Only days after returning from the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, a team of leading officials from Paris 2012, headed by Jean Francois Lamour, French Minister of Sport, Youth and Associations, is set to return to Athens for the Paralympic Games in time for the Opening Ceremony on September 17, 2004.

The Paris 2012 team will be looking to glean valuable insights and learnings from the Athens event, to ensure that Paris 2012’s Candidature File, due to the International Olympic Committee on November 15, 2004, will be of the highest standard.

The Paris 2012 contingent attending the 2004 Paralympics in Athens will include Pénélope Komitès, Deputy Mayor of Paris in charge of people with a disability; Marie-Anne Montchamp, State Secretary in charge of people with a disability; and Philippe Baudillon, Chief Executive Officer of Paris 2012.

Jean-François Lamour believes that the 2012 Paralympic Games would leave a lasting and priceless legacy to the whole country.

“France has an excellent track-record of organizing competitive sporting events for athletes with a disability. Such prestigious events have a unifying and inspiring effect on our society. Recent events, such as the IIIth IPC Athletics World Championships in 2002 in Lille or the exhibition competitions held for athletes with a disability at the 2003 IAAF World Championship in Athletics demonstrated the enthusiasm and support of the French public, and we welcome every opportunity to host these inspirational events in the future”, he said.

“We hope that the Paris 2012 team is able to learn as much as possible from the Athens 2004 Paralympics in order to ensure that the Paris 2012 Paralympics would be the best yet.”

Hosting the 2012 Paralympic Games would mark the launch of a seven-year national campaign to increase public awareness and enhance perceptions towards people with disabilities on the strength of education and training programs, and employment initiatives. In addition, the campaign would provide for the further integration of people with disability by accelerating the development of appropriate facilities and public accessibility.

The Paralympic Games would enable athletes with a disability to showcase their talents and love of sports on an equal playing field, while further accelerating integration with a broader range of sports federations.

Paris 2012’s presence at the Paralympic Games will include participation in the official Observer Programme set up by ATHOC and the International Paralympic Committee as well as the installation of a Paris 2012 stand in the Royal Olympic Hotel - home of the French athletes, medallists and delegates while in Athens. The stand will also provide information on the Paris 2012 bid to visitors.