British Embassy in Berlin Learn More About London 2012

"The London 2012 Paralympic Games will also be the biggest ever with 4,200 athletes from 165 countries competing in 20 sports."

To coincide with 100 days to go celebrations for the London 2012 Paralympic Games, the German Bundestag Sports Committee held a public hearing at the British Embassy in Berlin to learn more about the latest developments for the Games.

International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board member Alan Dickson gave an update on preparations for the Games which start on 29 August and talked about what legacy they would leave following the Closing Ceremony on 9 September.

As the spiritual birthplace of the Paralympic Movement, Great Britain has set itself ambitious goals for the 2012 Paralympics. The Games will be more accessible for athletes and spectators alike, increase awareness and respect for people with an impairment, and generate a greater media resonance than ever before.

The London 2012 Paralympic Games will also be the biggest ever with 4,200 athletes from 165 countries competing in 20 sports.

Joining Alan Dickson at the British Embassy were three international athletes – Germany’s two-time Paralympic gold medallist swimmer Kirsten Bruhn, Australia’s Kurt Fearnley who is targeting a third consecutive marathon gold in London and Kenya’s visually impaired long distance runner Henry Wanyoike, a winner of three Paralympic gold medals.

Member of the Bundestag Sports Committee included former Minister Justice Brigitte Zypries and Chairman of the German-British parliaments group Stephan Mayer.

All guests were encouraged to test their skills against wheelchair basketball players, wheelchair fencers, wheelchair table tennis and blind football in a special Paralympic Arena set up in the Embassy Winter garden.