Olympics

Just before Christmas, three Paralympic archers fired arrows at a target pinned to the wall of a derelict sports centre in east London. The shots were symbolic for many reasons. They marked the demolition of the long-empty Eastway centre next to the Eton Manor sports ground – where part of the running track used at the 1948 Olympics was buried. They marked a future where local people will have access to a state-of-the-art sports facility amid a totally regenerated environment. And, as far as 2012 is concerned, they marked the start of construction for the Paralympic Games since the new facility at Eton Manor will host wheelchair tennis and archery.

Though there is a gap of 17 days between the Olympics closing and the Paralympics opening, a key feature of London 2012 is that the planning and design for both events are fully integrated. It was a strength of the bid, and one of the reasons why I wanted to get involved. This has not always been the case: in the past, some Paralympians have felt that we were simply tagged on, that there were the main Games then ‘our bit’.

In a speech to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) last November, Lord Coe reiterated that he heads up the ‘London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games’. It’s a long title, but the emphasis is important. It helps with the education and awareness programmes that are being developed. After all, I’m sure there are still people who think we just sit there with rugs on our knees, or simply turn up and have a go.

On target: Paralympic archer Danielle Brown fires at the empty Eastway Sports Centre

Something not widely known is that the Paralympic movement actually started in this country. At Stoke Mandeville Hospital in the 1940s, Sir Ludwig Guttmann worked with war veterans who had suffered spinal injuries. He believed sport could aid their recovery. In 1948, at the same time as the London Olympics, he organised the first wheelchair Games. The event gained the official title of the Paralympic Games and was held to coincide with the 1960 and ’64 Olympics in Rome and Tokyo. Now both events always happen in the same year, and since 1988 they’ve used the same stadiums.

I’ve been in a wheelchair since I was seven as a result of spina bifida, but I’ve been able to take advantage of opportunities that came my way and win 11 Paralympic gold medals on the track, over distances from 100m to 800m, between 1992 and 2004. I’m 37 now so I know I won’t be competing in London, but I’ll be helping to nurture the next generation of British Paralympians towards 2012. They’re delighted that athletes’ needs are at the heart of planning, and that the compact design of the Games will minimise travel problems and increase acccessibility.

Most of the Paralympic venues are set in two zones, the Olympic Park Zone and the River Zone, which are within 15 minutes of each other. The Olympic Park will contain the main athletics stadium, where the track and field and opening and closing ceremonies will take place; the Hockey Centre will host seven-a-side and five-a-side football; and the Velopark will stage track cycling. In addition to archery and wheelchair tennis at Eton Manor, three indoor arenas will host wheelchair rugby, fencing and basketball preliminaries, goalball and judo, while swimming will be in the Aquatics Centre. Only last month, Britain finished top of the medals table at the IPC world swimming championships, showing our strength in this particular sport.

Down in the River Zone, sitting volleyball and the equestrian events will be in Greenwich, there’ll be shooting at the Royal Artillery Barracks, and boccia, powerlifting, table tennis and basketball at the ExCeL Centre. Outside the two zones, road cycling will take place in Regent’s Park, the new sport of adaptive rowing at Eton, and sailing at Weymouth and Portland. All Paralympians will be housed within the athletes’ village in the Olympic Park, while Paralympic sailors and rowers will have accommodation close to their competition venues.

The key feature of London 2012 is socially democratic provision – for the elite athletes and spectators during the 12 days of competition, and for the wider community afterwards. Not everyone can be a Paralympian, but I’m confident the Games will be a catalyst for continued change in public attitudes towards disability.

Click on www.london2012.com for a venue map.