Sport matters. It does not just reflect the world we live in, it has the power to change it too. And on no stage is this more true than the Paralympics Games. During recent Games, Wales has been inspired by many stories of courage, defeating the odds and of our athletes beating the best in achieving glory for ParalympicsGB. Already London 2012 promises us more of the same and with it being so much closer to home, the build-up promises to be even more intense.
With just 200 days to go until the start of the Games the excitement is building by the day - and now is a good time to say congratulations to those Welsh athletes who have already made it into ParalympicsGB . Steve Thomas, from Bridgend, has been selected for sailing and nearly half of the Table Tennis team announced so far is made up of Welsh athletes. They are Sara Head, Paul Davies, Paul Karabardak and Rob Davies, and they will be coached by Neil Robinson, from Bridgend.
Wales’ record in producing top Paralympic athletes is outstanding. In Beijing, Welsh athletes won a quarter of ParalympicsGB’s gold medal haul, a stunning achievement. I remain very proud of the fact that Wales remains at the forefront of disability sport at all levels - this success is testament to the work of Disability Sport Wales, its officers and its army of volunteers and of course the sheer commitment of athletes and coaches. It is this success, along with our world class facilities, that has helped to attract Paralympic Pre-Games Training Camps to Wales.
This is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity for our athletes to compete on home soil and I’m sure they will do Wales, and ParalympicsGB proud.
