Trafalgar Square Exclusive Paralympic Live Site in 2012

Trafalgar Square will be a Festival Live Site during the London 2012 Paralympic Games, the Mayor of London, Boris Johson, announced today during the celebration of the countdown to two years to go to the London 2012 Paralympic Games turning Trafalgar Square into a Boccia court.

Gold medal winning British Boccia athletes and members of London Boccia clubs showed the Mayor how to play a game of the unique Paralympic Sport, designed for athletes with a severe disability.

They were joined in the Trafalgar Square celebrations by Paralympian Wheelchair Basketball player, Ade Adepitan, members of British Paralympic Association and GB Boccia and BT, official partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The ParalympicGB Boccia team is currently ranked number one in the world, having claimed gold at the Beijing Paralympic Games and recently won three silver medals at the World Championships in Portugal.

To mark the build-up to two years to go, the Mayor announced that the iconic and renowned location of Trafalgar Square will be a Festival Live Site during the Paralympic Games.

In choosing this London landmark as a live site, visitors from home and abroad will be at the heart of the celebrations in 2012. With an audience capacity of 10,000, live coverage from the Paralympic Games venues will be screened in the Square and a range of live cultural performances will take place. Visitors to Trafalgar Square will also enjoy a series of free set-piece events to coincide with activity in the Olympic Park, such as the opening and closing ceremonies.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “Trafalgar Square is an iconic London landmark, recognized around the world and a natural focal point of the city. I cannot think of a more fitting tribute to mark the capital’s joy in hosting the Paralympic Games than making it an official Live Site and the focus for public celebration. I thank BT and the organizers for their enthusiasm, and helping to fund and create today's fitting celebration.”