Paralympic Games: full Foreign Office coverage
A round up of Foreign Office activity around the London 2012 Paralympic Games from 29 August to 9 September.
A round up of our news:
Thursday 6 September
- “We want the Games in London to be remembered as the most inclusive games ever” said Foreign Secretary William Hague when he spoke at the International Paralympic Inclusion Summit.
- Foreign Office Minister Mark Simmonds met Namibia’s Deputy Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, Hon. Pohamba Shifeta and Paralympic gold medallist Johanna Benson (photo).
- The first ever North Korean Paralympian Mr Rim Ju Song met Foreign Office Minsiter Hugo Swire at the Foreign Office (photo).
Wednesday 5 September
- Foreign Secretary William Hague paid tribute to those that were killed in the terrorist attack at the Munich Games 40 years ago.
Tuesday 4 September
- Foreign Secretary William Hague met Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Democratic Republic of Congo Raymond Tshibanda N’tunga Mulongo (photo).
Monday 3 September
- Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne discussed the promotion of positive attitudes towards disabled people and the positive impact that the Paralympics has on challenging stereotypes when he met the Chinese Paralympic delegation (photo).
- Ministers Alistair Burt and Jeremy Browne welcomed a variety of international partners and guests to the Foreign Office for a reception recognising the importance and value of the Paralympics.
- Foreign Office Minister met Sam Tan, Singaporean Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, who is leading the Singapore Delegation to the Paralympics.
Friday 31 August
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“A celebration of inclusion”: New Zealand marks the Paralympic Games.
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The British Embassy in Bucharest together with the policy centre for Roma and Minorities organised a flashmob in the Bucharest Old City Centre.
Thursday 30 August
- Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt welcomed the Palestinian Paralympic delegation to London.
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Foreign Office Minister Henry Bellingham met UN Special Advisor on Sport for Development and Peace Wilfried Lemke.
- British High Commissioner to Pakistan Adam Thompson wrote about Pakistan and the Paralympics in his article for the Pakistan Tribune.
Wednesday 29 August
- Foreign Secretary William Hague met the Vice President of Kenya (photo).
- The Foreign Secretary also met the Vice President of Ecuador.
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Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne talked about human rights and the Olympic and Paralympic Games at the Foreign Office today.
- Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne met Hong Kong Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-Sing to explore how the UK and Kong Kong can work together to strengthen cultural and sporting ties.
- Foreign Office Minister Henry Bellingham wished Sierra Leone’s sole representative in the Paralympics Mohamed Kamara the best of luck when he met the country’s Minister of Trade and Industry (photo).
- Foreign Office Minister Henry Bellingham also welcomed Seychelle’s Sport Minister Vincent Meriton to the Foreign Office, and talked of the UK’s appreciation for Seychelles role in countering international piracy (photo).
See also:
Our posts around the world have been looking forward to start of the Paralympics:
Consul-General Barbara Hay visited Paralympians at the US Olympic Training Centre in Chula Vista, Calif. to wish them well before they departed for the London Paralympic Games. Among the athletes she met were world-record holders Blake Leeper and Lex Gillette; members of the mixed coxed adaptive rowing team; and US military veteran and Paralympian Chris Clemens.
See also videos from the UK in Canada team, who spoke to Paralympic hopefuls Jaye Milley and Victoria Nolan
“With an extraordinary Olympic Games still fresh in the memory, I’m looking forward to some more fantastic performances from all the Paralympic athletes - keeping a particular eye out for Team GB and Team NL of course!” - British Ambassador to the Netherlands Paul Arkwright in his latest blog post.
Paralympic mascot Mandeville met German Chancellor Angela Merkel and during the open day at Berlin’s Ministries.
“The Paralympics is more than a sporting spectacle. It is about creating a powerful legacy for disabled people worldwide by inspiring people to recognise that disabled people should not be judged by what they can’t do, but by what they can. It is about harnessing the skills and potential of everyone in society to the benefit of us all.” - British Ambassador to Jordan Peter Millett in his latest blog post.