2012 Summer Paralympics

Multi-parasport event in London, England February 2018 February 2020 2012 Summer Paralympics London Paralympics 2012.svg London, United Kingdom Inspire a Generation 164 4,237 503 in 20 sports 29 August 2012 9 September 2012 Queen Elizabeth II IPC President Philip Craven Margaret Maughan Olympic Stadium at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Beijing 2008 Rio 2016 Vancouver 2010 Sochi 2014 The 2012 Summer Paralympics, branded as the London 2012 Paralympic Games, were an international multi-sport parasports event held from 29 August to 9 September 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. They were the 14th Summer Paralympic Games as organised by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). These Games were the first Summer Paralympics to be hosted by London and the first to be hosted solely by Great Britain. The English village of Stoke Mandeville had previously co-hosted the 1984 Games with Long Island, New York, after the original host—the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign—withdrew due to financial difficulties.Mandeville Legacy: Stoke Mandeville 1984 http://www.mandevillelegacy.org.uk/page_id__40_path__0p4p14p22p.aspx 14 August 2012 24 September 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240924125906/http://www.mandevillelegacy.org.uk/page_id__40_path__0p4p14p22p.aspx dead In 1948, the village hosted the Stoke Mandeville Games—the first organised sporting event for athletes with disabilities, and a precursor to the modern Paralympic Games—to coincide with the opening of the 1948 Olympics in London. LOCOG expected London 2012 to be the first Paralympics to achieve mass-market appeal, fuelled by continued enthusiasm over Great Britain's performance during the Olympics, awareness of England's role in the history of the Paralympics, increasing media coverage and promotion of the Games (including attention surrounding South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius—who had recently the first double amputee to compete in sprinting at the Olympics, as well as a major advertising campaign by the Games' local rightsholder). The Games ultimately met these expectations, breaking records for ticket sales, heightening the profile of the Paralympics in relation to the Olympics, and prompting IPC president Philip Craven to declare them the "greatest Paralympic Games ever."Paralympics closing ceremony review: an emotional and fiery finale https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/sep/09/paralympics-closing-ceremony-finale-coldplay The Guardian 12 September 2012 London Owen Gibson 9 September 2012 A total of 503 events in 20 sports were held during the Games; events for athletes with intellectual disabilities (ID) returned to the Paralympic programme after being suspended following the 2000 Summer Paralympics, The Games were contested by a record 4,243 athletes representing 164 National Paralympic Committees, with 14 countries making their Paralympic debut. For the third Summer Paralympics in a row, China won the most medals overall, with a total of 231 (95 of them being gold), followed by Russia and Great Britain. Bidding process Bids for the 2012 Summer Olympics As part of a formal agreement between the International Paralympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee established in 2001, the winner of the bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics was also to host the 2012 Summer Paralympics.Paralympics 2012: London to host 'first truly global Games' https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/18143145 BBC Sport 1 August 2012 At the 117th IOC Session in Singapore, the rights to host the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics were awarded to London. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/front_page/4655555.stm BBC News London beats Paris to 2012 Games 6 July 2005 https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/sep/02/london.Olympics2012 The party that never was: capital marks the games at last—Eight weeks after Olympic celebrations were cut short by bombings, London puts on a low-key spectacle to show it means business The Guardian 6 July 2005 22 August 2008 Andrew Culf https://web.archive.org/web/20081002091306/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2005/sep/02/london.Olympics2012 2 October 2008 2012 Summer Olympics bidding results City NOC/NPCRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4LondonGreat Britain22273954ParisFrance21253350MadridSpain203231—New York CityUnited States1916——MoscowRussia15——— Development and preparation 2012 Summer Olympic development As with the Olympics, the 2012 Summer Paralympics were overseen by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA). LOCOG was responsible for overseeing the staging of the games, while the ODA dealt with infrastructure and venues.London 2012 2005 LOCOG Formally Established http://www.olympic.org/content/news/media-resources/manual-news/1999-2009/2005/10/07/london-2012-locog-formally-established/ 23 April 2014Olympic Delivery Authority Olympic Delivery Authority 2007 Annual Report and Accounts 2006–2007 Olympic Delivery Authority London 10 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/250791/0741.pdf 23 April 2014 The Government Olympic Executive (GOE) within the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) was the lead Government body for co-ordinating the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. The GOE reported through the DCMS Permanent Secretary to the Minister for Sports and the Olympics Hugh Robertson. It focused on oversight of the Games, cross-programme management and the London 2012 Olympic Legacy.Government Olympic Executive Government Olympic Executive 2011 London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Annual Report February 2011 Department for Culture, Media and Sport London 2 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/77633/DCMS_GOE_annual_report_february_2011.pdf 23 April 2014 England's role in the history of the Paralympics was emphasised as part of the Games: an event known as the Stoke Mandeville Games were hosted by the village of Stoke Mandeville—site of the National Spinal Injuries Centre—to coincide with the opening of the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. Contested between British veterans of the Second World War, it was the first organised sporting event for athletes with disabilities, and served as a precursor to the modern Paralympic Games.6 July 2004 History of the Paralympics BBC Sport https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/3628745.stm 1 August 2012 Venues and infrastructure Venues of the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics The 2012 Summer Paralympics used many of the same venues as the 2012 Summer Olympics, along with two exclusive venues (Eton Manor for wheelchair tennis and Brands Hatch circuit for road cycling. All the London's purpose-built Olympic venues and facilities, including the Olympic Village, were designed with accessibility in mind so that they could accommodate the Paralympics. Some older venues also contained additional accessible seating areas during the Paralympics.London 2012: let the Paralympics preparations begin https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/13/london-2012-paralympic-preparations-begin The Guardian 18 August 2012 Alexandra Topping 13 August 2012Gibson Owen Paralympics reignite the Olympic buzz but with added twists https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/30/london-paralympics-olympics-differences-similiarities The Guardian 31 August 2012 London 30 August 2012 Public transport 2012 Summer Olympics#Public transport Transport for London (TfL) operated the Paralympic Route Network (a downsized version of the Olympic Route Network operated during the Summer Olympics) to facilitate road traffic between venues and facilities. The network provided 8.7 mi off of lanes specifically reserved for Paralympic athletes and officials.London sets out road plans for Paralympics http://www.logisticsmanager.com/Articles/19021/London+sets+out+road+plans+for+Paralympics.html Logistics Manager 15 August 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120828224145/http://www.logisticsmanager.com/Articles/19021/London+sets+out+road+plans+for+Paralympics.html 28 August 2012 dead dmy-all TfL continued to operate its Get Ahead of the Games website during the Paralympics, which provided updates and advice for commuters during the Games.The Olympic commute... Get ahead of the Games by bike https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/the-olympic-commute-get-ahead-of-the-games-by-bike-7978591.html London Evening Standard 26 July 2012 Gardner, Jasmine 14 August 2012 Prior to the Games, concerns were raised by TfL commissioner Peter Hendy that London's transportation system might not be able to handle the Paralympics adequately. He feared that the end of the school summer holiday (which fell during the Games) would result in increased traffic, and that commuters might not heed traffic warnings or change their travel behaviour as they had during the Olympics.Transport fears as Paralympic ticket sales surge https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/aug/12/paralympic-games-london-transport-fears The Guardian 13 August 2012 London Gwyn Topham Alexandra Topping 12 August 2012 Sevenoaks railway station was designated as the preferred station for spectators travelling to watch the cycling at Brands Hatch. Organisers chose Sevenoaks over the closer Swanley railway station because of its "existing step-free access and excellent transport links", and because Swanley did not yet have a wheelchair lift. Whilst organisers did not believe that Swanley would be able to have wheelchair lifts installed by the start of the Paralympics, the station finished their installation by early August 2012.New station lifts open in time for Paralympics https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-19258777 BBC News 15 August 2012 14 August 2012 Lead-up and promotion thumb|A digital clock in Trafalgar Square, counting down to the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Paralympics Handover ceremony The formal handover occurred during the closing ceremony of the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, when Mayor of London Boris Johnson received the Paralympic Flag from Mayor of Beijing Guo Jinlong. This was followed by a cultural presentation by Britain, which was a which was a sequel to the presentation during the Antwerp Ceremony during the Olympics closing ceremonies. It featured urban dance group ZooNation, the Royal Ballet, and Candoco, a physically integrated dance group, all dressed as London commuters and waiting for a bus by a zebra crossing. A double-decker bus drove around the stadium, guided by Ade Adepitan, to music composed by Philip Sheppard. The top of the bus was open and folded down to show a privet hedge featuring London landmarks such as Tower Bridge, The Gherkin and the London Eye. Cherisse Osei, drummer for Mika, and Sam Hegedus then performed, before the top of the bus folded up into its original form, sporting multi-coloured Paralympic livery.http://www.london2012.com/documents/press-kits/paralympic-handover-media-guide.pdf Media guide to the London 2012 Paralympic Games Handover segment, Closing Ceremony, Beijing 2008 Games. London 2012 17 June 2008 20 August 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110608023725/http://www.london2012.com/documents/press-kits/paralympic-handover-media-guide.pdf 8 June 2011 dmy-all Both the Paralympic and Olympic flags were formally raised outside of London's City Hall on 26 September 2008. British Paralympians Helene Raynsford and Chris Holmes raised the Paralympic flag.http://legacy.london.gov.uk/mayor/videos/flag-raising.jsp Mayor of London — Video clips: Olympic and Paralympic flags raised at City Hall Legacy.london.gov.uk 26 September 2008 22 September 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120113110735/http://legacy.london.gov.uk/mayor/videos/flag-raising.jsp 13 January 2012 dmy-all http://legacy.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=18998 https://web.archive.org/web/20120113113104/http://legacy.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=18998 dead 13 January 2012 1948 Olympians and 2012 hopefuls join Beijing heroes as Olympic and Paralympic flags raised at City Hall Legacy.london.gov.uk 26 September 2008 22 September 2011 Paralympic Day and Super Saturday On 8 September 2011, Trafalgar Square staged International Paralympic Day to coincide with a visit to London by representatives of the IPC. Hosted by Rick Edwards, Ade Adepitan and Iwan Thomas, the event featured showcases and demonstrations of the 20 sports that would feature during the Games, with some sessions also made inclusive to people with hearing disabilities. It also included appearances by Paralympic athletes Oscar Pistorius, Ellie Simmonds and Sascha Kindred, and the unveiling of a bronze statue of Pistorius by Ben Dearnley. Prime Minister David Cameron and Mayor of London Boris Johnson also appeared.http://www.paralympic.org/news/london-2012-host-international-paralympic-day-september-2011 London 2012 to Host International Paralympic Day in September 2011 International Paralympic Committee 22 April 2014https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14819063 BBC News London 2012: David Cameron visits Paralympic Day 8 September 2011 Two days later on 10 September, supermarket chain Sainsbury's and Channel 4 presented Sainsbury's Super Saturday, a family event at Clapham Common. The event featured showcases of Paralympic sports, and a concert featuring pop music acts including Nicola Roberts, Olly Murs, The Wanted, Will Young, Pixie Lott, Dappy, Sugababes, The Saturdays, Chipmunk and Taio Cruz.https://j-sainsbury.co.uk/media/events/2011/20110910-sainsburys-super-saturday/ Sainsbury's Super Saturday J Sainsbury plc 22 April 2014 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20140330094443/http://j-sainsbury.co.uk/media/events/2011/20110910-sainsburys-super-saturday/ 30 March 2014 dmy-allhttp://www.insidethegames.biz/paralympics/summer-paralympics/2012/109672-sainsburys-super-saturday-is-a-hit-as-pop-stars-help-promote-london-2012-paralympics Sainsbury's Super Saturday is a hit as pop stars help promote London 2012 Paralympics Inside the Games Tom Degun 10 September 2011 22 April 2014 25 December 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131225134903/http://www.insidethegames.biz/paralympics/summer-paralympics/2012/109672-sainsburys-super-saturday-is-a-hit-as-pop-stars-help-promote-london-2012-paralympics dead Channel 4 promotional campaign Channel 4—the new broadcaster of the Paralympics in Great Britain—developed a multi-platform advertising campaign to promote its coverage. The broadcaster sought to change the public perception of the Paralympics, encouraging viewers to see them as an "event in its own right", rather than as an afterthought to the Olympics. The campaign included television adverts, online content, and billboard advertising, some of which carrying the slogan "Thanks for the warm-up".After the 2012 London Olympics, Will Sponsors Embrace the Paralympics? https://olympics.time.com/2012/09/07/after-london-2012-will-sponsors-and-media-finally-embrace-the-paralympics/ Time 5 January 2014 7 September 2012 16 February 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250216103950/https://olympics.time.com/2012/09/07/after-london-2012-will-sponsors-and-media-finally-embrace-the-paralympics/ dead As part of the campaign, Channel 4 produced a two-minute-long trailer for its coverage entitled Meet the Superhumans, which was directed by Tom Tagholm with input from Deborah Poulton, 2012 Paralympic Project Leader and Alison Walsh, Editorial Manager of Disability, both at Channel 4. The trailer, set to Public Enemy's song "Harder Than You Think", focused on the competitive and "superhuman" aspects of Paralympic sport, while acknowledging the personal events and struggles that reflected every athlete's participation in the Games. Meet the Superhumans premiered on 17 July 2012, airing simultaneously on 78 different commercial television channels in the UK (which included rival commercial channels ITV and Sky1).Ad of the Day: Paralympic Games Forget the Olympics. This is the summer's most stunning sports commercial http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/ad-day-paralympic-games-142183 Adweek 25 July 2012 11 August 2012Paralympics: Channel 4's superhuman effort https://www.independent.co.uk/news/paralympics-channel-4s-superhuman-effort-7956894.html The Independent 11 August 2012 London Simon Usborne 19 July 2012 22 August 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120822101635/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/paralympics-channel-4s-superhuman-effort-7956894.html dead The advert was met with critical acclaim: Adweek Tim Nudd declared it "the summer's most stunning sports commercial", while Simon Usborne of The Independent felt it was "an act of branding genius" and "a clear bid to bring the Paralympics from the sporting wings to centre stage." The advert was seen by an estimated audience of 10 million viewers; Channel 4's marketing and communications chief Dan Brooke estimated that reaction to the advert through social media was double that of the première of the BBC's trailer for its Olympics coverage. Meet the Superhumans won a Golden Lion award at the Cannes Lions Festival in June 2013, losing the overall award to the railway safety PSA Dumb Ways to Die. Sir John Hegarty, the jury president said of it: "When you've got some really outstanding work it is tragic in some ways it can't get a bigger award, but there can only be one grand prix", while jury member Carlo Cavallone added "[Meet the Superhumans] is an amazing campaign, one of the golds that went through [the judging process] immediately ... Everyone felt it had the highest level of craft. It puts an issue that was really important before London 2012 to raise awareness of the Paralympics [and] they were hyper successful ... Dumb Ways to Die was a tough contender."Cannes Lions: Dumb Ways to Die scoops top award https://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/jun/22/cannes-lions-advertising-awards The Guardian 22 June 2013 23 June 2013 London Mark Sweney Royal Mail stamps and gold post boxes 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics gold post boxes thumb|right|A post box outside the National Spinal Injuries Centre in Stoke Mandeville was painted gold in honour of the village's role in the history of the Paralympic movement. In August 2009, Royal Mail unveiled a series of 30 stamps (reflecting the 30th Olympiad) in honour of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, released in batches of ten between 2009 and July 2011. Each stamp featured an Olympic or Paralympic sport and the London 2012 logo.http://www.royalmailgroup.com/royal-mail-launches-major-series-olympic-stamps-london-2012 Royal Mail launches major series of Olympic Stamps for London 2012 Royal Mail Group 24 August 2009 22 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120828224145/http://www.royalmailgroup.com/royal-mail-launches-major-series-olympic-stamps-london-2012 28 August 2012 dead dmy-all http://www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/summer-olympics/2012/13670-royal-mail-releases-final-set-of-2012-olympic-stamps Royal Mail releases final set of 2012 Olympic stamps London 2012 insidethegames.biz 22 July 2011 22 September 2011 14 September 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140914005953/http://www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/summer-olympics/2012/13670-royal-mail-releases-final-set-of-2012-olympic-stamps dead https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14244890 BBC News Year-to-go Olympic stamps unveiled by Royal Mail 22 July 2011 As it had done during the Olympics, Royal Mail honoured Britain's Paralympic gold medallists by painting a post box gold in each of their home towns (along with an additional post box outside the National Spinal Injuries Centre in Stoke Mandeville, in honour of its role in the Games' history),Gold Post Boxes Launched For ParalympicsGB Gold Medal Winners http://www.pocklingtonpost.co.uk/community/gold-post-boxes-launched-for-paralympicsgb-gold-medal-winners-1-4876138 10 September 2012 Pocklington Post 29 August 2012 26 August 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130826115238/http://www.pocklingtonpost.co.uk/community/gold-post-boxes-launched-for-paralympicsgb-gold-medal-winners-1-4876138 dead and featured them on commemorative stamps released throughout the Games. Royal Mail originally planned only to release a series of six stamps with group portraits of Britain's medallists; however, the decision was met with backlash from critics, who argued that the organisation was discriminating against Paralympians by not granting them the same individual recognition as their Olympian counterparts. Olympic shadow minister Tessa Jowell was also critical of Royal Mail's plan, saying that the stamps were a symbolic aspect of Britain's celebration of the Olympics and that "it would be a shame if this important symbol was not offered to our Paralympian heroes as well." Royal Mail initially defended its decision, arguing that it would have been "logistically and practically impossible" to issue individual stamps for each gold medallist, since it expected the British team to meet or exceed its performance at Beijing of 42 gold medals.Royal Mail defends decision to deny Paralympic gold medallists own stamps https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/08/royal-mail-defends-paralympic-stamps The Guardian 12 August 2012 London Matthew Taylor 8 August 2012 As a result of the criticism, Royal Mail announced on 15 August 2012 that it would release individual stamps for each British gold medallist during the Paralympics.Royal Mail will issue stamp for every UK Paralympic gold medal winners https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/15/royal-mail-pressure-paralympics-stamps The Guardian 16 August 2012 London Alexandra Topping 15 August 2012 Test events London Prepares series Several Paralympics-specific events were held during the London Prepares series of test events for the Olympic and Paralympic Games; these included the London International Goalball Tournament, and the London Disability Grand Prix—which was also the first Paralympic event to be held at London's Olympic Stadium.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/london_2012/9397066.stm BBC News London 2012 test events unveiled 24 February 2011GB goalball hopeful on Paralympic place after test event https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/16033528 BBC Sport 11 August 2012 Torch relay 2012 Summer Paralympics torch relay thumb|A group of torchbearers in wheelchairs bringing the Paralympic flame through Canary Wharf The Paralympic torch relay began on 22 August, when groups of integrated scouts kindled four Paralympic flames on the highest peaks of each Home Nation: Scafell Pike in England, Ben Nevis in Scotland, Slieve Donard in Northern Ireland, and Snowdon in Wales. On 24 August the four flames were used to light ceremonial cauldrons in London, Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff during special "Flame Festival" events; smaller "Flame Celebration" events were also held in various communities over the bank holiday weekend.Mountain cauldrons will spark Paralympic torch relay https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympics/mountain-cauldrons-will-spark-paralympic-torch-relay-8050170.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympics/mountain-cauldrons-will-spark-paralympic-torch-relay-8050170.html 1 May 2022 subscription The Independent 19 August 2012 London Jerome Taylor 15 August 2012Paralympics 2012: flames lit across Britain at the start of Paralympic torch relay celebrations https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9492379/Paralympics-2012-flames-lit-across-Britain-at-the-start-of-Paralympic-torch-relay-celebrations.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9492379/Paralympics-2012-flames-lit-across-Britain-at-the-start-of-Paralympic-torch-relay-celebrations.html 12 January 2022 subscription live The Daily Telegraph 23 August 2012 London Tim Williams 22 August 2012 On 28 August the four flames were united during a ceremony at Stoke Mandeville Stadium.Four Paralympic flames united at Stoke Mandeville https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9504731/Four-Paralympic-flames-united-at-Stoke-Mandeville.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9504731/Four-Paralympic-flames-united-at-Stoke-Mandeville.html 12 January 2022 subscription live The Daily Telegraph 29 August 2012 London Victoria Ward 28 August 2012 The flame then travelled a 92 mi on off route to Olympic Stadium in a 24-hour relay, with 580 torchbearers working in teams of five.London 2012: Scouts to spark Paralympic flame https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19265010 BBC News 16 August 2012 15 August 2012 After a two-hour weather delay, a backup flame was taken straight to the stadium as a contingency, and the relay route was modified.Paralympics 2012: Backup torch is lit after delays cause fears that flame won't make opening ceremony on time https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9507005/Paralympics-2012-Backup-torch-is-lit-after-delays-cause-fears-that-flame-wont-make-opening-ceremony-on-time.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9507005/Paralympics-2012-Backup-torch-is-lit-after-delays-cause-fears-that-flame-wont-make-opening-ceremony-on-time.html 12 January 2022 subscription live The Daily Telegraph 30 August 2012 London 29 August 2012 However, as the opening ceremony's parade of nations took longer than expected, the flame was able to reach the external area of Olympic Stadium in time. Ticketing 2.7 million tickets were offered in total, including event-specific tickets and those granting access solely to the Olympic Park, along with multi-event passes offered for ExCeL London and Olympic Park that were intended to allow spectators to discover a variety of Paralympic events. Unlike previous Paralympics, tickets were in extremely high demand, and the ticket allocation was increased from the originally planned 2.5 million. Whilst the period during the Olympics has historically been the busiest for Paralympic sales, 1.4 million tickets were already sold before the start of the Summer Olympics, already surpassing the total number sold in Sydney.2.1m Paralympic tickets snapped up https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympics/21m-paralympic-tickets-snapped-up-8022473.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympics/21m-paralympic-tickets-snapped-up-8022473.html 1 May 2022 subscription The Independent 11 August 2012 London Helen William 8 August 2012 The high demand resulted in the Ticketmaster-operated website crashing under the load.Mark King London 2012 Paralympic tickets: everything you need to know https://www.theguardian.com/money/2012/aug/14/london-2012-paralympic-tickets The Guardian 14 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210714231319/https://www.theguardian.com/money/2012/aug/14/london-2012-paralympic-tickets 14 July 2021 English 14 Aug 2012 live Organisers expected the first ever sell-out in the history of the Paralympics; LOCOG's chief executive Paul Deighton remarked that "the interest in attending the Paralympics has been extraordinary from the start."Paralympics tickets raise £10m more than predicted https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19500185 BBC News 6 September 2012 6 September 2012 This success was attributed to the enthusiasm surrounding Great Britain's performance during the Olympics, fan interest in South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius—who had become the first ever double amputee to compete in the Olympics alongside non-disabled athletes, and affordable prices.Cecil Nicholas Interest in 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius pushes up London 2012 Paralympic ticket sales https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympics/interest-in-blade-runner-oscar-pistorius-pushes-up-london-2012-paralympic-ticket-sales-8015168.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympics/interest-in-blade-runner-oscar-pistorius-pushes-up-london-2012-paralympic-ticket-sales-8015168.html 1 May 2022 subscription The Independent 11 August 2012 7 August 2012 On 8 August, LOCOG announced that 2.1 million tickets had been sold (600,000 in the previous month alone), breaking the record of 1.8 million set in Beijing (1.6 million tickets were also distributed by the Chinese government). IPC president Philip Craven congratulated London for this achievement, crediting it to "the insatiable appetite the public has for top class elite sport", and noted it would be fitting for a Paralympics held in its spiritual birthplace to have filled venues. By the opening ceremony, 2.4 million had been sold, with the remaining 100,000 sold during the Games; 10,000 were offered each day. The last 800 tickets to the opening ceremony were distributed to police and the military, while Mayor Boris Johnson arranged for the distribution of 1,100 to members of London's youth athletics clubs.Paralympic tickets on sale during Games https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19399100 BBC News 28 August 2012 28 August 2012 Due to popular demand, a further 100,000 contingency tickets were released on 6 September (which included multi-event passes, and event tickets given up by sponsors and partners), along with 100,000 giving access solely to the Olympic Park. Emblem 2012 Summer Olympics#Logo and graphics The emblems for the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics were unveiled on 4 June 2007; designed by Wolff Olins, it is a stylized representation of the number "2012". For the first time, the Paralympic emblem shared a common design with the corresponding Olympics; the British Paralympic Association's chief executive Phil Lane stated that "as the founding nation for the Paralympic movement, it is fitting that Britain should lead the way in integrating the two Games."https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/olympics_2012/6718243.stm London unveils logo of 2012 Games BBC Sport 4 June 2007 4 June 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070613121008/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/olympics_2012/6718243.stm 13 June 2007 live Mascots Wenlock and Mandeville The official mascot of the 2012 Summer Paralympic Games, Mandeville, was unveiled alongside its Olympic counterpart Wenlock on 19 May 2010. As characters, they are portrayed as drops of steel from a steelworks in Bolton, and feature singular camera eyes representing "focus" with the cameras capturing aspects of the Games. Mandeville is named in honour of Stoke Mandeville due to its significance in the origins of the Paralympics. Mandeville also wears a helmet emblazoned in the red, green, and blue colours of the Paralympic emblem.The London 2012 mascots London 2012 19 May 2010 http://www.ourlondon2012.com/mascots/ 20 May 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100521054503/http://www.ourlondon2012.com/mascots/ 21 May 2010 dead dmy London 2012 unveils Games mascots Wenlock & Mandeville BBC News 19 May 2010 https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/london_2012/8690467.stm 19 May 2010 Gordon Farquhar https://web.archive.org/web/20100522124841/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/london_2012/8690467.stm 22 May 2010 live Opening ceremony 2012 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony thumb|upright|The Paralympic cauldron The opening ceremony was held on 29 August at the Olympic Stadium. It was inspired by William Shakespeare's play The Tempest and themed around the concept of "Enlightenment", with actors Ian McKellen and Nicola Miles-Wildin playing the roles of Prospero and Miranda. It featured appearances by theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, and performances by British electronic music group Orbital, and the Graeae Theatre Company, who performed Ian Dury's 1981 protest song "Spasticus Autisticus".http://georgemckay.org/spasticus-autisticus-at-the-paralympics-opening-ceremony/ Spasticus Autisticus at the Paralympics opening ceremony McKay George 30 August 2012 22 April 2014 The final bearers of the Paralympic flame represented several generations of Paralympic athletes. "Future" Paralympic athlete Joe Townsend, a Royal Marine who lost both of his legs after stepping on a land mine on duty in Afghanistan, delivered the flame to Olympic Stadium via a zipline from the ArcelorMittal Orbit tower. He passed the flame to long-time British Five-a-side football captain David Clarke, who then passed it to the lighter of the Paralympic cauldron, Margaret Maughan, who was the winner of Britain's first gold medal at the first official Paralympics, in Rome.Paralympics 2012 opening ceremony: Games launched on a storm of ideas https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/30/paralympics-2012-opening-ceremony-games-launched-storm-ideas The Guardian 30 August 2012 London Owen Gibson 30 August 2012 Closing ceremony 2012 Summer Paralympics closing ceremony The closing ceremony was held on 9 September at the Olympic Stadium. Entitled "The Festival of the Flame", the ceremony was themed around the gathering of people in celebration, and was directed by Kim Gavin, who also directed the closing ceremony of the Summer Olympics just a few weeks prior.Paralympic Games: Closing ceremony led by Coldplay https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19537677 BBC News 10 September 2012 10 September 2012 The artistic programme of the ceremony was set to live performances by the British rock band Coldplay. They were accompanied by guest performers such as the British Paraorchestra (who accompanied the band on "Strawberry Swing", and also performed the Paralympic anthem), Barbadian singer Rihanna (who performed "We Found Love", and her collaboration with Coldplay, "Princess of China") and American rapper Jay-Z (who performed "Run This Town" with Rihanna and Coldplay, and joined in a reprise of "Paradise"). During their closing remarks, LOCOG chief Sebastian Coe and IPC president Philip Craven both congratulated London for its successful hosting of the Paralympics; Coe was proud that both the Olympics and Paralympics in London could be labelled "Made in Britain", while Sir Phillip felt that the Games were the "greatest Paralympic Games ever." The Paralympic flag was handed over from Boris Johnson, Mayor of London to Eduardo Paes, Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, host of the 2016 Summer Paralympics. Ellie Simmonds and Jonnie Peacock shared the honour of extinguishing the Paralympic cauldron, sharing its last flame on torches to others throughout the stadium to represent its eternal spirit.London 2012 Paralympics closing ceremony – as it happened https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/sep/09/london-2012-paralympics-closing-ceremony-live The Guardian 10 September 2012 David Batty 9 September 2012 The Games Participating National Paralympic Committees thumb|Azerbaijani athletics team at the 2012 Summer Paralympics London 2012 had the largest number of athletes and participating nations of any Paralympic Games before.http://www.paralympic.org/news/it-s-official-london-2012-be-biggest-paralympic-games-ever It's Official – London 2012 to be Biggest Paralympic Games Ever Paralympic.org 8 July 2012 A total of 4,243 athletes from 164 countries competed in the Games. This represented an increase of 291 athletes and 18 countries from the 2008 Games, which had 3,952 athletes from 146 countries.http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/reports/participation2pdf.php?sport=all&games=2008PG&gender= Participation Numbers Beijing 2008 IPC 23 April 2014 Fourteen countries made their Paralympic debut: Antigua and Barbuda, Brunei, Cameroon, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mozambique, North Korea, San Marino, the Solomon Islands and the US Virgin Islands. Trinidad and Tobago returned to the Games for the first time since 1988."Paralympic athletes thrill students". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. 17 May 2012.http://www.paralympic.org/trinidad-and-tobago Trinidad and Tobago Paralympic Committee International Paralympic Committee 22 April 2014 Andorra made its debut in the Summer Paralympics, having already made three appearances at the Winter Paralympics.http://www.paralympic.org/andorra Andorra Paralympic Committee International Paralympic Committee 22 April 2014 Malawi, which would have been making its debut at the Games, and Botswana, were both due to send delegations but withdrew hours before the opening ceremony citing a lack of government funds.Degun Tom Botswana and Malawi pull out of London 2012 Paralympic Games http://www.insideworldparasport.biz/paralympics/summer-paralympics/london-2012/10663-botswana-and-malawi-pull-out-of-london-2012-paralympic-games inside world parasport 29 August 2012 29 August 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120829224149/http://www.insideworldparasport.biz/paralympics/summer-paralympics/london-2012/10663-botswana-and-malawi-pull-out-of-london-2012-paralympic-games 29 August 2012 dead dmy-all The following National Paralympic Committees sent delegations to compete:http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/reports/participation2pdf.php?sport=all&games=2012PG&gender= Participation Numbers London 2012 IPC 2 November 2012 Participating National Paralympic Committees18em AFG 2012 Summer 1 ALB 2012 Summer 1 ALG 2012 Summer 31 AND 2012 Summer 1 ANG 2012 Summer 4 ANT 2012 Summer 1 ARG 2012 Summer 60 ARM 2012 Summer 2 AUS 2012 Summer 160 AUT 2012 Summer 32 AZE 2012 Summer 21 BRN 2012 Summer 2 BAR 2012 Summer 1 BLR 2012 Summer 31 BEL 2012 Summer 40 BEN 2012 Summer 1 BER 2012 Summer 1 BIH 2012 Summer 12 BRA 2012 Summer 181 BRU 2012 Summer 1 BUL 2012 Summer 8 BUR 2012 Summer 2 BDI 2012 Summer 1 CAM 2012 Summer 1 CMR 2012 Summer 1 CAN 2012 Summer 147 CPV 2012 Summer 1 CAF 2012 Summer 1 CHI 2012 Summer 7 CHN 2012 Summer 284 COL 2012 Summer 37 COM 2012 Summer 1 COD 2012 Summer 2 CRC 2012 Summer 2 CRO 2012 Summer 25 CUB 2012 Summer 22 CYP 2012 Summer 3 CZE 2012 Summer 46 DEN 2012 Summer 28 DJI 2012 Summer 1 DOM 2012 Summer 2 ECU 2012 Summer 2 EGY 2012 Summer 40 ESA 2012 Summer 1 EST 2012 Summer 3 ETH 2012 Summer 4 FRO 2012 Summer 1 FIJ 2012 Summer 1 FIN 2012 Summer 35 FRA 2012 Summer 158 GAB 2012 Summer 1 GAM 2012 Summer 2 GEO 2012 Summer 2 GER 2012 Summer 152 GHA 2012 Summer 4 GBR 2012 Summer 294 (host) GRE 2012 Summer 62 GUA 2012 Summer 1 GBS 2012 Summer 2 HAI 2012 Summer 3 HON 2012 Summer 1 HKG 2012 Summer 28 HUN 2012 Summer 33 ISL 2012 Summer 4 IND 2012 Summer 10 INA 2012 Summer 4 IRI 2012 Summer 79 IRQ 2012 Summer 19 IRL 2012 Summer 49 ISR 2012 Summer 25 ITA 2012 Summer 98 CIV 2012 Summer 4 JAM 2012 Summer 3 JPN 2012 Summer 135 JOR 2012 Summer 8 KAZ 2012 Summer 7 KEN 2012 Summer 13 PRK 2012 Summer 1 KOR 2012 Summer 88 KUW 2012 Summer 6 KGZ 2012 Summer 1 LAO 2012 Summer 1 LAT 2012 Summer 8 LIB 2012 Summer 1 LES 2012 Summer 1 LBR 2012 Summer 1 LBA 2012 Summer 2 LTU 2012 Summer 11 MAC 2012 Summer 2 MKD 2012 Summer 2 MAD 2012 Summer 1 MAS 2012 Summer 23 MLI 2012 Summer 1 MLT 2012 Summer 1 MTN 2012 Summer 2 MRI 2012 Summer 2 MEX 2012 Summer 81 MDA 2012 Summer 2 MGL 2012 Summer 6 MNE 2012 Summer 1 MAR 2012 Summer 30 MOZ 2012 Summer 2 MYA 2012 Summer 2 NAM 2012 Summer 5 NEP 2012 Summer 2 NED 2012 Summer 91 NZL 2012 Summer 24 NCA 2012 Summer 2 NIG 2012 Summer 2 NGR 2012 Summer 27 NOR 2012 Summer 22 OMA 2012 Summer 2 PAK 2012 Summer 2 PLE 2012 Summer 2 PAN 2012 Summer 2 PNG 2012 Summer 2 PER 2012 Summer 1 PHI 2012 Summer 9 POL 2012 Summer 100 POR 2012 Summer 30 PUR 2012 Summer 2 QAT 2012 Summer 1 ROU 2012 Summer 5 RUS 2012 Summer 181 RWA 2012 Summer 14 SAM 2012 Summer 2 SMR 2012 Summer 1 KSA 2012 Summer 4 SEN 2012 Summer 1 SRB 2012 Summer 14 SLE 2012 Summer 1 SIN 2012 Summer 8 SVK 2012 Summer 34 SLO 2012 Summer 22 SOL 2012 Summer 1 RSA 2012 Summer 62 ESP 2012 Summer 133 SRI 2012 Summer 7 SUR 2012 Summer 1 SWE 2012 Summer 59 SUI 2012 Summer 25 SYR 2012 Summer 5 TPE 2012 Summer 18 TJK 2012 Summer 1 TAN 2012 Summer 1 THA 2012 Summer 49 TLS 2012 Summer 1 TGA 2012 Summer 1 TRI 2012 Summer 2 TUN 2012 Summer 31 TUR 2012 Summer 69 TKM 2012 Summer 5 UGA 2012 Summer 2 UKR 2012 Summer 150 UAE 2012 Summer 15 USA 2012 Summer 223 URU 2012 Summer 1 UZB 2012 Summer 10 VAN 2012 Summer 1 VEN 2012 Summer 27 VIE 2012 Summer 11 ISV 2012 Summer 1 ZAM 2012 Summer 2 ZIM 2012 Summer 2 Number of athletes by National Paralympic Committees (by alphabetical order) IPC Country Athletes AFG AFG 2012 Summer 1 ALB ALB 2012 Summer 1 ALG ALG 2012 Summer 31 AND AND 2012 Summer 1 ANG ANG 2012 Summer 4 ANT ANT 2012 Summer 1 ARG ARG 2012 Summer 60 ARM ARM 2012 Summer 2 AUS AUS 2012 Summer 160 AUT AUT 2012 Summer 32 AZE AZE 2012 Summer 21 BRN BRN 2012 Summer 2 BAR BAR 2012 Summer 1 BLR BLR 2012 Summer 31 BEL BEL 2012 Summer 40 BEN BEN 2012 Summer 1 BER BER 2012 Summer 1 BIH BIH 2012 Summer 12 BRA BRA 2012 Summer 181 BRU BRU 2012 Summer 1 BUL BUL 2012 Summer 8 BUR BUR 2012 Summer 2 BDI BDI 2012 Summer 1 CAM CAM 2012 Summer 1 CMR CMR 2012 Summer 1 CAN CAN 2012 Summer 147 CPV CPV 2012 Summer 1 CAF CAF 2012 Summer 1 CHI CHI 2012 Summer 7 CHN CHN 2012 Summer 284 COL COL 2012 Summer 37 COM COM 2012 Summer 1 COD COD 2012 Summer 2 CRC CRC 2012 Summer 2 CRO CRO 2012 Summer 25 CUB CUB 2012 Summer 22 CYP CYP 2012 Summer 3 CZE CZE 2012 Summer 46 DEN DEN 2012 Summer 28 DJI DJI 2012 Summer 1 DOM DOM 2012 Summer 2 ECU ECU 2012 Summer 2 EGY EGY 2012 Summer 40 ESA ESA 2012 Summer 1 EST EST 2012 Summer 3 ETH ETH 2012 Summer 4 FRO FRO 2012 Summer 1 FIJ FIJ 2012 Summer 1 FIN FIN 2012 Summer 35 FRA FRA 2012 Summer 158 GAB GAB 2012 Summer 1 GAM GAM 2012 Summer 2 GEO GEO 2012 Summer 2 GER GER 2012 Summer 152 GHA GHA 2012 Summer 4 GBR GBR 2012 Summer 294 GRE GRE 2012 Summer 62 GUA GUA 2012 Summer 1 GBS GBS 2012 Summer 2 HAI HAI 2012 Summer 3 HON HON 2012 Summer 1 HKG HKG 2012 Summer 28 HUN HUN 2012 Summer 33 ISL ISL 2012 Summer 4 IND IND 2012 Summer 10 INA INA 2012 Summer 4 IRI IRI 2012 Summer 79 IRQ IRQ 2012 Summer 19 IRL IRL 2012 Summer 49 ISR ISR 2012 Summer 25 ITA ITA 2012 Summer 98 CIV CIV 2012 Summer 4 JAM JAM 2012 Summer 3 JPN JPN 2012 Summer 135 JOR JOR 2012 Summer 8 KAZ KAZ 2012 Summer 7 KEN KEN 2012 Summer 13 PRK PRK 2012 Summer 1 KOR KOR 2012 Summer 88 KUW KUW 2012 Summer 6 KGZ KGZ 2012 Summer 1 LAO LAO 2012 Summer 1 LAT LAT 2012 Summer 8 LIB LIB 2012 Summer 1 LES LES 2012 Summer 1 LBR LBR 2012 Summer 1 LBA LBA 2012 Summer 2 LTU LTU 2012 Summer 11 MAC MAC 2012 Summer 2 MKD MKD 2012 Summer 2 MAD MAD 2012 Summer 1 MAS MAS 2012 Summer 23 MLI MLI 2012 Summer 1 MLT MLT 2012 Summer 1 MTN MTN 2012 Summer 2 MRI MRI 2012 Summer 2 MEX MEX 2012 Summer 81 MDA MDA 2012 Summer 2 MGL MGL 2012 Summer 6 MNE MNE 2012 Summer 1 MAR MAR 2012 Summer 30 MOZ MOZ 2012 Summer 2 MYA MYA 2012 Summer 2 NAM NAM 2012 Summer 5 NEP NEP 2012 Summer 2 NED NED 2012 Summer 91 NZL NZL 2012 Summer 24 NCA NCA 2012 Summer 2 NIG NIG 2012 Summer 2 NGR NGR 2012 Summer 27 NOR NOR 2012 Summer 22 OMA OMA 2012 Summer 2 PAK PAK 2012 Summer 2 PLE PLE 2012 Summer 2 PAN PAN 2012 Summer 2 PNG PNG 2012 Summer 2 PER PER 2012 Summer 1 PHI PHI 2012 Summer 9 POL POL 2012 Summer 100 POR POR 2012 Summer 30 PUR PUR 2012 Summer 2 QAT QAT 2012 Summer 1 ROU ROU 2012 Summer 5 RUS RUS 2012 Summer 181 RWA RWA 2012 Summer 14 SAM SAM 2012 Summer 2 SMR SMR 2012 Summer 1 KSA KSA 2012 Summer 4 SEN SEN 2012 Summer 1 SRB SRB 2012 Summer 14 SLE SLE 2012 Summer 1 SIN SIN 2012 Summer 8 SVK SVK 2012 Summer 34 SLO SLO 2012 Summer 22 SOL SOL 2012 Summer 1 RSA RSA 2012 Summer 62 ESP ESP 2012 Summer 133 SRI SRI 2012 Summer 7 SUR SUR 2012 Summer 1 SWE SWE 2012 Summer 59 SUI SUI 2012 Summer 25 SYR SYR 2012 Summer 5 TPE TPE 2012 Summer 18 TJK TJK 2012 Summer 1 TAN TAN 2012 Summer 1 THA THA 2012 Summer 49 TLS TLS 2012 Summer 1 TGA TGA 2012 Summer 1 TRI TRI 2012 Summer 2 TUN TUN 2012 Summer 31 TUR TUR 2012 Summer 69 TKM TKM 2012 Summer 5 UGA UGA 2012 Summer 2 UKR UKR 2012 Summer 150 UAE UAE 2012 Summer 15 USA USA 2012 Summer 223 URU URU 2012 Summer 1 UZB UZB 2012 Summer 10 VAN VAN 2012 Summer 1 VEN VEN 2012 Summer 27 VIE VIE 2012 Summer 11 ISV ISV 2012 Summer 1 ZAM ZAM 2012 Summer 2 ZIM ZIM 2012 Summer 2 Total 4,302 Sports The programme of the 2012 Summer Paralympics featured events in 20 sports.Paralympics organisers feel London is launchpad for mass-market Games https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/25/paralympics-london-fever-impetus 3 October 2013 The Guardian Owen Gibson 25 August 2012 The number of events in each sport is noted in parentheses. 22em 17px|class=skin-invert Archery (9) (Archery at the 2012 Summer Paralympics) 17px|class=skin-invert Athletics (170) (Athletics at the 2012 Summer Paralympics) 17px|class=skin-invert Boccia (7) (Boccia at the 2012 Summer Paralympics) 17px|class=skin-invert Cycling (Cycling at the 2012 Summer Paralympics) 20px|class=skin-invert Road (30) 20px|class=skin-invert Track (20) 17px|class=skin-invert Equestrian (11) (Equestrian at the 2012 Summer Paralympics) 17px|class=skin-invert Football 5-a-side (1) (Football 5-a-side at the 2012 Summer Paralympics) 17px|class=skin-invert Football 7-a-side (1) (Football 7-a-side at the 2012 Summer Paralympics) 17px|class=skin-invert Goalball (2) (Goalball at the 2012 Summer Paralympics) 17px|class=skin-invert Judo (13) (Judo at the 2012 Summer Paralympics) 17px|class=skin-invert Powerlifting (20) (Powerlifting at the 2012 Summer Paralympics) 17px|class=skin-invert Rowing (4) (Rowing at the 2012 Summer Paralympics) 17px|class=skin-invert Sailing (3) (Sailing at the 2012 Summer Paralympics) 17px|class=skin-invert Shooting (12) (Shooting at the 2012 Summer Paralympics) 17px|class=skin-invert Swimming (148) (Swimming at the 2012 Summer Paralympics) 17px|class=skin-invert Table tennis (29) (Table tennis at the 2012 Summer Paralympics) 17px|class=skin-invert Volleyball (2) (Volleyball at the 2012 Summer Paralympics) 17px|class=skin-invert Wheelchair basketball (2) (Wheelchair basketball at the 2012 Summer Paralympics) 17px|class=skin-invert Wheelchair fencing (12) (Wheelchair fencing at the 2012 Summer Paralympics) 17px|class=skin-invert Wheelchair rugby (1) (Wheelchair rugby at the 2012 Summer Paralympics) 17px|class=skin-invert Wheelchair tennis (6) (Wheelchair tennis at the 2012 Summer Paralympics) Events for athletes with intellectual disabilities (ID class) returned to the Paralympics in athletics, swimming, and table tennis for the first time since 2000. http://www.uksportsassociation.org/news/19NewsletterJuly2010.pdf President's Newsletter July 2010 International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability July 2010 13 August 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120828224149/http://www.uksportsassociation.org/news/19NewsletterJuly2010.pdf 28 August 2012 dmy-all ID events had been suspended following the 2000 Summer Paralympics, after the Spanish basketball team was stripped of their gold medals when it was found that only 2 of their 12 team members actually had an intellectual disability. The IPC introduced a new procedure involving "sports intelligence" testing to better determine eligibility for the ID class.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/8323369.stm Intellectual disability ban ends BBC Sport 21 November 2009 23 August 2012https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/7613787.stm Paralympics set to alter entry policy BBC News 13 September 2008 13 August 2012 Also beginning in 2012, sighted guides became eligible to receive medals in certain events; sighted goalkeepers in 5-a-side football, along with guides and pilots in athletics and cycling and boccia assistants were now able to receive medals for their contributions. Previously in the case of tandem cycling, where a visually-impaired rider takes the rear of the bike with a sighted pilot in front, only the visually-impaired rider actually received a medal.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19422244 Paralympics 2012: The able-bodied athletes at the Games BBC News 31 August 2012 31 August 2012 Calendar The official schedule was published on 25 August 2011.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/14662054 BBC News 2012 Paralympic schedule revealed 25 August 2011 Medal count 2012 Summer Paralympics medal table This table is based on the medal count of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Database http://www.paralympic.org/results/historical Medal Standings – London 2012 Paralympic Games International Paralympic Committee 22 April 2014 The ranking is sorted primarily by the number of gold medals earned by a National Paralympic Committee (NPC). The number of silver medals is taken into consideration next and then the number of bronze medals. If countries are still tied, equal ranking is given and they are listed alphabetically by IPC Country Code. Multiple medallists thumb|Oscar Pistorius wins the 400m T44 final # Athlete Sport 20px 20px 20px 1AUS Jacqueline Freney20px Swimming 8 0 0 2BRA Daniel Dias20px Swimming 6 0 03AUS Matthew Cowdrey20px Swimming 5 2 1USA Jessica Long20px Swimming 5 2 1 5BLR Ihar Boki20px Swimming 5 1 0 6RUS Oxana Savchenko20px Swimming 5 0 0 7AUS Ellie Cole20px Swimming 4 0 28USA Raymond Martin20px Athletics 4 0 0PRC Xu Qing20px Swimming 4 0 0GBR Sarah Storey20px Cycling 4 0 0GBR Dave Weir20px Athletics 4 0 0PRC Yang Yang20px Swimming 4 0 0 13NZL Sophie Pascoe20px Swimming 3 3 0 14PRC Yang Bozun20px Swimming 3 2 1 15BRA André Brasil20px Swimming 3 2 0 16PRC Wang Yinan20px Swimming 3 1 117RSA Natalie Du Toit20px Swimming 3 1 0UKR Nataliia Prologaieva20px Swimming 3 1 019USA Tatyana McFadden20px Athletics 3 0 1UKR Maksym Veraksa20px Swimming 3 0 1 21USA Marianna Davis20px Cycling 3 0 022UKR Yevheniy Bohodayko20px Swimming 2 2 0NOR Sarah Louise Rung20px Swimming 2 2 0PRC Pan Shiyun20px Swimming 2 2 025CAN Summer Ashley Mortimer20px Swimming 2 1 1GBR Eleanor Simmonds20px Swimming 2 1 127RSA Oscar Pistorius20px Athletics 2 1 0USA Bradley Snyder20px Swimming 2 1 0ITA Alex Zanardi20px Cycling 2 1 029USA Kelley Becherer20px Swimming 2 0 2ITA Cecilia Camellini20px Swimming 2 0 2 31PRC Du Jianping20px Swimming 2 0 132PRC Zhang Bian20px Table tennis 2 0 0AUS Blake Cochrane20px Swimming 2 0 0GBR Hannah Cockroft20px Athletics 2 0 0UKR Yegor Dementyev20px Cycling 2 0 0AUS Katherine Downie20px Swimming 2 0 0PRC Xia Jiangbo20px Swimming 2 0 0PRC Liu Jing20px Table tennis 2 0 0PRC Ma Lin20px Table tennis 2 0 0PRC Lei Lina20px Table tennis 2 0 0PRC Feng Panfeng20px Table tennis 2 0 0IRE Mark Rohan20px Cycling 2 0 0IRE Jason Smyth20px Athletics 2 0 0RUS Timur Tuchinov20px Archery 2 0 0NED Esther Vergeer20px Wheelchair tennis 2 0 0PRC Zhou Ying20px Table tennis 2 0 0 References:Paralympics 2012: full list of every medal winner – and how they break down https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/interactive/2012/sep/06/paralympic-games-full-list-every-medalist Datablog 6 September 2012 The Guardian 22 March 2014 Broadcasting thumb|A public viewing event on the BT London Live stage at Trafalgar Square List of 2012 Summer Paralympics broadcasters Broadcast rights to the 2012 Summer Paralympics were sold to local broadcasters by LOCOG, with production of the world feeds sub-contracted to Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS). The Games saw a significant growth in media coverage for the Paralympics; LOCOG reached deals with over 36 broadcasters to televise the Games in over 100 countries. LOCOG chief Sebastian Coe stated that "beyond how the commercial value of this package has raised the bar financially for the Paralympic movement, the fantastic broadcast coverage we have agreed will help us take advantage of this opportunity to inspire disabled people of all ages to take up sport and be a catalyst for continued change in public attitudes towards disability." LOCOG reached deals with broadcasters such as China Central Television, the Korean Broadcasting System, NHK, Rede Globo and SporTV in Brazil, the Television Pool of Thailand, and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to air coverage.Scramble to prevent blank TVs http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Scramble-to-prevent-blank-TVs-30185620.html The Nation 26 August 2012 7 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160307044550/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Scramble-to-prevent-blank-TVs-30185620.html deadLondon 2012 Paralympics: organisers hail record broadcast deals https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9226149/London-2012-Paralympics-organisers-hail-record-broadcast-deals.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9226149/London-2012-Paralympics-organisers-hail-record-broadcast-deals.html 12 January 2022 subscription live The Telegraph 4 October 2013 25 April 2012Paralympics TV deals break new ground as ticket rush continues https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/27/paralympics-tv-deals-ticket-rush The Guardian 27 August 2012 4 October 2013 The games were to be broadcast on television in the United Kingdom by Channel 4, replacing the BBC in a £9 million deal; the BBC still held radio rights, with coverage on BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Live Sports Extra.Channel 4 lands 2012 Paralympics https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/london_2012/8448236.stm BBC Sport 4 October 2013 8 January 2010 16 August 2012 BBC Paralympic Coverage Details https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/19118962 BBC Sport 9 October 2012 The IPC webcast approximately 780 hours of its coverage through its YouTube channel, with four streams of coverage in English and one in Spanish.http://www.paralympic.org/news/ipc-announce-london-2012-livestream-commentators IPC Announce London 2012 Livestream Commentators International Paralympic Committee 16 August 2012 19 August 2012 Channel 4's coverage of the Games was billed as the most extensive Paralympic coverage ever broadcast in the United Kingdom; it promised over 150 hours of live coverage throughout the Games on Channel 4 and sister channel More4, and additional coverage online and through special pop-up channels carried by Freesat, Sky and Virgin TV. The broadcaster invested around £600,000 towards training new on-air personalities with expertise in parasports, with many of them also having disabilities themselves. They would be joined by Channel 4 News anchor Jon Snow, and BBC Sport personality Clare Balding. Channel 4 also broadcast supplemental programming to lead towards the Games, such as Paralympic-focused documentaries, other IPC championships, and the weekly magazine programme That Paralympic Show.C4 opens Paralympic tender process http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/c4-opens-paralympic-tender-process/5064735.article Broadcast Now 8 February 2014http://www.channel4.com/info/press/news/channel-4-to-be-the-paralympic-broadcaster-in-the-uk-in-2012 Channel 4 to be the Paralympic Broadcaster in the UK in 2012 8 January 2010 Channel 4 3 3 January 2012http://www.paralympic.org/news/unprecedented-rolling-coverage-london-2012 Unprecedented Rolling Coverage for London 2012 Paralympic.org 8 July 2012Channel 4 starts Paralympic Games push http://www.digitalspy.ca/media/news/a258640/channel-4-starts-paralympic-games-push.html Digital Spy 4 October 2013 During the Games, comedian Adam Hills (who himself was born without a right leg, and hosted the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's coverage of the Beijing Paralympics) would host The Last Leg, a comedic aftershow that followed the conclusion of each night's coverage.Australian comedian Adam Hills: 'I was born without a foot. Dull. Move on' https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2012/aug/24/adam-hills-comedian-disability-tv-paralympics Emine Saner The Guardian 24 August 2012 19 September 2012 LondonMetlikovec, Jane https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/comedian-adam-hills-to-host-paralympics/news-story/628c27e7665908dcc557dc92eb2eadce Comedian Adam Hills to host Paralympics Herald Sun 19 June 2008 19 August 2008 Channel 4's coverage of the Games drew relatively high viewership; its coverage of the opening ceremony was seen by an average of 7.6 million viewers, a 40% share, and peaked at 11.2 million viewers—making it one of Channel 4's most-watched programmes in network history.John Plunkett https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/aug/30/paralympics-opening-ceremony-8m-viewers Paralympics opening ceremony attracts almost 8m viewers The Guardian 30 August 2012 2012-08-30 London Prime time coverage saw an average of 3.3 million viewers nightly, while viewership peaked at 4.5 million viewers during the men's T44 200m final where Alan Oliveira beat Oscar Pistorius for the gold medal.Channel 4's Paralympics coverage boosted by Pistorius controversy https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/sep/03/paralympics-2012-pistorius-c4-ratings The Guardian 3 September 2012 14 March 2014 Its coverage of the closing ceremony peaked at 7.7 million viewers.Paralympic closing ceremony watched by 7.7m https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-19541871 BBC News 10 September 2012 16 March 2014 Similarly extensive coverage was televised by RTVE in Spain, with approximately 150 hours of live coverage on Teledeporte and TVE HD.RTVE ofrecerá en Londres 2012 la mayor cobertura de unos Juegos Paralímpicos 28 August 2012 RTVE will offer the most Paralympic Games coverage at London 2012 es http://www.rtve.es/rtve/20120824/rtve-ofrecera-londres-2012-mayor-cobertura-unos-juegos-paralimpicos/559781.shtml RTVE 29 August 2012 The Australian Broadcasting Corporation aired over 100 hours of coverage across its networks during the Paralympics, with coverage on both ABC1 and ABC2. Coverage of the Games set viewership records for ABC, peaking at 1.6 million viewers on average (in comparison to 1.3 million in Beijing), while ABC2 peaked at a 4.7% viewership share, beating competing digital networks. ABC's coverage was also nominated for a Logie Award for "Most Popular Sports Program".ABC Paralympic coverage up for Logie award http://london2012.paralympic.org.au/news/abc-paralympic-coverage-logie-award Australian Paralympic Committee 4 October 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20131005012110/http://london2012.paralympic.org.au/news/abc-paralympic-coverage-logie-award 5 October 2013 dmy-allParalympics a ratings winner for ABC2 https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/paralympics-a-ratings-winner-for-abc/news-story/8c263785d6901ab008742659fb05c147 The Australian 4 October 2013 subscription 12 September 2012 In the United States, NBC Sports provided five-and-a-half hours of coverage in total, and no live coverage. NBCSN aired one-hour highlight shows, and NBC broadcast a special recapping the Games on 16 September. The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee provided extensive coverage through its own digital outlets.Press release USOC announces expanded coverage for London 2012 Paralympic Games http://www2.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Features/2012/August/14/USOC-announces-expanded-coverage-for-London-2012-Paralympic-Games.aspx United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee 14 August 2012 dead http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20120815220132/http://www2.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Features/2012/August/14/USOC-announces-expanded-coverage-for-London-2012-Paralympic-Games.aspx 15 August 2012 dmy Critics and American athletes expressed disappointment at NBC for its decision not to broadcast any live coverage of the Games.Paralympics 2012: NBC to only screen five-and-a-half hours retrospective coverage of Games https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9497286/Paralympics-2012-NBC-to-only-screen-five-and-a-half-hours-retrospective-coverage-of-Games.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9497286/Paralympics-2012-NBC-to-only-screen-five-and-a-half-hours-retrospective-coverage-of-Games.html 12 January 2022 subscription live The Daily Telegraph 24 August 2012 London Gareth A Davies 24 August 2012 In Canada, rights were held by Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium; TSN (English) and RDS (French) produced daily hour-long highlight programs (some of which were aired by CTV Television), while tape-delayed airings of the opening ceremony were carried by Sportsnet One, TSN2, RDS, and RDS2. The coverage was simulcast with open audio descriptions by AMI-tv, a network which broadcasts programming with accommodations for those who are visually or hearing impaired.http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2007/db2007-246.htm Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2007-246 24 July 2007 Canadian Radio-television and Communications Commission 27 February 2012How to Watch the London 2012 Paralympic Games http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news/article/how-watch-the-london-2012-paralympic-games.html CTVOlympics.ca 7048467 Canada, Inc. 25 August 2012 17 September 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120917205025/http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news/article/how-watch-the-london-2012-paralympic-games.html deadFollow Your Team: Canadian Paralympic Committee Announces London 2012 Paralympic Games Coverage http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1011017/follow-your-team-canadian-paralympic-committee-announces-london-2012-paralympic-games-coverage Canadian Paralympic Committee 23 July 2012 22 April 2014August 2024 InternetArchiveBot yes AMI-tv also broadcast supplemental programming, such as a daily news program from London and a documentary series focusing on Canadian athletes at the Paralympics.Media advisory – AMI reveals reporter lineup for Paralympic Games http://www.ami.ca/about/press/Pages/july-2012-2.aspx Press release 22 April 2014 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053452/http://www.ami.ca/about/press/Pages/july-2012-2.aspx 4 March 2016 dmy-all Paralympic Media Awards The Telegraph Media Group won the Best Written (print and online) award and Channel 4 won the best broadcast award. The best radio award went to BBC World Service and Larry Wong working for Edmonton Journal won the best photo prize for his image of Benoit Huot.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/10470312/Telegraph-wins-third-consecutive-award-for-coverage-of-the-2012-London-Paralympic-Games.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/10470312/Telegraph-wins-third-consecutive-award-for-coverage-of-the-2012-London-Paralympic-Games.html 12 January 2022 subscription live 23 November 2013 Telegraph wins third consecutive award for coverage of the 2012 London Paralympic Games Gareth Davies The TelegraphParalympic Media Awards https://www.paralympic.org/paralympic-media-awards International Paralympic Committee 14 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20140122161335/https://www.paralympic.org/the-ipc/awards/paralympic-media 22 Jan 2014 English liveCanadian Photographer Receives International Media Award For London 2012 Paralympic Games Photo https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/canadian-photographer-receives-international-media-award-for-london-2012-paralympic-games-photo-513294121.html 14 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20150922190217/http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/canadian-photographer-receives-international-media-award-for-london-2012-paralympic-games-photo-513294121.html 22 Sep 2015 English 23 Nov 2013 liveVergeer wins Paralympic Sport Award https://www.itftennis.com/161647?channel=itfwheelchairtennisnews https://web.archive.org/web/20181225182442/https://www.itftennis.com/161647?channel=itfwheelchairtennisnews 2018-12-25 International Tennis Federation 14 July 2021 English 23 Nov 2013 live Controversies Atos involvement Atos#Atos Healthcare Work Capability Assessment The role of IT company Atos as a technology provider and official sponsor of the Paralympic Games was criticised by disability-rights groups, due to its contract with Britain's Department for Work and Pensions to carry out capability assessments that determine eligibility for disability benefits. They argued that Atos's programme had lacked integrity and was intended to help cut government spending, since the assessments have resulted in many workers with disabilities being incorrectly judged as "fit for work" and denied benefits.Atos comes under attack in emotional Commons debate https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/jan/17/atos-attack-emotional-commons-debate The Guardian 17 January 2013 5 October 2013 Therefore, the groups considered it hypocritical for Atos to sponsor the Games, whilst simultaneously operating a programme that has negatively affected the lives of residents with disabilities. UK Uncut, a political group opposed to public-service budget cuts, held a series of protests dubbed "The Atos Games" to coincide with the start of the Paralympics, culminating with joint demonstrations with Disabled People Against Cuts outside the London headquarters of both Atos and the Department for Work and Pensions on 31 August 2012.Paralympics organisers defend sponsor Atos in face of protests https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/28/atos-paraylmpic-involvement-brings-protests The Guardian 30 August 2012 London Owen Gibson 28 August 2012 Speaking at the protests, comedian Jeremy Hardy said that the programme's intent to "victimise people with disabilities" was "blatant and shameless".Paralympic sponsor Atos hit by protests https://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/aug/31/paralympic-sponsor-atos-hit-protests The Guardian 31 August 2012 London Esther Addley 31 August 2012 During the opening ceremony some British athletes reportedly obscured the Atos logo on their accreditation passes in protest of their involvement. However, an official from the British Paralympic Association denied that this had been the case. LOCOG defended Atos's involvement, stating that the company was "a critical and valued member of [the companies] delivering these Games", due to the technologies it has provided, which included information systems for managing volunteers and distributing event results. Ticketing Controversy arose about seating rules for wheelchair users, after two mothers with disabilities accused LOCOG of having discriminatory policies. One claimed she had been told by a LOCOG staff member that spectators in a wheelchair area at the Velodrome could only be accompanied by one adult, and children could not attend without being accompanied by another non-disabled adult, while another was told that her ability to sit in a wheelchair area with her children at ExCeL London was "not guaranteed". A petition for improved access for families with disabilities, started by one of the mothers on Change.org, quickly collected over 30,000 signatures. LOCOG denied having discriminatory policies, stating that parents with disabilities could steward their children in wheelchair seating areas at events with unreserved seats, but may not all be able to sit together at events with reserved seating.Locog assures disabled parents over Paralympic tickets 16 August 2012 http://www.channel4.com/news/disabled-parents-successful-in-paralympic-ticket-campaign Channel 4 19 August 2012 LOCOG faced further criticism for how it handled the sale of tickets for the wheelchair areas within venues. In May 2012 the online sale of tickets for wheelchair areas was replaced by a dedicated telephone hotline. Organisers were criticised for their use of an 0844 revenue share number for this hotline, and for neglecting to mention on its ticketing website that calls would be charged by the minute. Former sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe viewed this as discrimination against wheelchair users, and called upon LOCOG to compensate those who had used the hotline.Paralympics wheelchair bookings 'discriminate', MP says https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19384473 BBC News 29 August 2012 26 August 2012 LOCOG denied that it was receiving additional profits from the phone line, and claimed that a dedicated line was being used to allow customers to receive a service tailored to their individual accessibility needs.Paralympics organisers accused of discriminating against wheelchair users with high-cost phone line https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9500253/Paralympics-organisers-accused-of-discriminating-against-wheelchair-users-with-high-cost-phone-line.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9500253/Paralympics-organisers-accused-of-discriminating-against-wheelchair-users-with-high-cost-phone-line.html 12 January 2022 subscription live The Daily Telegraph 28 August 2012 London 26 August 2012 A minor incident occurred involving blind Member of Parliament David Blunkett, who was attending the opening ceremony alongside a Channel 4 director. Blunkett was denied access to his seat at Olympic Stadium because there was no room for his guide dog, and had to watch the ceremony from seats in the stadium's gantry instead. However, Blunkett noted that this was an isolated incident and chose not to make an issue of it, simply advising organisers to "seek to find a solution rather than impose a preconceived notion of what is or is not possible".David Blunkett turned away from stadium for Paralympics' opening ceremony because of his guide dog https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9512924/David-Blunkett-turned-away-from-stadium-for-Paralympics-opening-ceremony-because-of-his-guide-dog.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9512924/David-Blunkett-turned-away-from-stadium-for-Paralympics-opening-ceremony-because-of-his-guide-dog.html 12 January 2022 subscription live The Daily Telegraph 11 September 2012 London Christopher Hope 31 August 2012 British television coverage British official broadcaster Channel 4 received some criticism for its coverage of the Paralympics. Users of Twitter complained that its coverage of the opening ceremony contained too many commercial breaks, drawing comparisons to similar complaints faced by NBC during the Olympics' opening ceremony; unlike the BBC, who televised the Olympics in the United Kingdom, both NBC and Channel 4 are supported by advertising. Complaints noted that Channel 4 had shown five ad breaks within the first hour of the ceremony, and that ironically, it had recently broadcast a six-hour long late-night dance music special with no adverts at all. Channel 4 defended the criticism by stating that it had broadcast "significantly fewer" commercials than normal for prime time programming during the ceremony, and that the ad breaks were needed in order to help the channel invest in broadcasting programming such as the Paralympics. Criticism was also made towards comments made by Jon Snow and Krishnan Guru-Murthy during the telecast; Snow was criticized for making comments about war-torn countries during the parade of nations, while Guru-Murthy received similar criticism for quipping that "looking at the ages of these athletes, which have been helpfully provided to us, they're really quite old."Hough Andrew https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9507747/Paralympics-2012-Channel-4-under-fire-over-opening-ceremony-adverts.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9507747/Paralympics-2012-Channel-4-under-fire-over-opening-ceremony-adverts.html 12 January 2022 subscription live Paralympics 2012: Channel 4 under fire over opening ceremony adverts The Daily Telegraph 30 August 2012 30 August 2012 LondonChannel 4 to host all-night rave https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-18997826 BBC News 26 July 2012 28 April 2014 Channel 4 was also accused of showing too many studio segments during the first few days of the Games rather than live events, and for missing several notable events involving British athletes, including a swimming heat where Eleanor Simmonds set a new personal best and almost beat the world record, Sarah Storey winning her eleventh Paralympic medal, and Great Britain's opening wheelchair basketball game against Germany. Channel 4 noted that time was needed during the first few days to explain Paralympic events and the classification system to viewers, and that it was operating three additional channels' worth of live coverage throughout the Games. The broadcaster also stated that it had to make editorial decisions on which events to air during periods where a large number of events were in progress.Channel 4 hits back at critics after boost from Paralympics audiences https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/sep/01/channel-4-paralympics-audiences The Guardian 9 September 2012 London Owen Gibson 1 September 2012Paralympic Shorts: It's officially the greatest Games ever https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympics/paralympic-shorts-its-officially--the-greatest-games-ever-8114025.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympics/paralympic-shorts-its-officially--the-greatest-games-ever-8114025.html 1 May 2022 subscription The Independent 9 September 2012 London Liam O'Brien 7 September 2012 The amount of live coverage was also affected by Olympic Broadcasting Services, who did not send cameras or provide official television coverage for sports such as cycling, the marathon, and shooting. Channel 4's news department did send its own cameramen to film the affected events for highlights, but was unable to broadcast them live. American television coverage In the United States, NBC Sports held the broadcast rights to both the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012. NBC had been frequently criticised in past years by American athletes and IPC officials for its minimal coverage of past Paralympics, and it was speculated by critics that NBC's history of inadequate coverage may have impacted New York City's bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. In 2008, it did not air any coverage while the Games were in progress (neither live or delayed), choosing to air a recap documentary on NBC in November 2008, followed by a week of highlights on Universal Sports.http://www.tvguide.com/Sports/NBC-Paralympics-Documentary-35433.aspx NBC to Air Stirring Documentary on 2008 Paralympics https://web.archive.org/web/20081204031356/http://www.tvguide.com/Sports/NBC-Paralympics-Documentary-35433.aspx 4 December 2008 TV Guide 7 November 2008 7 November 2008 While relatively larger than its Beijing coverage, NBC produced only five-and-a-half hours of specials featuring tape delayed highlights of the Games; most of them aired on pay-TV channel NBCSN, while the last aired on NBC a week following the conclusion of the Games. No coverage of the opening and closing ceremonies, nor any live coverage, was provided.NBC criticised Paralympics after opening ceremony blackout https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9509190/NBC-criticised-Paralympics-after-opening-ceremony-blackout.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9509190/NBC-criticised-Paralympics-after-opening-ceremony-blackout.html 12 January 2022 subscription live The Daily Telegraph 10 September 2012 London 30 August 2012 By contrast, some broadcasters (such as the host broadcasters, and broadcasters in Australia and Spain) planned to air at least 100 hours or more of coverage from London, and NBC itself had provided extensive coverage of the London Olympics, which was heavily viewed. NBC's lack of coverage drew the ire of American disability rights groups and IPC president Philip Craven, who expressed his disappointment for American athletes and viewers who were unable to fully experience the games on television. Craven remarked that "some people think that North America always [leads] on everything, and on this they don't. It's about time they caught up." Following the closing ceremonies, Craven hinted that the IPC might exercise greater scrutiny on broadcasters at future Paralympics by stating that "if we find our values don't fit, we'll have to go somewhere else."American broadcaster NBC could lose right to show Games after criticisms http://metro.co.uk/2012/09/10/american-broadcaster-nbc-could-lose-right-to-show-games-after-criticisms-569957/ Metro 10 September 2012 10 September 2012 NBC acquired the rights to the 2014 and 2016 Paralympic Games in September 2013; the broadcaster vowed to air a relatively larger amount of Paralympic coverage from Sochi and Rio de Janeiro respectively—in particular, NBC and NBCSN were to air at least 66 hours from Rio. Craven praised NBC's decision to devote a relatively larger amount of airtime to future Paralympics, sharing his hope that U.S. audiences would be "as captivated and emotionally enthralled as the billions around the world who tuned in to London 2012 last summer."Paralympic Movement given huge boost as American channels NBC and NBCSN will cover next two Games https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/10330949/Paralympic-Movement-given-huge-boost-as-American-channels-NBC-and-NBCSN-will-cover-next-two-Games.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/10330949/Paralympic-Movement-given-huge-boost-as-American-channels-NBC-and-NBCSN-will-cover-next-two-Games.html 12 January 2022 subscription live The Daily Telegraph 10 February 2014 London Gareth A Davies 24 September 2013 Women's discus medals During the women's class F35/36 discus competition, an error in scoring caused the wrong medals to be presented. In this combined class event, final standings were determined based on a points calculation. The calculation converted distances thrown into points, to account for the different functional impairments of the participating athletes. Due to an error in the scoring system, the gold medal in the event was originally awarded to Ukrainian athlete Mariia Pomazan. When the mistake was discovered, the recalculated points showed that Chinese athlete Wu Qing had finished first, with Pomazan in second place. A second medal ceremony was held, which Pomazan did not attend in protest. She was eventually required to return her gold medal.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/sep/03/paralympics-2012-gold-medal-ukrainian The Guardian Paralympic discus thrower must return gold medal, says IPC 3 September 2012https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9526868/Paralympics-2012-Mariia-Pomazan-returns-discus-gold.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9526868/Paralympics-2012-Mariia-Pomazan-returns-discus-gold.html 12 January 2022 subscription live The Telegraph Paralympics 2012: Mariia Pomazan returns discus gold 6 September 2012 See also London Sports Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 2017 World Para Athletics Championships, para-athletics event also held at the London Stadium References External links London 2012 on the International Paralympic Committee website Official Site of the 2012 Summer Paralympics (Archived) Summer Paralympics London Beijing Rio de Janeiro XIV Paralympic Summer Games (2012) Summer Paralympics Summer Paralympics, 2012 Category:Multi-sport events in the United Kingdom Category:Summer Paralympic Games by year Category:2012 in disability sport Paralympic Games Paralympics Paralympics Category:2012 in international sports Category:Parasports in England Category:Olympic Games in the United Kingdom Category:Organised events in England Category:Organised events in London Category:Organised events in the United Kingdom