b'Ward Family and the 2012 OlympicsAs the torch made its way to the Olympic Stadium in London it passed through our home city of Birmingham. On Saturday 30th THE LONDONJune 2012 we took our family to Edgbaston cricket ground where we saw Sir Cliff Richard run PARALYMPICS OF 2012 past bearing the iconic symbol of the Games. For us, it was the beginning of the Olympics. From 27th July to 12th August 2012, LondonGames, and previous outdated images andOnce the Games commenced, basked in the glory of a fantastic Olympicperceptions of disability were changed inwe wanted to experience the Games, but this hugely successful festival ofthis country forever. Research subsequentlyexcitement of the Olympics, but sport was simply the warm-up for another setshowed that eight out of ten (81%) of Britishdid not have any tickets for any of Games which within weeks would take theadults thought that the Paralympics had hadevents. So, we randomly chose country by storm: the London Paralympics ofa very positive impact on the way peoplea day to visit London so that we 2012. Sportsmen and women such as Davidwith an impairment were viewed by thecould all say we were there. We Weir, Jonnie Peacock, Hannah Cockcroftpublic. Paralympic athletes suddenly becamedrove down to north London, paid and Ellie Simmonds became firm favouriteshousehold names, and some of theseto park on a local residents drive with the UK public as they competed in frontOlympic heroes such as Ellie Simmonds andfor the day (I think it cost us 10), of packed stadia in what became regardedJonnie Peacock went on to star in hit TVcheekily asked them if we could as an unprecedented show of support forshows such as Strictly Come Dancing, doinguse their facilities (to which they British Paralympians. even more to change attitudes about peopleagreed) and then took the Tube Those who were around at the time willwith disabilities. Some of the internationalinto central London.remember how the nation was totally grippedstars seized the public imagination; the mostWe were travelling with a friend by the joy of the whole Olympic experience,famous, South African 400m amputee runnerfrom the USA so decided to and for younger readers who may not evenOscar Pistorius, became the first double legtake him to some of the sights. have been born in 2012, it is easy to forgetamputee to compete in both the OlympicFirst on the list was Buckingham the impact that the London Olympics and theGames and the Paralympic Games of 2012. Palace. As we approached the Paralympics had on the national mood.For young British people born withroyal residence, we noticed that For the first time ever, the Paralympics weredisabilities, the opportunity to see peoplean event was taking placethe seen as a major high-performing spectacle,who looked like them overcoming similarsecond leg of the triathlon! The a sporting event that British crowds flockedchallenges was hugely inspirational. Havingcompetitors had just completed to see, as A-list competitors sprinted, swam,achieved so much in challenging perceptionsthe swim in the Serpentine and cycled, rowed, canoed, fenced, lifted, etc.about disability, the then IPC Presidentwere now on their bikes powering etc., seeking personal glory and those elusiveSir Philip Craven at the closing ceremonypast the Palace. It was fantastic! gold medals. And most important of all, Teamdeclared London 2012 to be the greatestI managed to get a pic of one of GB Paralympians were individuals recognisedParalympic Games ever.the Brownlee brothers as they flew for their outstanding ability, rather than forLondon 2012 certainly set the benchmarkby. And this before I got back into their disability. Channel 4 led a magnificentfor all future Paralympic Games, and wecycling! A wonderful day for us all.publicity campaign for the Games, describinglook forward with huge anticipation and the competitors as Superhumans, andexcitement to the 2024 Paris Paralympics the events themselves attracted a record- later this summer. Those people who breaking 4,237 para-athletes (2,736 menattended the 2012 London Paralympics and 1,501 women) from 164 countries,were part of a remarkable event which competing in 503 medal competitions acrosshas yet to be matched in subsequent 20 sports. As Paralympic fever took hold ofParalympic Games in terms of participation, the UK, a record 2.7 million tickets were soldattendance and public enthusiasm. Its legacy to enthusiastic spectators at the Olympicin this country continues to live on, with a Park in London. permanent change in attitudes to people with Two thirds of the UK population tuned indisability.to watch TV coverage of the ParalympicMr Conway20'