Pakistan mark one year to go to the London 2012 Paralympic games

Islamabad: In order to mark Pakistani Paralympians one year to go to the London 2012 Paralympic games, British High Commissioner, Adam Thomson hosted a reception at the British High Commission in Islamabad on Monday to meet some of the Paralympian hopefuls for the London 2012 Games.

High Commissioner, Adam Thomson said, Today marks one year to go to the 2012 London Paralympic Games. It has been a pleasure to host some of Pakistans Paralympian hopefuls. Some of them are already medal winners. They are an inspiration for the many people here in Pakistan who have a physical disability and they show that having a disability isnt a barrier to achieving your potential. They are some of the most determined and inspiring athletes I have ever met. The UK wants to harness the opportunity the Games present to bring about a change in the way people think, feel and behave towards disability and disability sport in order to create a more open and inclusive society, he added. He said UK is renowned internationally for leading the way in disability equality. We want to maintain this reputation.

We're also using the Games to encourage more disabled people into sport at the grassroots level. This will not only help us find the next generation of Paralympians but also demonstrate how sport can enrich the lives of disabled people, Thomson said . High Commissioner further said Paralympic Games (and the Olympics a few weeks before them) are not just about inspirational performances from the worlds greatest athletes. They are not just about memorable and spectacular Games and showcasing London and the UK. They are about the people of Britain welcoming the world, and they are about millions of people from across the globe coming together to share in an unforgettable experience.

With just a year to go, I want to use this opportunity to encourage people around the world to be part of the 2012 Paralympi! c experi ence. The Paralympic Games are the pinnacle of an athletes career and we hope they motivate others to participate or engage in Paralympic sports and help increase social awareness to help create a more inclusive world, he added. Thomson said this event continues the British High Commissions commitment to bring the London 2012 Games to Pakistan. Over the next year we will be working with the Pakistan National Olympics and Paralympics Committees to organise even more events.