Council hosts exhibition to celebrate the history of the Paralympic Games
Archived press release
Date Published: 24/09/12
Paralympic Games
Aylesbury Vale District Council is celebrating Stoke Mandeville’s role as the birthplace of the Paralympic movement by supporting a major new exhibition.
Entitled ‘Path to the Paralympic Games: From Stoke Mandeville to the London 2012 Paralympic Games’, the exhibition tells the story of Dr Ludwig Guttmann and his creation of the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, and the way he adopted sport to rehabilitate his patients.
That treatment led to the first sporting competition on 29 July 1948. From this small start grew the second largest sporting event on the planet, and the exhibition follows the history of the Games through to London 2012.
The exhibition has grown from work that has been done over the last four years as part of the Mandeville Legacy project. The project aims to ensure that the role of Stoke Mandeville in Paralympic history is recognised by the world, and is part of Accentuate, a transformational programme of fifteen projects, inspired by the Paralympic Movement, which seeks to change perceptions and offer opportunities to showcase the talents of deaf and disabled people.
AVDC is supporting the exhibition as part of its on-going work to ensure that a lasting legacy is created for the district as a result of the 2012 Games.
Councillor David Thompson, Cabinet Member for Leisure at AVDC, said: "This is an outstanding project that is contributing to the London 2012 Games’ lasting legacy. I hope many Aylesbury Vale residents will come along to the exhibition and find out more about the role the Stoke Mandeville Games had in defining the modern Paralympic Games.”
The exhibition will be held at the council’s Gateway offices, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, from 24 September until 12 October (during normal opening hours). Entry to the exhibition is free and there is plenty of free parking available.
The Gateway offices are open:
• Monday to Thursday from 8.45am to 5.15pm
• Friday to 8.45am to 4.45pm.