Yesterday marked exactly 2012 days to go to the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

The London 2012 Paralympic Games will be held from 29 August to 9 September with 20 sports to be staged and 4,500 athletes to take part. The London 2012 Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (London 2012) is attaching great importance to integrate the planning and design of both Games from the start.

“The Paralympic Games is one of the world’s most exciting and inspiring sporting events and experiences for elite athletes, and we want to ensure that our Games in London are the best ever”, said Sebastian Coe, Chairman of London 2012. “We want to set new standards on and off the track, and be a catalyst for continued change for public attitudes towards disability…We will provide a compact and inclusive Paralympic Games with high quality accessible venues, transport services and excellent village facilities for athletes as well as for team and technical officials.” 

The majority of London’s Paralympic venues are set in two zones - the Olympic Park Zone and the River Zone. The two zones are within 15 minutes of each other, leading to one of the most compact Games ever, minimizing travel times and disruption for athletes, spectators and the media. Outside the two zones, Road Cycling will take place in Regent’s Park in central London, the sport of Rowing in Eton Dorney and Sailing at Weymouth and Portland.

All Paralympic athletes will be housed within the Athletes’ Village set within the Olympic Park, which has been designed to be fully accessible from the outset. Paralympic Sailors and Rowers will have accommodation close to their competition venues in Weymouth and Eton Dorney but will also have a bed available within the village if required.

A cultural festival with concerts and street festivals taking place throughout the UK in August 2012 will help to bridge the time gap between the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

For further information, please visit the official website at www.london2012.com.