The interactive display, designed to raise awareness of Paralympic sport and athletes in the run up to the London 2012 Paralympics, will tour the United Kingdom during the spring and summer to offer the public the chance to learn about the technology, history and spirit behind the Games.

It will provide visitors with a hands-on experience of Paralympic sports with one key exhibit designed to enable visitors to feel the strength required to power a carbon fibre running blade and compare themselves with the Paralympic athletes that use them.

The launch event here was attended by Otto Bock President and chief executive Professor Hans Georg Nader, as well as IPC President Sir Philip Craven.

"Otto Bock is very proud of our history as technical provider for the Paralympic Games and we are very excited to be launching the Passion for Paralympics travelling exhibition," Nader said.

"This will be the 12th Paralympic Games where Otto Bock has provided technical service and shared in the passion and excitement of watching these incredible athletes compete.

"The exhibition has been designed to raise awareness of Paralympic sports and athletes with the public, so that they can look forward to the London 2012 Paralympic Games as much as we are."


Following the press launch today, the exhibition will open to the public in Glasgow between April 17 and May 9.

It will then move to Manchester on May 14-27, 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.

The Otto Bock President and chief executive also revealed that he is looking to take the travelling exhibition to Russia ahead of the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympics and also to Brazil before the Rio 2016 Summer Paralympics.

"Otto Bock is a much valued IPC worldwide partner and we are delighted that this exhibition will help spread 'Passion for the Paralympics' by touring the country," Sir Philip (pictured below) said.

"The London 2012 Paralympic Games are set to be the best yet and this exhibition will give the public a greater understanding of the Games and our athletes, as well as some of the technology our athletes use during competition and their day-to-day lives."

The exhibition includes stories of Paralympic and recreational athletes that 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 after they signed up as a partner of the Paralympic Games back in 1988 for the Seoul Paralympics.

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


They will also be able to get involved by pledging their support for the London 2012 Paralympic Games by sharing what they are passionate about and taking a picture to upload to a fan wall on the newly launched Passion for Paralympics website.

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.

The most repairs by Otto Bock technicians in one day is 183.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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