18 April 2011 - A Four-time Canadian paralympian talks about her early impression of the host city and why she feels these could be the most inclusive games yet.
Amy Day, Press and Public Affairs Officer at the British Consulate in Vancouver, writes about a recent conversation she had with former Canadian Paralympic Swimmer and Assistant Chef de Mission for the London 2012 Paralympic Summer Games Elisabeth Walker-Young.
500 days from now we will welcome the world to London for the 2012 Paralympic Games. The UK is determined to put on the most accessible and fully integrated Games ever! To celebrate the countdown I recently had the opportunity to talk with Elisabeth Walker-Young, a four-time Paralympic swimmer for Team Canada and newly appointed Assistant Chef de Mission for the London 2012 Paralympic Summer Games.
Recently back from an Olympic site visit to London, Walker-Young described how the momentum is beginning to build within the streets of London and the Olympic buzz is happening already. As a former Paralympian she applauds the UK for leading in terms of attitude towards the Paralympics as well as on accessibility for athletes. All Olympic venues have been designed to maximize accessibility and the UK’s approach to design and construction across all buildings, open spaces, parklands, infrastructure and public transport means that London will be able to go further than any previous Games in making the site welcome and easy for everyone to use.
Elisabeth Walker-Young swimming in Athens 2004
Walker-Young is thoroughly impressed with how the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has recognized the elite intensity of the Paralympics and the work they are doing to bring Paralympic sport to the next level. This begins with the emphasis that the UK has made to utilize the Games as an opportunity to bring about a real change in society’s attitude towards disability and disability sport. Walker-Young believes that “London deserves to be proud” for its commitment to disability sport and praised the UK for recognizing not only the importance of the Games themselves but also for the goal it has set for the legacy after the Games. That goal has meant that the UK has embed sustainability in its planning from the start and aims to set new standards, creating positive, lasting change for the environment and communities.
The level of thought and attention that has been paid to the planning and development of the Olympic venues is unheard of in terms of accessibility for Paralympic athletes, says Walker-Young. Having worked in operations for the 2010 Winter Games she witnessed firsthand how the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) simultaneously integrated the planning for both the Olympic and Paralympics Games. London is doing the same which truly shows the commitment towards Paralympic sport.
For London the Games is an opportunity to inspire and engage the whole country in a nationwide celebration and for Walker-Young this is what disabled sport is all about. When I asked Walker-Young – winner of three gold, one silver and two bronze medals herself – what she is most excited about as Chef de Mission of the 2012 Canadian Paralympic Team she said, “to see the gleam in the athletes eyes as they step onto the world stage, a feeling I have felt but cannot put into words”. That feeling is surely the magic that the Olympics inspire and encourage within people. At 500 days to go, the countdown starts here and now and we truly hope these are the most amazing Games yet.
The Paralympic Games run from 29th August until 9th September
To post www.ukincanada.fco.gov.uk
