The British High Commissioner, Sir James Bevan, pointed at the slogan of the official broadcaster Channel 4 , ‘Thanks for the warm up’, to focus attention on the Paralympics set to be inaugurated in London on Wednesday.
Talking to the media at his residence on Monday, he said that London was all set to make the Paralympics a big success in the same manner as it did with hosting the Olympics for the third time.
Wishing luck
Appreciating India’s efforts in winning six medals including two silver medals in the Olympics held in London from July 27 to August 12, Sir James Bevan, wished success for the Indian Paralympics squad of 10 athletes, set to compete in athletics, powerlifting, swimming and shooting. He remembered to highlight that India had won two gold medals in the Paralympics in the past.
The Paralympics in London will feature about 4000 athletes, including 1500 women, from 150 countries. It was mentioned that the tickets had all been sold out, for the first time in the 52-year history of the Paralympics, as Britain showed “unprecedented interest’’.
The High Commissioner said that Britain took great pride in the fact that it was the birth place for the idea of Paralympics as early as in 1948 when it hosted archery competition for British soldiers injured in the second World War, long before the Paralympics was first held in Rome in 1960.
“They are not ordinary athletes. They are super human,” said the High Commissioner, as he stressed that the Paralympics would inspire a generation.
Serious
Suggesting that Britain took the Paralympics as seriously as the Olympics, the High Commissioner said that London was proud of showcasing its past and would deliver the Paralympics as successfully as it did with the Olympics.
He hoped that the young generation, the champions of the future, would get inspired to pursue sports with intensity, on watching the Paralympics. nt
