IPC Predicts "Best Paralympic Games Ever"
The London 2012 Paralympics are poised to be the best ever, according to IPC president Philip Craven.
"All the ingredients are there for the best Paralympic Games ever," he said at a press briefing on Monday.
"We’ve had record ticket sales at over 2.4 million, record broadcast deals, more athletes and countries competing than ever before, and 2,500 accredited media, 2,000 of which are international. People from all around the world want to come to this great city for these great Games. Everything is set for a great Paralympic Games."
Hall of Fame Inductions
Trischa Zorn, the most decorated Paralympian of all time, leads a class of five into the Paralympic Hall of Fame.
The International Paralympic Committee said on Monday that Chris Holmes, Trischa Zorn, Louise Sauvage and Roberto Marson are the athletes being honored, along with Paralympian and coach Frank Ponta. The group has a combined 100 medals, 55 coming from Zorn alone.
"I would like to congratulate all five new inductees to the Visa Paralympic Hall of Fame, they are all worthy of their place in the history books," IPC president Philip Craven said in a statement.
"The Visa Paralympic Hall of Fame is a high profile way of celebrating historical sporting achievements in the Paralympic Movement. It commemorates Paralympians and their coaches who have achieved true sporting excellence and ensures a permanent record and institutional memory is kept of their achievements."
A ceremony on Aug. 30 in London will mark the group’s induction into the Hall of Fame.
Rogge to Paralympics
IOC president Jacques Rogge will attend the Paralympics on Aug. 29 and 30.
Around the Rings has learned Rogge will be present for Wednesday's opening ceremony and then will head to aquatics on Thursday.
Great Britain, Solvenia Announce Flagbearers
Peter Norfolk and Mateja Pintar will bear the flags for Great Britain and Slovenia, respectively, at the Paralympics openingceremony.
Although Norfolk medaled in wheelchair tennis in both the Athens and Beijing Olympics, he could not attend the opening ceremonies at either Games.
"This will be my first opening ceremony as my playing schedules have meant I missed the other two, so this will be an especially magical moment for me," he said.
Pintar, who medaled in wheelchair table tennis in the Athens and Beijing Olympics, has dyed her hair blue and green to match her country’s flag.
"It’s kind oftradition for me now to change my hair color into something very visible every time I go into a major competition," she said. "I did it for Beijing and it turned out well for me so I’m doing it this time as well."
Wales to Light Cauldron in Cardiff
On the heels of cauldron lighting ceremonies in Belfast in Northern Ireland and Edinburgh in Scotland, Wales lit its National Flame with a celebration in Cardiff.
The National Flame will visit Rockwood Hospital and the House of Sport Coaching Academy before being carried to the lighting ceremony on Monday.
The Welsh National Flame will travel to Stoke Mandeville and combine with the three other National Flames to create the Paralympic Torch on Tuesday.
Written by Ed Hula III and Hannah Reid.
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