Media types: Image

1st Eskimo: Where did your mother come from?

2nd Eskimo: Alaska

1st Eskimo: Don’t bother, I’ll ask her myself!

Image Credit: Ava Weintraub Photography

‘Tanni’ is a nickname that has stuck with ‘Carys Davina’ since she was a baby, after her older sister adoringly called her ‘tiny’. Tanni started using a wheelchair from the tender age of seven; however this never held her back as a determined and independent child she loved taking part in sports such as swimming, archery and horse riding.

She is now considered one of the most successful disabled athletes in the UK. Since her career began in 1988 she has won 15 Paralympic medals, 13 World Championship medals, broke 30 world records and achieved many personal bests. Her fifth and last Paralympic games were in Athens, where she brought us home an amazing two gold medals in wheelchair racing!

After retiring in 2007, she is still continuing her involvement in the sporting world since becoming a director of UK athletics and also a board member for the London marathon. Over the years Tanni has received numerous awards for her significant influence in sports such as BBC Wales sports personality of the year, UK sporting hero by sport UK, Pride of Britain and most incredibly a DBE for her services to sport! Making her not only Baroness Grey-Thompson but a remarkable woman, sporting legend and national treasure.

 

Image Credit: IvanWalsh.com 

The Paralympics were never created to be a world-wide sporting event which millions of people would watch, and thousands of athletes compete in. In fact they started right here in the UK, from an idea formed by Sir Ludwig Guttmann. After opening the UK’s first spinal injuries unit he started playing with the idea of sport helping soldiers with spinal injuries both physically and mentally.

In 1948, alongside the Olympics, Sir Ludwig Guttmann organised the very first wheelchair sports competition at Stoke Mandeville hospital. This was the birth of the Paralympics as we know it today!  Since then the Paralympics have grown in popularity, with this year being the most successful games ever with ticket sales through the roof.

After some time the event was officially named the ‘Paralympics’, most people may assume the name derives from the word ‘paralysis’, however it has no reference to disability. In fact the name comes from the Greek word ‘para’ which means ‘beside’ or ‘alongside’ meaning the games that run parallel to the Olympics. So get in the sporting spirit by cheering on your favourite nation this year, it only comes around once every four years after all!

 

 

Image credit; poeloq

Millions of eyes are still glued to our capital, London, as the Paralympics opening ceremony takes place in the Olympic stadium tonight. With Queen Elizabeth officially opening the games and film director Stephen Daldry the brains behind the event, it is bound to be a event not to be missed. Including acrobatics, musical performers, celebrations of Britain’s history of science and discovery and a fly-over by Aerobility.

The fourteenth Paralympic ceremony will involve more than 3,000 volunteers including 50 disabled performers, a children volunteer cast of over 100, 4,000 athletes and 100+ professional performers, kick starting the most successful Paralympics ever.

The event, named ‘The Enlightenment’ has been described as ‘human understanding, limitations and the importance of knowledge’ by Lord Coe.

The parade will showcase all 162 nations taking part with every country taking the limelight, giving you the chance to cheer on your country or your favourite athlete!

 

 

Image credit; Stuart Grout

Former athlete Linford Christie, is the only British male to have won gold in the four major athletics competitions; the World, Commonwealth and European Championships, and The Olympic Games.

During his career Christie has held the record for the men’s 100m and and 60m and was the first British male to break the 10 second barrier in the 100m sprint. Linford Christie is still the most decorated male athlete Britain has to offer, holding 23 major championship medals, with 10 of them being gold.

Since finishing his track career, Christie has focused on coaching athletes Katharine Merry and Darren Campbell to earn their own Olympic medals. He also runs his own sports management company.

We are proud of all our British athletes but Linford Christie truly is a national treasure.

 

Image Credit: Doha Stadium Plus

Notting Hill Carnival is a totally unique festival that has taken place every August bank holiday weekend and provided fun and frolics for people from all over the world since 1964. It’s the largest festival of its kind in Europe, celebrating music, dance, food, colours, smells and culture.

It originally began as a way for Afro-Caribbean groups to express themselves and celebrate their culture. The carnival themes originate from the festivals of the Caribbean which were to celebrate freedom from slavery. The first carnival in Notting Hill was particularly focused on the steel drum players of London and celebrating their music. Since then the carnival has grown and grown.

Notting Hill Carnival represents freedom and joy for all cultures, and we’re proud to host this celebration in Britain.

 

Image Credit: Valters Krontals