The Paralympics open on the 29th with athletes from 165 countries competing in London

Text by Li Xinyi, compiled and reported by MOOK Scenic Spots Home Travel Life Network

The London Olympics have just concluded, and the Paralympic Games will soon begin on August 29 and run until September 9. British pop rock band Coldplay has been confirmed to perform at the closing ceremony. This year marks the first time London has hosted the Paralympics, but the UK is actually the birthplace of the Paralympic movement. In 1948, during the Summer Olympics held in London, Dr. Ludwig Guttmann of Stoke Mandeville Hospital organized a sports competition for 16 World War II veterans who had suffered spinal cord injuries. It was the world’s first sporting event for disabled athletes and inspired the future Paralympic Games. To commemorate the origin of the Paralympics, the mascot for the 2012 London Paralympics was named Mandeville.

This year's Paralympics will feature 20 sports across 20 venues, with 4,200 athletes from 165 countries and regions participating—250 more than the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. The main events of the 2012 London Paralympics will be held in the Olympic Park and the River Zone, which are just 15 minutes apart. The River Zone includes five venues located near the banks of the River Thames, comprising North Greenwich Arena 1, Greenwich Park, North Greenwich Arena 2, the ExCeL London exhibition center, and the Royal Artillery Barracks.

Events held outside these two zones include the Paralympic rowing competitions, which will take place at Eton Dorney, about 25 miles from London. Sailing events will be hosted in Weymouth and Portland, while the cycling road races will be held in central London. Eton Manor, located north of the Olympic Park, is a brand-new venue that will host Paralympic tennis matches. After the Games, this venue will be transformed into a multi-purpose sports facility, including a hockey pitch, tennis courts, and a futsal field, providing new athletic amenities for athletes and the local community.

According to the Chinese Taipei Paralympic Sports Association, Taiwan will send 18 athletes to compete in seven sports: powerlifting, archery, judo, shooting, swimming, table tennis, and athletics. Including coaches and support staff, a total of 41 people departed for the UK on August 22.

● Read more: Top 10 Series for Taiwanese Abroad / 10 Must-Do Experiences in the UK When Visiting the London Olympics

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