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.

 

To top