Stephen Hawking to help open ‘inspirational’ Paralympics
By Katy Lee | AFP –
A spectacular opening ceremony was set to ring in the biggest ever Paralympic Games on Wednesday, with Stephen Hawking, Britain’s most famous living scientist, expected to feature in the ceremony at London’s Olympic Stadium.
Hawking, who has motor neurone disease and has been paralysed for most of his life, was set to appear alongside a cast of more than 3,000 at the ceremony, where Queen Elizabeth II will officially open the Games.
A record 4,200 athletes are taking part in the Paralympics across 20 sports, with the event expected to sell out for the first time and win its biggest ever television audience.
Double amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius is among those gearing up for 11 days of competition at the stadium, where the curtain came down on the Olympic Games just two weeks ago.
The Paralympic torch arrived in London early Wednesday after travelling in an overnight relay through
Category: World
