2012 Paralympics: What to know
The 2012 Paralympic Games kicked off last week in London and are expected to be the largest and most commercially successful Paralympics ever. Find out more about the history, venues, events and extraordinary athletes.
The 2012 Paralympic Games kicked off last week in London and are expected to be the largest and most commercially successful Paralympics ever.
The 2012 Paralympic Games kicked off last week in London and are expected to be the largest and most commercially successful Paralympics ever.
Find out more about the history, venues, events and extraordinary athletes.
The fourteenth Summer Paralympic Games are taking place between August 29 and Sept. 9, as governed by the International Paralympic Committee. They are being held in London, United Kingdom.
The 2012 Games feature 4,200 athletes from 160 countries all over the world. A highlight this year is that athletes with an intellectual impairment are allowed to compete in Swimming and Para-Table Tennis.
Hannah Cockroft took the T34 100m title in a new Paralympic record time of 18.05 seconds. She also won Great Britain's first gold of the Paralympics track and field competition.
One of the unofficial faces of the Paralympic Games, Oscar Pistorius is a South African sprinter. He is the world record holder for T44 in the 100, 200 and 400 meter events.
Natalia Partyka of Poland is the world number one who was a gold medalist both in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2004 Athens Olympics. Partyka is also the only female athlete to compete in both the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Michael McKillop of Ireland won the men's 800m T37 classification final at the Olympic Stadium September 1, 2012. McKillop set a new world best, coming home in 1.57.22.
Ellie Simmonds, one of Paralympic Games' most prolific athletes, set a world record and won gold in 400m freestyle final.
Jason Smyth of Ireland won the men's 100m T13 classification final at the Olympic Stadium September 1, 2012. Smyth retained his 100 metres T13 title to win in a world record time of 10.46 seconds.
Many of the venues used in the London 2012 Olympics are used for the Paralympics as well. As well as being home to eight venues – including the iconic Olympic Stadium, Aquatics Centre and Velodrome – the Olympic Park has hosted a range of exciting attractions and events during the Games.
Olympic Stadium was built to host the four spectacular Opening and Closing Ceremonies at London 2012, as well as some of the most iconic Games events. The Stadium is at the heart of the Olympic Park on an ‘island’ site, surrounded by waterways on three sides.
The Aquatics Centre, Designed by internationally acclaimed architect Zaha Hadid, is one of the permanent venues specially constructed for London 2012.
Prince Charles and Kate Middleton have attended many events at both the Olympics and Paralympics. Here, Middleton watches the Paralympic Games rowing finals events at Eton Dorney in Southern England.
