1000 days to the start of the 2012 Paralympic Games

Minister for Sport Nelson McCausland today marked the 1,000-day milestone in the countdown to the Paralympic Games in 2012.

The Minister, who is Chair of the NI 2012 Leadership Group, was helping to plant 1,000 tulip bulbs in the Stormont Estate.

Speaking at the event the Minister said: "The Paralympic Games is an important sporting target and it is one at which it seems Northern Ireland has excelled.

"In 2008 in Beijing, the efforts of Northern Ireland’s Paralympic Athletes were heroic and they won three Gold medals, so I will be following the progress of the competitors with interest over the next 1,000 days as they prepare for 2012."

He was joined by Disability Sports NI’s President Janet Gray and some of Northern Ireland’s Paralympic Athletes who competed in Beijing last year: Johnny Cummings (swimming); Karen Cromie (adaptive rowing) and Michael McKillop (800 metres).

Dr Janet Gray, MBE World Disabled Water-ski Champion and President of Disability Sports NI said: "The way in which London 2012 is integrating the Paralympic and Olympic Games is to be commended. The UK is the birthplace of the Paralympic Games and they are coming home. Our local athletes are training hard and hoping to build on their success at Beijing."

BT, who provided the tulip bulbs, is the official communications services partner for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and title sponsor of the BT Paralympic World Cup. Peter Morris, Consumer Director, BT said: "We were all touched by the inspirational power of the Paralympic Games after the fantastic success of our athletes in Beijing. BT has a long history of supporting disability sport, and with 1,000 days to the start of the London 2012 Paralympic Games we are proud to be helping to raise the profile of disability sport."

Also helping to plant the bulbs were some children from Westwinds Primary School in Newtownards who had completed the 5-Star Disability Sports Challenge.

Notes to editors:

1. The UK is birthplace of the Paralympic Games. It began as a competition that involved World War II soldiers with spinal cord injuries based in Stoke Mandeville hospital. The competition took place between sports clubs and other hospitals on the same day as the Opening Ceremony of London 1948 Olympic Games.

2. The London 2012 Paralympic Games are being planned and integrated with the Olympic Games, a first for any Olympic host. Chris Holmes, MBE has been appointed Head of Paralympic Integration at London 2012.

3. December 3 is also the United Nations’ annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities to promote an understanding of disability issues, the rights of persons with disabilities and their integration into society.

4. A nationwide talent recruitment drive has been launched today by UK Sport, the English Institute of Sport and the British Paralympic Association. A campaign of this size so close to a Game is unprecedented and whilst it can take athletes up to eight years to reach an Olympic Games, research has shown that potential participants for a Paralympic Games can be ready to compete at an elite level much sooner. People with any form of disability, who think they might have what it takes to become a Paralympic Champion in London in 2012, should register their interest at www.uksport.gov.uk/talent before 11th January 2010.

5. The '5 Star Disability Sports Challenge', is an awareness project which showcases Disability Sport in a very positive way, challenging negative attitudes, and inspiring both disabled and non-disabled children to participate and excel in sport. It includes wheelchair racing, wheelchair basketball, boccia, new age kurling and goalball. The programme is led by Disability Sports NI and is aimed at school children of all abilities.

6. '5- Star Disability Challenge' was awarded a London 2012 Inspire mark which is for innovative, non-commercial projects that have been inspired by the London 2012 Games.

· Northern Ireland has over 1,000 local companies registered by Invest NI to receive details of Olympic tenders; more than 10,000 children have participated in Sport NI’s Activ8 programme and over 4,500 children in Disability Sports NI’s 5 Star Disability Sports Challenge. This summer over 7,000 people participated in Open Weekend a 2012 event held locally.

· Other partners and organisations linked to London 2012 will also be celebrating 1,000 days to go. Staff and pupils at Springfield's School in Cane, Wiltshire will be holding a 1,000 days to go assembly to celebrate the fact they are the first Special School to join the London 2012 Get Set network; Sheffield’s Lighting the Flame partnership the English Institute of Sport is hosting taster sessions of Paralympic Sports with ex-Paralympians; in Brighton, Accentuate, the South East’s Legacy Trust programme is launched, delivering 15 cross-sector projects ensuring disabled people have the potential to be the leaders of tomorrow, in whatever field they choose.

· BT is the official communications services partner for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, and title sponsor of the BT Paralympic World Cup.

6. All media enquiries to DCAL Press Office on 028 9051 5048 or email press.office@dcalni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.