Image copyright Rutland
London is fast becoming one of the most accessible cities in the world, said Dubai-based tourism officials.
Millions of people all around the UAE, UK and abroad are celebrating the sporting achievements of those with disabilities as the London 2012 Paralympic Games continue until 9 September. More than 4,000 athletes are participating in the Paralympic Games over 11 days, competing in 503 medal events, which include 20 sports and 21 disciplines at 20 venues. Up to 70,000 volunteers, dubbed ‘Games Makers’, have taken on a wide variety of roles across the venues: from welcoming visitors to transporting athletes.
All major attractions in London are accessible and investments have been made to ensure that all visitors are accommodated for – from the EDF London Eye to the V&A to the Thames Clippers. Transport for London has invested hundreds of millions of pounds in making London’s transport network more accessible in the last few years, with improvements such as new lifts, trains, platform humps, wide aisle gates, tactile paving and audio and visual displays.
In addition, the UK’s capital is now one of the first cities to have its own dedicated accessibility website which caters to all disabilities - Inclusive London, www.inclusivelondon.com - an online nationwide access register to buildings, venues and services.
“Britain offers great accessible attractions and activities for visitors with disabilities,” said VisitBritain’s UAE Manager, Carol Maddison. “This year, we proudly raised the bar for disability sport and continue to do so with authentic British hospitality.”
The Paralympic Opening Ceremony was an ambitious and inspiring show which saw disabled and non-disabled performers scaling dizzying heights in an amazing display of circus skills. Thrill-seeking visitors and their families, with or without disabilities, can enjoy a multitude of adventurous attractions.
Fly over Britain. The Paralympic Opening Ceremony opened with a flypast by Aerobility, a charity that trains disabled pilots. The organisation's inspiring manifesto is to work ‘with every conceivable disability, however severe, from injured military personnel to children with learning disabilities, turning the dream of flying into an exhilarating and fulfilling reality.’ Flights take off from four locations, which include Scotland and Wales. Beginners welcome, and each 30 minute flight costs £60. http://www.bdfa.net.
Soar on a trapeze. Enjoyed the flying athletes' aerial ballet? The participants in the Opening Ceremony’s airborne antics were trained at Circus Space in Hackney, a school that prepares bona fide acrobats in their degree courses, as well as offering Experience Days for anyone who wants to try their hand at juggling, tight-wire walking and the flying trapeze. The organisation endeavours to make all courses and classes as accessible as possible, and is widening its accessibility further. It is best to call ahead to discuss access needs and the suitability of certain activities. http://www.circusspace.co.uk.
Sail away. ‘Sailing is freedom’, says Ros Mulholland-Guillick of Rutland Sailability. The organisation offers experiences to people with disabilities at every standard of sailing. On Thursdays non-member participants with any level of experience are welcomed to test the waters, and specially-designed access dinghies that cannot capsize assure safety. Nationally, Sailability clubs have enabled over 20,000 disabled people to experience sailing. http://www.rutland-sailability.org.
Ride the rapids. The first London 2012 venue to open after the Games is Lee Valley White Water Centre, which welcomes visitors from 8 September. The 300m Olympic Standard Competition course produces grade 4 rapids for a thrilling – and wet – day out. The venue is accessible to wheelchair users, who enter rafts via hydraulic hoists from a pontoon. www.gowhitewater.org.uk.
Glide like a bird. Walking on Air is a Scottish charity that provides people with disabilities the chance to ‘soar like birds’, using the facilities of the Scottish Gliding Centre. It’s an exhilarating experience with a guaranteed adrenalin rush during take-off and landing, with beautiful view of Scotland’s mountains, peaks and lochs from above. http://walkingonair.org.uk.
Cycle the Tarka Trail. One of the UK’s longest continuous traffic-free cycle and footpaths, the route around Devon was navigated by ‘Tarka the Otter’ in the book of that name. It’s a figure of eight route that takes in wooded river valleys, rugged moorland, coastal cliffs and sandy bays, and which can be navigated in a wheelchair tandem bicycle. http://www.bidefordbicyclehire.co.uk.
The Calvert Trust is a fantastic organisation that organises adventure holidays for people with disabilities, together with their families and friends, to achieve their potential through the challenge of outdoor adventure in the countryside, across several locations including the beautiful Lake District and Exmoor. http://www.calvert-trust.org.uk. |