Ali Kiremitçioğlu, the director of the campaign, is the Deputy Chef de Mission of Turkey's team participating in the Paralympics and marched in last night's Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium. 

He will be combining his two roles at these Games to try to learn some more lessons that he can take home to try to help Istanbul in its bid, where they are facing rivals Madrid and Tokyo, who are also represented here.

Kiremitçioğlu has been accompanied by Hasan Arat, the leader of the bid. 

"My Istanbul 2020 colleagues and I have already been so impressed by LOCOG's preparation and the organisational successes of the 2012 Olympic Games," said Arat.

"There were many lessons we took home with us.

"Now we are here to focus on how Istanbul 2020 Games organisers would need to transition to the Paralympic Games and the way in which a long-term legacy of accessibility and inclusion can be left for the local communities in Istanbul.

"We will also study the positive impact that the Paralympic Games could have in Turkey on the national attitude to people with a disability."

Turkey only made its debut in the Paralympics at Barcelona in 1992 and before these Games in London had won only four medals, two gold and two bronze.

But its team sent to compete here at London 2012 is significantly larger than any it has sent to a previous Games.

There are 67 athletes taking part in 10 sports, compared to four at Athens in 2004 and Beijing four years ago, when they sent 16 athletes in seven sports. 

They have already made a strong start, winning a gold and silver on the opening day of competition.

Turkey's Nazmiye Muslu celebrates after setting a world record and winning gold in the women's 40kg powerlifting on day one of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at ExCeL

Nazmiye Muslu set a world record as she claimed victory in the women's -40 kilogram powerlifting and Korhan Yamaç won a silver in the men's P1-10 metre air pistol competiton.

It ensured that these are already Turkey's most successful Paralympics ever. 

"There is significant national support at home for Turkey's Paralympians," said Arat.

"It will be an honour to be able to support them here in person.

"These incredible athletes are a powerful inspiration to the Istanbul 2020 Bid Committee as we seek to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Turkey for the first time ever."

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