tickets at no extra charge, an application of 30 tickets would revive a total of 33 tickets and so on up to an application for 50 tickets, which would receive 55.

Medal rush for GB athletes in front of home crowd

The GB para table tennis players have already secured four medals at the halfway point of the British Open Para Table Tennis Championships 2011.

An all-British singles men’s Class 1 final saw Robert Davies take gold against training partner Paul Davies, while Sue Gilroy MBE, from Barnsley, won bronze in women’s Class 4 and Will Bayley took bronze in the Class 7 men’s category.

Robert, who defeated friend and team mate Paul Davies 3-0, said: “It felt a little strange because I was playing my team partner.

“We train together and we encourage each other and we were both nervous because we both know each other's tactics and weaknesses."

The British Open is taking place at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield, until Saturday September 17.

Having attracted more than 340 elite para table tennis players from 44 nations across the globe, it is a rare opportunity for GB players to compete in an international tournament on home soil.

Robert added: "It's a good venue, the facilities are amazing, as good as any world championship's. It's good to have the competition in Sheffield.”

Sue Gilroy MBE, who took bronze despite being on the road to recovery after recent surgery, said: “It feels fantastic. I’ve only been back 3 weeks but I'm finally playing well again.

"I feel really good now and my standard of playing is up. It's fantastic being here and having family and friend's support. It lifts you. It's a really good venue, there's no where better in the world and I have travelled all over. The facilities here are world class both for able-bodied and disabled athletes.”

Friday and Saturday will see the players compete in teams for the chance to gain more medals.

The British Open is supported by UK Sport, the British Association for People with Disabilities, Para ITTF, Sheffield City Council, the English Table Tennis Association, Sheffield International Venues, Butterfly, Konica Minolta, MLS and HR Media.

For a full set of results and to find out more go to www.britishopenparatabletennis.com.

London 2012 announces plans for the Paralympic Torch Relay

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) today announced plans for the Paralympic Torch Relay to lead the UK into the start of the London 2012 Paralympic Games on the evening of Wednesday 29 August 2012.

?   New concept for the Paralympic Torch Relay is launched - four separate flames to be lit in London, Greater Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff
?   A special ceremony to bring the flames together to create the Paralympic Flame to be held at Stoke Mandeville, home of the Paralympic Movement
?   Paralympic Flame Festival to be held in each nation of the UK
?   24 hour overnight Torch Relay from Stoke Mandeville to Stratford for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games

Presented by BT, Lloyds TSB and Sainsbury’s the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay will showcase the very best of teamwork by shining a light on those who have worked together to reach a collective goal and the amazing feats that have been achieved as a result of individuals combining their skills and abilities.

Building on the traditional Torch Relay format, the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay programme will begin on Friday 24 August 2012 with the first flame lighting event to be held in London. Over the Bank Holiday weekend, Greater Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff will each host a flame lighting moment and an evening Paralympic Flame Festival.

Each of the four flames will be lit by the energy of physical human endeavour, with each place creating its unique method of lighting. The flame lighting method for each nation will be announced closer to the time of the Paralympic Torch Relay next year.

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: ‘Day after day our Paralympians show the energy of human endeavour both on and off the sporting field of play. By lighting the flame which heralds the start of their competition through the energy of human endeavour, the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay is a tribute to their inspirational stories of courage and determination and a celebration of teamwork right across the UK.

‘Today we welcome BT, Lloyds TSB and Sainsbury’s to the Paralympic Torch Relay team as our Presenting Partners. Each of the three organisations has a great history of community involvement and we are thrilled to be working with them to ignite people’s excitement ahead of 11 days of fantastic Paralympic sport.’

Once a flame has been lit, it will visit local community groups and key locations in and around the city. In each nation, there will be a Paralympic Flame Festival, the last of which takes place in Stoke Mandeville, home of the Paralympic Movement where a special ceremony will be held to bring together all four flames to create the Paralympic Flame.

Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport said: ‘The Paralympic Games next summer is our chance to change people’s attitudes towards disability. The Torch Relay will take the Paralympics to each home nation helping to build excitement for the Games and awareness of disability sport. This is our chance to welcome home the Paralympic Movement.’

In addition to the lighting events there will be a series of evening celebrations called Flame Festivals. In preparation for these Flame Festivals, lantern making workshops will be held on that day and earlier in the summer. People from all communities can participate in the Flame Festival lantern procession accompanied by specially selected Torchbearers.

The Flame Festivals are public events staged by LOCOG with the assistance of the host Local Authority and will include Flame themed entertainment to be programmed by LOCOG and the Presenting Partners.

The four flames will be combined at the special ceremony at Stoke Mandeville on Tuesday 28 August to create the London 2012 Paralympic Flame. Later that evening, there will be a 24 hour Torch Relay from Stoke Mandeville to journey the Paralympic Flame to London for the opening of the Paralympic Games.

580 Torchbearers working in teams of five will carry the Paralympic Flame towards the Stadium to light the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Details about how Torchbearers will be selected are to be announced at a later date.

Suzi Williams, Director, BT Group Marketing and Brand, said; ‘BT has a long history of supporting Paralympic sport in the UK and we're committed to raising the profile of Paralympic sport globally. The Paralympic Torch Relay is a fantastic opportunity to get involved in the build up to the Games and we want to put local communities at the heart of the celebrations.’

Sally Hancock, 2012 Partnership and Group Sponsorship Director, Lloyds Banking Group, said: ‘The Paralympic Torch Relay provides a wonderful opportunity for everyone to recognise and reward those who have supported and inspired people with disability in their community.

‘Following the success of the Lloyds TSB London 2012 Olympic Torchbearer nomination campaign, in which thousands of people nominated someone to carry the Olympic Flame, we are delighted to again extend the invitation to people across the UK to nominate someone to be part of a Torchbearer team in the Paralympic Torch Relay.’

Jat Sahota, Head of Sponsorship at Sainsbury’s said: ‘Now that the Paralympic Torch Relay plans have been unveiled, the countdown to the Games has really started. This is going to be a fantastic event and we will be giving our colleagues and customers the chance to get involved in the Paralympic Torch Relay over the coming months.

‘The vision on which the Paralympic Movement was founded complements our commitment to promote a healthier, more active lifestyle across all ages and abilities. As the first ever Paralympic Games-only sponsor, we are extremely excited about the year ahead as we seek to raise awareness of disability sport in the run up to the opening ceremony.’

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