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Olympics and Paralympics come to London in 2012
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The
IOC's decision in early July to award the 2012 Olympics and Paralympic
Games to London in 2012 has been warmly received by leading Paralympians.
Bid team member Dame Tanni Grey Thompson said: "This is amazing. It
is a huge day for the Paralympics. We knew we did a good presentation
but it was a tough few hours waiting to see how the voting went. I
don't think I've cried so much and I've seen a lot of old guys who
I never thought I'd see cry get emotional. "
Athens gold medallist Danny Crates was very optimistic about the job
we'll do: "We will do a Paralympics better than anyone else.
Waiting for the result to be announced I was more nervous than any
race I have been in before. When they announced that it was London,
I got a massive adrenalin rush. It's absolutely brilliant."
British disability swimming chief Tim Reddish: "I've been lucky enough
to participate in three Paralympics and lead a team in another but
a Paralympics in my home country will be something special and I can't
wait to be involved in some way. Nothing would give me greater pleasure
than to have the chance to lead a British swimming team at a London
Paralympics. It is a chance for four generations of a family to be
involved, whether it is as a spectator, volunteer or a competitor
and I hope that the government and the health and education agencies
will help in that."
British Paralympic Association chief executive Phil Lane: "Great Britain
is passionate about Paralympic sport. The movement was born here,
at Stoke Mandeville, so that it feels as if the Paralympic Games are
coming home. The Games will provide a showcase for the best Paralympic
athletes in the world. With the UK's media infrastructure we will
be able to show to the world what these athletes can do. The Paralympians
will enthuse and inspire a whole new generation. Paralaympic athletes
in this country will enjoy a greater number and consistency of sports
competitions between now and 2012 as new facilities are built and
events held."
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