After a spectacular Olympic Games, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has been undertaking a huge transitional operation to make the Paralympic Games equally successful.
Paul Deighton, Chief Executive, LOCOG said: “The transition to what will be the largest Paralympic Games ever is a huge operation in a short time period. We are getting ready to welcome the world’s Paralympians, and deliver a truly spectacular Paralympic Games.”
The venues were designed with both Games in mind but there are a number of specific changes to undertake. All venues will see the look and signage refreshed, the flags of the nations revised, adjustments to broadcast requirements, and changes to field of play, as sports in each venue are slightly different.
One example is the transition taking place at the Olympic and Paralympic Village. It has taken just five days to transform a Village that hosted over 10,000 Olympic athletes to host 4,280 Paralympic athletes, 3,500 team officials, 1,225 Games Officials and 22 assistance dogs (there will be 1,800 wheelchair users in total). Also, 14 tonnes of workshop equipment and spare parts has arrived for Ottobock’s service provision for athletes, this includes a wheelchair repair centre.
One of the longest transition periods was up to 14 days at the Royal Artillery Barracks. Elements of this transformation include a field of play lighting refocus, seating bowl modifications and enhancements to make it a combined Paralympic venue for Shooting and Archery.
The giant Olympic Rings which are currently in cities across the UK and in London have started coming down. The Agitos, symbol for the Paralympic Games, will start appearing in London and cities in the UK over the next few days, with the first set launched in Cardiff last week. The Paralympic Flag features three 'agitos' (Latin for 'I move') in red, blue and green – the colours most represented in national flags around the world.
There are two new competition venues for the Paralympic Games: Eton Manor – situated in the north of the Olympic Park, features nine courts for the Wheelchair Tennis competition, all designed in a striking blue colour; Brands Hatch – the internationally-renowned motor racing circuit near Sevenoaks in Kent will host 7,500 spectators each day over four days of Paralympic Road Cycling competition.
The London 2012 Festival continues to provide spectacular events and exhibitions right across the UK - many of them free. The twelve-week celebration featuring leading artists from Great Britain and the around the world runs until the final day of the Paralympic Games on 9 September.
LOCOG is also committed to making sure that the Olympic Park and venues are accessible to all types of visitors.
Specific accessibility designs include making the corridors large enough for two wheelchairs to be side-by-side, Changing Places facilities in all venues, a Games Mobility service on the Olympic Park for spectators with mobility needs, a free service which loans out manual wheelchairs and mobility scooters and assistance dog spending areas so that disabled spectators can bring their dog into the venue.