PARALYMPICS AWAITS

With the Beijing Paralympics 2008 Opening Ceremony tomorrow, 6^th September, Paralympic fever is hitting Beijing and Britain as the GB team go for gold. 

A total of 206 athletes will be competing in 18 of the 20 sports on the Paralympics programme and Britain has a strong line-up of youth and experience aiming for the podium. Eis2win.co.uk looks at how important the Games are and where Britain is hoping to impress.

“At the Paralympics, you get to see people at the peak of their talents” said EIS Chairman Steve Cram, to BBC Online. “They are the best in their own field and the performance element of the Games is now paramount” he added.

Having finished second at the last two Games GB are aiming high again, looking to defend some impressive world records. It’s hoped back in Britain viewers will be captivated by the Games which will show off the top talent of Paralympic sport around the world.

“Part of the issue is getting people to understand the high levels of performance which the athletes are achieving” explained Cram. “Some people watch the London Marathon and think it is easy but when they try jogging along with the runners for an hour or so, that’s a different story. At the Paralympics the levels of performance have improved so much, and most people on the street couldn’t do what some of these athletes are able to achieve” he added.

ParalympicsGB will be taking their biggest team to date, with some hotly awaited performances over the coming ten days, setting the bar for what the UK can expect in London 2012.

Cycling is set to mirror their Olympic counterparts, with a strong line-up on both the track and road. Athens Gold medallists Aileen McGlynn and Ellen Hunter will be first on the track in the tandem, with hotly awaited performances from former swimming champions Sarah Storey and Jody Cundy, who joins Darren Kenny and Mark Bristow in their defence of the pursuit world record, and road cyclists David Stone and Rachel Morris.

Adaptive rowing makes its Paralympics debut and Britain will aim to dominate in all four boats, including defending world champion Tom Aggar in the single scull. Also on the water sailing will be aiming for the podium with their three boats and in swimming Athens Champions Sascha Kindred, Natalie Jones and Jim Anderson will look to defend their titles, with Dave Roberts aiming to become the most successful British Paralympian of all time.

On the track Paralympic champions David Weir and Danny Crates will be part of the GB squad and familiar equestrian face Lee Pearson will be aiming to retain the team gold title. Across all sports Britain has an impressive line-up, which will be aiming to repeat the 94 medals in Athens.

The English Institute of Sport provide a range of support services to a variety of sports on the Paralympics programme. Numerous support staff are currently working out in Hong Kong and Beijing as part of the ParalympicsGB support team and with individual sports.

For more information about supporting Paralympians click here