Paralympians return to London 2012 venue to support National Paralympic Day

Paralympian and local Newham hero Amy Marren returned to the venue in which she made her Paralympic debut at London 2012 on Monday (6 July), exactly 10 years to the day since London won the bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Marren will be taking to the pool at the London Aquatics Centre once again when she competes at National Paralympic Day on 26 July, a nationwide celebratory event held annually in Great Britain since London 2012, and which is a cornerstone of the British Paralympic Association’s ambition to maximise momentum generated by the home Games.

Tickets for the event can be purchased by clicking here.

Marren, reigning World and European Champion, was just 14 when she competed at London 2012. As a lifelong Newham resident, Marren has witnessed the inspirational impact that London 2012 has had on the local area.

“I am so excited that I will be part of National Paralympic Day once again,” Marren said. “I competed last year and the crowds were great. Racing with so many British fans cheering me on brings back so many memories of London, and I can’t wait to do it again this year. I really urge the public to come down and support disability sport again.

“Swimming at the London Aquatics Centre means so much to me, not just because it was where I competed at London 2012 but also because it is my local pool.

“The fact that local people in this area have such a fantastic facility right on their doorstep is brilliant and the pool is always so busy. That alone is an amazing legacy from the London Games.”

She was joined at the Pool by fellow Paralympian Chloe Davies, who was the youngest member of ParalympicsGB at London 2012.

Davies was looking forward to racing at National Paralympic Day for the second consecutive year.

She said: “I can’t wait to come back to this fantastic venue and race in front of British fans once more. London 2012 showed that there is an appetite to watch disability sport and National Paralympic Day gives the public a chance to see us athletes in action again as well as to try out sports themselves and find out more about how they can get involved – as a participant, potential future athlete, coach, volunteer or as a fan.

“There will be some incredible athletes competing here in just a few weeks’ time, so if you haven’t already got your ticket, make sure you don’t miss out!”

National Paralympic Day is brought to Nottingham, Brighton and Plymouth with the support of Spirit of 2012, a trust established by the Big Lottery Fund to recreate the spirit that radiated from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics. Spirit is committed to funding partners who help challenge perceptions of disability.

The event at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will also see elite sport competition joining up with The Liberty Festival to showcase the finest talent in disability sport and arts. GB athletes will also be looking to impress in the IPC Athletics Grand Prix final, hosted alongside all of the action for National Paralympic Day in the former Olympic Stadium.

In addition there will be three regional events taking place on 25 July in cities across Great Britain, and local sports clubs across the country can also get involved in celebrations by hosting their own event, whether that be a come and try session, a cake sale, or a Paralympic quiz.

For more information about the National Paralympic Day, people are encouraged to log on to paralympics.org.uk/.