Paralympic Games: Champions before Games even begin

GREAT Britain’s 300-strong Paralympic team were officially welcomed to the London 2012 athletes’ village yesterday with an energetic show where they were declared champions even before competition commences.

Ahead of tonight’s opening ceremony of the XIV Paralympic Games, the British team were among the last of the 4,280 competitors from 166 nations to be greeted by an eclectic show of music – including an adapted version of Queen’s We are the champions – and dance as Olympics minister Hugh Robertson and London mayor Boris Johnson watched. Wheelchair tennis player Jamie Burdekin, who is set to play in the Quad singles event at his second Games, said: “I’d just woken up from a little nap and I was blown away. I’m not really the theatre-going type and I feel officially welcomed now to London 2012. It was a lovely welcome. I’m sure it’s only set the standard for the rest of the tournament. Everyone’s in the mood and can’t wait to get going.”

Burdekin won Quad doubles bronze with Peter Norfolk in Beijing but will not be taking part in the pairs competition at Eton Manor.

Two-time Paralympic champion Norfolk, known as the “Quadfather”, is set to lead the British team into the Olympic Stadium at the opening ceremony and Burdekin is excited. Burdekin, who is set to be in competition with Norfolk on the court, said: “He’s been my mate for years and there’s no-one on the team more proud than myself. As good as he is I’m looking to upset him this week. Last time we played I beat him. I took him out this year and I took the world No 1 David Wagner, out as well. I’m peaking at the right time and hopefully people are starting to worry about me when I go on court. I’ve trained for the gold.”

Goalball player Joe Dodson enjoyed the reception which gave him a taster of an opening ceremony which he will miss. The British team are in action in the Copperbox at 9am tomorrow morning against Lithuania. Dodson, competing at his first Games, said: “It was very captivating and a good advert for what the Games is going to be – very energetic and very loud. We play at nine o’clock on Thursday morning. We have to be up at six o’clock. We’ve got the closing ceremony where we know we definitely will be and hopefully, if all things go right, with a medal round the neck, but we have to take every game as it comes.”

Goalball, played by blind and partially-sighted athletes with bells making the ball audible, has the potential to captivate the crowd, who must be silent during points. Dodson believes the British team can still feed off the energy of a partisan support. “You can quite often hear the crowd ooh and aah-ing when the ball hits the post or you stop a ball on the line,” Dodson added. “When there’s a goal or the ball’s out the crowd can react. As long as it’s going our way I think we can carry that through and really push forward on the wave of noise.”

ParalympicsGB chef de mission Craig Hunter was looking ahead to today’s opening extravaganza and the 11 days of competition with even more enthusiasm after the welcome to the village, which was conducted by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, a 12-time Paralympic champion. “What an amazing reception, and that’s really, really special for the team,” said Hunter.”It was the one opportunity for nearly the whole team to be together.”