British winter medallists join the National Paralympic Day line-up

With just one month to go until National Paralympic Day 2014 in Great Britain, the country’s most successful winter Paralympians Jade Etherington and Caroline Powell and one of Britain’s first ever winter gold medallists Charlotte Evans have joined the line-up of Paralympic stars set to be part of the celebrations on Saturday 30 August.

The successful skiers will be part of the ‘meet the athletes’ part of the day at London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, so that members of the public can get autographs and have their photos taken with their Paralympic heroes.

Etherington and Powell became Great Britain’s most successful ever winter Paralympians when they won three silver medals and a bronze medal at the recent winter Games in Sochi, while Evans guided Kelly Gallagher to a historic inaugural Paralympic winter gold medal.

She said: “I’m really excited to be part of the celebrations for National Paralympic Day 2014. I’m so proud to be a Paralympian and it’s great that we have an opportunity to come together on 30 August and really celebrate Paralympic sport.

“It’s brilliant that this year we get to join the line-up of Paralympians in attendance on the day alongside our counterparts from London 2012 and represent winter sport for the first time.”

Powell added: “National Paralympic Day is a great way for people to show their support for Paralympic sport and I’m really excited to be part of the event this year. There’s lots happening on the Olympic Park that day so hopefully lots of people will come down and get involved. We’ll be there to meet and greet fans and will be sure to bring our medals!”

Charlotte Evans guided Kelly Gallagher to success in Sochi, when they topped the podium in the Super-G to win GB’s first ever Olympic or Paralympic gold medal on snow.

She said: “I’m so delighted to be part of National Paralympic Day 2014. Since Sochi I have been amazed by the support that Kelly and I have received and it’s fantastic to see the interest in Paralympic sport continue to grow and grow.

“This time last year Kelly and I were away on the slopes in training for Sochi, so I’m really looking forward to being at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park this year to meet as many people as possible, cheer on the GB athletes who are competing and soak up the atmosphere on National Paralympic Day.”

Following the success of the inaugural event in 2013, National Paralympic Day will once again join up with the Mayor of London’s Liberty Festival to showcase the finest talent in disability sport and arts. A whole a range of free activities are on offer for the whole family to enjoy, while tickets are also on sale to watch elite Paralympic sport, including the chance to watch a number of ParalympicsGB swimmers make a triumphant return to the Aquatics Centre for the first time since London 2012.

National Paralympic Day is celebrated through the generous support of the charity, Spirit of 2012 (Spirit).

Spirit was established by the Big Lottery Fund last year, with an endowment of £46m from the sale of the Olympic and Paralympic village. It is working to ensure the spirit that radiated from the London 2012 Games can be felt by everyone, everywhere. It is investing in happiness; supporting those providing opportunities in sports, the arts and volunteering.

Birmingham, Liverpool and Glasgow are also gearing up to host their own celebrations for National Paralympic Day.

Tickets are still available for spectators to enjoy wheelchair basketball, swimming, goalball and boccia on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

For more information about how to buy tickets and for details about regional events, people are encouraged to log on to the event website.