Paralympics Set To Be ‘biggest Ever’
A giant Agitos on the White Cliffs of Dover signalled the 100 days countdown to what will officially be the biggest Paralympic Games ever staged, with the remaining tickets back on sale today.
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has also announced that multi award winning band Coldplay will headline the Paralympic Closing Ceremony.
Remaining tickets for the Paralympic Games are back on sale from 11am today (Monday) to mark the milestone day.
Over 1 million tickets are going on sale, following 1 million ticket sales last year.
Seb Coe, LOCOG Chair, said: ‘The London 2012 Paralympic Games are going to be spectacular. I am delighted that Coldplay are going to be helping us celebrate not only the end of a fantastic Paralympic Games, but also the end of a seven year journey.’
‘With tickets back on sale tomorrow I can guarantee that whatever ticket you decide to go for that Paralympic sport will leave a deep and lasting impression on you. The athletes involved in the Paralympic Games are incredible sportsmen and women and I urge everyone to take this chance to be there and to form memories that will last a lifetime.’
Prices start at £10 (£5 for young people and seniors) and day pass tickets exclusive to the Paralympic Games present the chance to see up to five sports in the Olympic Park or ExCeL on one £10 ticket.
Tickets will be made available for both Ceremonies and across all sports, including good availability for Paralympic Athletics in the Olympic Stadium which has been the biggest selling ticket so far, and a limited number for Track Cycling in the Velodrome which quickly sold out last year.
The London 2012 Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony, called ‘Festival of Flame’ on 9th September, will see Coldplay take to the stage and perform a live and one off concert in the Olympic Stadium, broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 750 million.
LOCOG is further delighted to announce that, for the first time at a summer Games, all Olympic Games partners have also signed up as Paralympic Games partners. This means a total of 55 partners are now supporting the Paralympics, and their support will be seen by their millions of customers across the UK and beyond.
Sainsbury’s, a Paralympic-only partner, has also announced they had sold over 1 million Paralympic Super Shopper Bags, raising over £100,000 for Sainsbury’s London 2012 Paralympic Fund.
Meanwhile, joining the host of announcements, it has been revealed that 22 Live Sites across the UK will screen eight hours of live Channel 4 coverage of the Paralympic Games every day from 29th August to 9 September – run in partnership between London 2012, the BBC and local authorities.
Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said: ‘With 4,200 athletes from 165 countries set to compete in the British capital in 100 days time, the London Paralympic Games will officially be the biggest ever.’
‘I’m also becoming increasingly confident that they may also be the best ever, even surpassing Beijing which I didn’t think was possible four years ago.’
‘Athletes are delivering record breaking performances on an astoundingly frequent basis, ticket sales are the best yet so far out from a Games and a record number of TV viewers are set to watch the Paralympics around the world.’
‘To add into that mix Coldplay for the Closing Ceremony and I think the ingredients for the best ever Games are starting to come together.’
Coldplay’s Chris Martin added: ‘Being asked to play at the closing celebrations for the Paralympic athletes in London is such a great honour for us. Kim Gavin and Misty Buckley are working hard to put on a spectacular Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony for the athletes and spectators in the stadium, and everyone watching around the world, and we are so happy to be involved.’
‘It will be one of the biggest nights of our lives and we’re very excited to try to create a performance for the last night of the games that will close London 2012 in style.’
