Apart from the Olympic Games and the European Football Championship, 2012 offers us another magnificent event of great importance. Reaching its fourteenth anniversary it is the first time the Paralympics are held in London, as the event was created after the last time the city was home to the Olympic Games in 1948.
The 2012 Paralympic Games venues
The 2012 Paralympic Games will use a combination of new, present and historic venues and temporary facilities, some of them located in popular districts such as Hyde Park and Horse Guards Parade. In the start of the issues that affected the Millennium Dome, the managers purpose is that some of the new establishments will be used again in their present form, while others, such as the 80,000 seats stadium, will be diminished in dimension or transferred somewhere else in the UK. This strategies are component of the rejuvination of Stratford in east London which will be the site of the Olympic Park, and of the neighboring Lower Lea Valley. Most of the venues constructed will be used for both the 2012 Summer Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games.
The greatest part of them has been split into three area inside Greater London: the Olympic Zone, the River Zone and the Central Zone. Furthermore to these are those locations for which a position outside the boundaries of Greater London was required. Such locations are the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy on the Isle of Portland in Dorset which will host the sailing events, some 200 km southwest of the Olympic Park. The football matches will be held at various well-known stadiums all over England.
The 2012 Paralympic Games torch – light and powerful
The torch for the Paralympic Games of 2012 will be made of aluminium in a design that will try to express a light yet powerful image. Its significance comes from the fact that it is light whilst having a good strength and excellent heat resistance. Its height will be of 800 mm while its body is made of 6 separate parts, having thousands of round wholes, made by using a cutting-edge laser technology, which will ensure that heat from the flame is quickly dissipated without being conducted down the handle.
The London 2012 Paralympic Torch has been designed to signify modernity and creativity, with a reflected finish mirroring the light of the Flame and teams of Torchbearers that transport it. Agitos, the symbol of the International Paralympic Committee, appears in 3 places encircling the center to highlight the importance the International Paralympic Committee has in taking sportsmen from all across the world alongside one another to compete.
The same as for the Summer Olympic Games 2012 the torchbearers will be inspirational people which will light the path to the Paralympic Games starting from Stoke Mandeville during a 24 hour Relay.
One of this stories features Abby Fermont from “Friends of St. Luke’s Redbourn”: “over the past three years they have managed to gain grants and fundraise a total of £48,000 for the school. St Luke`s is a special school for secondary aged children (aged 9-16) with moderate learning difficulties and additional needs including autism and communication disorders. This money has enabled FOSLR to install a state-of-the-art interactive sensory room and some much needed playground equipment at the school. What is so inspiring and amazing is that such a large amount has been raised in such a short period of time by a handful of people, all of whom are parents of special needs children themselves. It would be lovely to reward the enthusiasm and dedication of this handful of parents with a part in the flame procession.”
The past and present of the Paralympic Games
The precursors of the Paralympic Games were held in 1948 and were called the 1948 International Wheelchair Games. Dr. Guttman, the initiator of the project aimed to create a worldwide competition for people with disabilities. Four years later Dutch veterans also attended to the games. Dr.Guttman accomplished his goal as from year to year more and more countries joined the competition which eventually formed into the Paralympic Games. This year we have a number of 72 nations competing with each other in 20 sports in what is considered to be the biggest Paralympic Games ever. The games will start with the opening ceremony on 29th August and the schedule will be as follows:
– Archery: 3-5 September
– Athletics: 31st August – 9th September
– Boccia: 4th September
– Cycling: 30th, 31st August, 1st,2nd and 5th-8th September
– Equestrian: 1st – 4th September
– Football 5-a-side: 8th September
– Football 7-a-side: 9th September
– Goalball: 7th September
– Judo: 30th August – 1st September
– Powerlifting: 30th August – 5th September
– Rowing: 2nd September
– Sailing: 6th September
– Shooting: 30th August – 6th September
– Swimming: 30th August – 8th September
– Table tennis: 2nd,3rd September and 7th,8th September
– Voleyball: 7th and 8th September
– Wheelchair basketball: 7th and 8th September
– Wheelchair rugby: 9th September
– Wheelchair tennis: 5th and 7th,8th September
The closing ceremony will be held on the 9th of September.
Transport to the Paralympic Games
Because of the fact that most of the same venues for the Olympic Games will also be used for the Paralympic Games, the rules that apply are the same. It is expected that the Paralympic Games will attract thousands of tourists to London and the UK. This leads to the belief that the transport system will be highly busy. So, if you’re heading to a any of the venues, it’s essential to prepare and book your trip well upfront.
There is no spectator parking at the Paralympic Games venues, apart from a constrained number of Blue badge spaces that must be reserved upfront. So, it is recommended that you choose to get transport to the Olympic Park by public transport or by transfer.
Throughout the Paralympic Games, Olympic locations will be supported by a number of various public transport services: London’s comprehensive public transport network consists of London Underground (Tube), London Overground rail, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), national rail, bus, tram and river services. There is also a considerable network of walking and cycling tracks.
Co-Host cities also have a lot of public transport services to the Paralympic Games. Based upon the city, these involve rail, underground, metro, tram and bus services.
During the Paralympic Games park-and-ride, shuttle buses and the 2012 Games coach services will connect to venues.
Transfer from all major London Airports to the Paralympic Games
Our fast and reliable airport transfer is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to take you to your destination. We guarantee to make all your bookings as quick and easy as possible with instant confirmations, regardless if booked online, on the phone or by email. Your safety and comfort is our main concern so all our cars are PCO licensed.
We have a wide range of vehicle size to choose from to suit your specific needs: saloon cars, estate, MPV-s and 8-Seaters for larger groups.
Our courteous and knowledgeable drivers, all PCO and CRB checked, will await your arrival at the Arrivals with a sign bearing your name. If your flight is delayed, the driver will be aware of this before he sets off to collect you.
If you’re interested in getting a good price for your transfer, then find out that with us you can get 10 % discount for each journey if you create an account on our website (link ul catre pagina de account). When you are a regular traveler this is a great solution to reduce costs.
If you’re traveling with children you must know that we offer child seats on request, in order to ensure the safety of your child. We offer you 24 h booking service and customer service with trained operators, so don’t hesitate to contact us. If you are interested on payment type we offer you 3 payment methods – Cash to the driver, bank transfer or Credit card payment using our merchant provider: Streamline or Google Checkout.
Transfer from London Heathrow Airport to the Paralympic Games:
Transport from London Heathrow Airport to the Paralympic Games will take around 45 minutes with our service and will cost you 52 GBP for a saloon car.
Transfer from London Gatwick Airport to the Paralympic Games:
Transport from London Gatwick Airport to the Paralympic Games will take around 70 minutes with our service and will cost you 66 GBP for a saloon car.
Transfer from London Stansted Airport to the Paralympic Games:
Transport from London Stansted Airport to the Paralympic Games will take around 50 minutes with our service and will cost you 66 GBP for a saloon car.
Transfer from London Luton Airport to the Paralympic Games:
Transport from London Luton Airport to the Paralympic Games will take around 60 minutes with our service and will cost you 66 GBP for a saloon car.
Transfer from London City Airport to the Paralympic Games:
Transport from London City Airport to the Paralympic Games will take around 20 minutes with our service and will cost you 27 GBP for a saloon car.
Transfer from London Southend Airport to the Paralympic Games:
Transport from London Southend Airport to the Paralympic Games will take around 60 minutes with our service and will cost you 65 GBP for a saloon car.
Be part of the Flame Festivals
The London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay will commence in London on Friday 24 August, setting up on the classic Torch Relay structure, with the lighting of England’s flame. On each of the following days, at special Flame Lighting events a flame will be lit in the United Kingdom’s other three capital cities – Cardiff, Greater Belfast and Edinburgh. Each of this three will be able to choose a distinct way to light the fire. After the flame is lit it will be carried through local groups and communities and Flame Festivals will be held in this locations. The first festival will be held in the City Hall in Belfast on the 25th August, the second in Inverleith Park in Edinburgh while Cardiff will hold its festival inside Roald Dahl Plass on the 27 of August.
The flames will then be carried one by one to the home of the Paralympic Movement – Stoke Mandeville where all the flames will be gathered into one which will signal the start of the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.
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