Record Paralympic ticket sales announced

Around 2.1 million tickets for the Paralympic Games have been sold, according to Games officials.

More than 600,000 have been bought in the past month, pushing the total past the previous record of 1.8 million tickets sold for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.

London 2012 chairman Lord Coe said the organisers were "absolutely delighted" with the interest from the British public, adding: "The Olympic Games have shown us that the UK has taken the Games to their heart.

"With the tickets sold so far and more still to come I look forward to even more people getting the chance to join in and to form memories that will last a lifetime."

A total of 2.5 million tickets have been put on sale for the London 2012 Paralympics which run from August 29 to September 9. Prices start at £10 or £5 for young people and seniors.

International Paralympic Committee president Sir Philip Craven said: "To have sold the most ever tickets for a Paralympic Games three weeks before the opening ceremony is absolutely fantastic and shows the insatiable appetite the public has for top class elite sport.

"Normally the busiest sales period for the Paralympic Games is once the Olympics have begun. The difference in London however is that ahead of the Games starting we had sold over 1.4 million tickets, giving us a great platform with which to build from.

"So far London has delivered a quite spectacular Olympic Games which has further whetted the appetite of the public ahead of the Paralympics.

"Our aim now is to sell every single ticket. It would be fitting that when the Paralympic Movement returns to its spiritual birthplace in three weeks time it does so in front of packed sold-out venues."

British Paralympic Association chief executive Tim Hollingsworth said: "We want everyone to get behind ParalympicsGB in the way they have behind Team GB - it will make a difference. So spread the word.

"We want the stadia to be packed to the rafters with British supporters. I can promise exhilarating sport in stunning venues with all our GB athletes ready to put it all on the line for our country.

"I know our athletes can't wait to compete in front of the biggest crowds ever at a Paralympic Games and we want them to be full of British fans."