London 2012 Paralympic 7-a-side Football Pitch Unveiled

This will be the first time Paralympic Football has been played on a different colour pitch to the traditional green.

The London 2012 Organizing Committee (LOCOG) has unveiled the blue and pink pitch at The Hockey Centre in Olympic Park that will host 7-a-side Paralympic football competitions next year.

Next month LOCOG will also complete work on the pitch that will be used for 5-a-side Paralympic football before the erection of stands and infrastructure is finished in early June.

Jeff Davis, the FA’s National Development Manager for Disability Football, commented: “We’re hoping that Paralympic Football will be a big draw at London 2012 and I’m sure the brand new pitch and Hockey Centre will help create an exciting atmosphere for fans and players alike.”

This will be the first time Paralympic Football has been played on a different colour pitch to the traditional green. The move to blue pitches will provide high levels of contrast with the yellow ball and white lines for players, officials, spectators, photographers and broadcasters.

Brazil will start as defending champions in the 5-a-side football competition for visually impaired players whilst Ukraine were the gold medal winners in 7-a-side football in Beijing in 2008. CPISRA World Champions and Beijing silver medallists Russia may start as favourites however in the sport for athletes with co-ordination problems due to cerebral palsy or brain injury.

The Hockey Centre where the football will take place is a temporary stadium based at the northern end of the Olympic Park. The centre will be the only full outdoor venue with seating for 16,000 spectators who will enjoy stunning views south across the Olympic Park.

After the Games, the temporary arena will be dismantled and elements will be moved to Eton Manor in the north of the Olympic Park which will offer multi-purpose sport and leisure facilities including two hockey competition pitches.

Football 5-a-side and 7-a-side are just two of the 20 sports that will be played at the London 2012 Paralympic Games which take place between 29 August and 9 September.