IPC Receives Positive Response to London 2012 Alumni Event

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has received a very positive response from former athletes who have expressed an interest in attending a Past Paralympians Reunion during the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Two weeks ago, the IPC, together with the IPC Athletes’ Council, launched an appeal for former athletes to get in touch if they were interested in attending an event whereby Past Paralympians could come together, share stories and celebrate their accomplishments from previous Paralympic Games.

Since then hundreds of athletes, including some who competed in the Tokyo 1964 Paralympic Games, have logged onto www.paralympic.org, the IPC’s website to say they would be keen for a reunion during London 2012.

Bob Balk, Chair of the IPC Athletes’ Council, said: “It’s fantastic that a good number of athletes have so far informed the IPC that they would be interested in attending a reunion during London 2012.

“There is a good mixture of athletes who have responded from both past Summer and Winter Games. Hopefully, over the coming weeks the word will spread around the former athlete community about this event and more former athletes will register an interest.

“Should this event become a reality then it will be a fantastic occasion for athletes to meet former teammates and rivals, to share their memories and celebrate how far the Paralympic Movement has progressed since 1960.”

The first Paralympic Games took place in Rome, Italy in 1960 and featured 400 athletes from 23 countries and since then the Games have grown massively into the second biggest sporting event in the world in terms of participants.

The last summer Games in Beijing in 2008 attracted 3,951 athletes from 146 countries and last January’s Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games saw 502 athletes from 44 countries compete.

More than 25,000 athletes have taken part in the Paralympic Games since 1960.

The London 2012 Paralympic Games which open on 29 August until 9 September will feature 20 sports and will showcase more than 4,200 athletes from around 160 countries.