The exposition, designed to raise awareness of Paralympic Sport and its athletes heading into the London 2012, will tour the United Kingdom regions ahead of the Games and give the public a chance to learn about the technology, history and spirit behind the Games.

It includes stories of Paralympic and recreational athletes who use prosthetic limbs, an interactive display exploring the relationship between mood and gait and a history of Otto Bock's 24 years of involvement with the Paralympic Movement.

The exhibition was opened in Scotland by the Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport Shona Robison in an event that was also attended by British football seven-a-side player Jonathan Paterson and boccia playing brothers Stephen and Peter McGuire, three of the first Scottish athletes named to the British squad for London 2012.

Mandeville, the London 2012 Paralympic mascot, was also at the event, as well as local students, while Philip Yates, the managing director of Otto Bock UK, set he was happy to bring the exhibition to Scotland.

"We're delighted to share our passion and excitement for the London 2012 Paralympic Games," he said.

"So far, 11 Scottish athletes have been named to the ParalympicsGB team for the London 2012 Paralympic Games and greater awareness of Paralympic sport in Scotland will provide an enormous boost to their preparations.

"The Otto Bock and IPC 'Passion for Paralympics' exhibition provides the public the opportunity to learn about the London 2012 Paralympic Games and show their support for the Scottish athletes who will be competing."


Interactive exhibits provide visitors with a hands-on experience of the most exciting Paralympic sports, include one designed to enable visitors to feel the strength required to power a carbon-fibre running blade and compare results with the Paralympic athletes who use that technology.

In addition, visitors have the chance to take part in a hand cycling race and add their speed to a leaderboard where they can compare it with other racers around the country.

Following its stay in Scotland, the exhibition will move to Manchester between May 14 and 27 before heading to Westfield Stratford shopping centre between July 27 and August 12, when the Olympic Games will be taking place.

It will finally move onto the Olympic Park in Stratford during the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

During the 2012 Paralympics, Otto Bock is responsible for providing over 80 technicians during the Games to provide repairs and technical service and the company will supply an international support team.

It is expected the support team will come from 18 countries and speak 14 languages and at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics, Otto Bock technicians from 19 different countries worked more than 10,000 hours completing 2,188 repairs for athletes from 120 countries.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
April 2012: Sir Philip Craven - Athletes must be given full credit in Paralympic sport, not their technology
April 2012: Otto Bock and IPC launch interactive exhibition to celebrate Paralympic Games
September 2011: Otto Bock announce London 2012 team at International Paralympic Day
May 2011: Otto Bock technical services workshop at BT Paralympic World Cup provides taster for London 2012
February 2011: Otto Bock sign-up as London 2012 Paralympic sponsor