London 2012 Paralympic Games: Inspiring the World
Given the audience, the motto for the London 2012 Paralympic Games-“inspire a generation”- should have been “inspire the world.” Several billion television viewers tuned in, and more than 2.5 million tickets were sold to spectators who traveled to London’s Olympic Stadium to watch 4,280 athletes from 166 countries compete in 20 sports. The Games, billed by some as the greatest Paralympics ever, came to a close September 9 with a ceremony that included performances by acrobats, dancers, and musicians; appearances by dignitaries and royalty; and a fireworks display. Over the course of 11 days of competition, 251 world records were set.
