Paralympic Handover
Hundreds celebrate Paralympic Handover in Hackney
Five hundred residents welcomed the Paralympic Games to Hackney with free celebrations in the Town Hall Square on Wednesday 17 September.
The event marked the historic moment London was handed the Paralympic flag and became the official host city of the 2012 Paralympic Games, with Hackney hosting almost one third of the Olympic Park site.
The official handover moment was shown live from Beijing on a big screen in the Town Hall Square, and was accompanied by colourful giant flag displays by Hackney-based Chinese costume parading band Jun Mo. There was also a celebratory confetti cannon blast.
Mayor of Hackney, Jules Pipe, said: “I am delighted so many people joined in welcoming the Paralympic Games to Hackney. With almost one third of the Olympic Park site in our borough, we will be at the heart of the 2012 Games. We’re now looking forward to celebrating the launch of the Cultural Olympiad at the end of the month, promoting culture and the arts as part of the Games like never before.”
Three hours of free celebrations were opened by elected Mayor of Hackney, Jules Pipe, and Paralympic gold medallist swimmer Giles Long. The event was hosted by deaf comedian Steve Day.
The Town Hall Square was transformed into an action packed zone with award winning disability culture and sports acts. There were also 14 information stalls providing advice on services offered to residents by disability groups, charities and the Council, and opportunities such as volunteering.
Disability sports displays included wheelchair badminton, wheelchair basketball from the Hackney Sparrows, positive mental attitude football, and Boccia - a Paralympic sport similar to Boules.
Cultural acts included wheelchair line dancing by the Rhinestone Rollers from the Graeae Theatre Company, the Light Sleepers band from Lee House (Rehabilitation and Employment Centre for adults with mental health needs in Hackney), Core Arts drumming, steel pans, and hula hoop performers Hoop La La, who train in Hackney and were semi-finalists on ITV1’s Britain’s Got Talent.
See also
Olympic Handover
Hackney One Carnival: Cultural Olympiad
Page updated: 19 Sep 2008