The whole of London has swiftly moved into Paralympics mode after the closing of the London 2012 Olympic Games.  When asked last night on TV whether he considered the Games to have been a success, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt captured the mood by answering that we are only at the half way point.  This follows similar messages in recent days across the media, from Prime Minister David Cameron and LOCOG Chairman Sebastian Coe.
More than 2.1 million of the so far released 2.5 million tickets have been sold to events that will take place in many of the same venues as have become so familiar in the past two weeks.  It is likely that this will be the first Games to entirely sell out.
A major operation to convert those venues, as well as the athletes village began within hours of Sunday’s closing ceremony.  The first athletes are expected to move into the village, complete with lifts ramps and accessible communal areas on August 20th.
All the Olympic branding is being changed to the Paralympics Agitos, three coloured swooshes representing the Paralympic motto of Spirit in Motion.  This includes at the iconic locations in London at Tower Bridge and elsewhere including at Belfast City Hall.
“If we get this right it will be seen as the high-water mark for the Paralympic Games,” said Chris Holmes, Director of Paralympic Integration at Locog. “I truly believe that if we nail this it has the potential to shift attitudes and opportunities – in sport, education, employment – for disabled people around the world. This is the Games of the possible.”
The Irish team consists of 49 athletes competing in ten sports.  They are led by athletes who have already transformed the way people view disability such as Mark Rohan, Jason Smyth, Michael McKillop and Orla Barry.
They will be given a major send off from Dublin tomorrow evening at Dublin Airport’s Bewleys Hotel, with a performance by the Saw Doctors, before heading to a pre Games camp in Portugal and their arrival in London on August 24th.
From next week Sport for Business will look at how each of the major sponsors of the Irish Paralympics team is activating their relationship and making the most of an association with athletes and an event that will hold the national attention from the opening ceremony on August 29th.
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