The Committee met today to discuss the Paralympic Games. The meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister thanked everyone for all the hard work that had already gone into making sure the Paralympics in London is on track to be the biggest and best in its distinguished history. More people will watch the events in London than at any previous Paralympics  – a record 2.3million tickets have been sold with more tickets being made available on the LOCOG website. And more than 4,000 athletes from 150 nations will compete – more than ever before.

The Committee discussed preparations for the Games, including logistics, transport and security. It was agreed lessons had been learned from the huge success of the Olympics and everything was on track to make the Paralympics just as big a triumph for athletes, spectators and the country.

The UK has always led the world on disabled rights and access and the Paralympics are helping to further transform the lives of disabled people across the country and change perceptions about disability. The committee discussed how London is laying the foundations to secure a powerful legacy from the 2012 Games:

• For the first time ever the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London were conceived, planned and delivered together – both given equal priority and attention;
• There’s more public money going into elite Paralympic sport than ever before – £50million in the run up to the Games; and,
• London’s transport system has been revamped with 30 per cent more Underground stations now step-freesince 2008, all 8,500 buses are low floor accessible and £400m is being spent until 2015 installing more lifts, ramps and bridges at 150 train stations.

A No10 spokesperson said:

“Britain is ready for the biggest and best Paralympics ever. The public has shown its support by snapping up nearly two and half million tickets, more than any Paralympics before. And there will be more athletes from more countries than ever before.

“The Government has put in place the foundations to secure a powerful legacy from the London 2012 Games, with transport improvements, money going into Paralympic sport, and using the opportunity of the Paralympics to help change perceptions about disability. Britain has long been a trailblazer for promoting rights for disabled people and the Government is determined to build on that.”

Follow @2012govpress on Twitter for Government Olympic Communication updates.