Interactive exhibition of Paralympic sport technology opens in
London Olympic Park
30 August 2012
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and Ottobock
Healthcare, the Official Technical Service Provider for the 2012
Paralympic Games, have today opened the ‘Passion for Paralympics’
exhibition at the Olympic Park in London.
The exhibition, designed to raise awareness of Paralympic sport
and competing athletes during the 2012 Paralympic Games, will be at
the Olympic Park between 30 August and 9 September 2012. It will be
available for Paralympic Games ticket holders to visit and is open
Monday to Sunday between 9am and 10pm.
Passion for Paralympics Travelling Exhibition
Interactive exhibits will provide visitors with a hands-on
experience of the most exciting Paralympic sports. These include one
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.
Visitors will 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 pledge
their support for the 2012 Paralympic Games by sharing what they are
passionate about and taking a picture to upload to a fan wall on the
Passion for Paralympics website,
www.ottobock.com/paralympics.
The exhibition includes:
stories of Paralympic and recreational athletes that
use prosthetic limbs and wheelchairs;
an interactive display exploring the relationship between
mood and gait; and
a history of Ottobock’s 24 years of involvement with the
Paralympic Movement.
Video Welsh athlete Iwan Thomas tries out a
paralympic bike at the launch of the Ottobock exhibition in the
Science Museum, London in April 2012. See video below
Sir Philip Craven, IPC President, said: “Ottobock is a much
valued IPC worldwide partner and we are delighted that this
exhibition will help spread ‘passion for the Paralympics’. The 2012
Paralympic Games have the potential to be the best yet and this
exhibition will give the public a greater understanding of the Games
and athletes, as well as some of the technology athletes use during
competition and their day-to-day lives.”
“Ottobock is committed to helping people enjoy the Paralympic
Games and key to this is understanding the equipment Paralympians
use,” said Christin Gunkel, Chief Marketing Officer of Ottobock.
“The Passion for Paralympics exhibition provides an interactive
experience for visitors of all ages to learn more about Paralympic
sport by trying the equipment and learning about the technology
behind it.”
Advanced prosthetic legs: the Ottobock Genium
Bionic Prosthetic system used by Paralympic athlete Heinrich Popow. The
legs contain sensors and microprocessors to automatically control
how they move, based on what they are being used for.
Ottobock Healthcare has been a partner of
the Paralympic Games since 1988 and the exhibition will showcase the
role of the company and history of the Paralympic Games over this
time. As Official Technical Service Provider for the 2012 Paralympic
Games, Ottobock is responsible for providing over 80 technicians
during the Games to provide repairs and technical service.