Paralympian reunion to take place prior to games

MUSCAT — The International Paralympic Committee (IPC), in conjunction with the IPC Athletes' Council, is organising a Paralympian Reunion on September 7 in London to coincide with the Paralympic Games.

Paralympians registering their interest before February 15 will take part in a draw to identify torch bearers for the Paralympic Torch Relay.

Taking place in Central London, the event will bring together athletes and officials from previous Paralympic Games to share stories and celebrate their accomplishments while, at the same time, taking in action from London 2012.

Last year the IPC issued a survey to gauge the interest of Paralympians in a reunion and the response was overwhelming.

Sir Philip Craven, IPC President, said: "This is the first time that we have taken the step to reunite Paralympians from all over the world and it promises to be an evening to remember.

"Not only will it be a chance for people to meet up with old teammates, but also old rivals who they may not have seen since competing against them in previous editions of the Paralympic Games."

To help Paralympians in planning their trips to London for September's Reunion, the IPC has appointed eventure Zone, the IPC'S official ticket and hospitality partner, to offer a number of four and five day packages to the event which also takes in sporting action from the London Games and the Closing Ceremony.

The first Paralympic Games took place in Rome in 1960 and since then the size of the event has grown exponentially.

In London 4,200

athletes from 160 countries compete in 20 different sports.

Further information on September's Paralympian Reunion is available on www. eventurezone.com

Paralympic Games had their humble beginnings over 50 years ago, in Stoke Mandeville, England, where a doctor by the name of Ludwig Guttmann believed strongly in using sports therapy to enhance the quality of life for people who had been injured or wounded during World War ll.

Dr Guttmann organised the International Wheelchair Games in 1948 to coincide with the London Olympic Games of that same year.

His dream from that point onward was of a worldwide sporting competition the equivalent of the Olympic Games, to be held every four years for people with disabilities. This dream became a reality 12 years later as Rome, Italy hosted the first Paralympic Games in 1960.

The Paralympics have come into an identity of their own, and are embraced as an integral part of the overall 60day event experience in the host city.