LONDON 2012: Grey-Thompson admits Paralympic sideshow concerns

By Ben Baker, Sportsbeat

TANNI Grey-Thompson has admitted concerns that the London 2012 Pararalympics will be overshadowed by the Olympic Games just one month earlier.

TWO FRONTS: Oscar Pistorius should be one of the big stars of the London 2012 Paralympics - but is also attempting to qualify for the Olympic Games (Getty Images)

Britain's most successful Paralympic athlete, with 15 medals, including 11 golds, was speaking on the two year to go anniversary to the Games.

London 2012 organisers are determined that the Paralympics will not be sideshow and will announce ambitious plans to sell two million tickets next year.

Channel 4 are also determined to stamp their mark on the event, having snatched the broadcast rights from the BBC, who will screen the Olympics.

But Grey-Thompson is concerned that some athletes will seek to make the Olympics their priority and treat the Paralympics as an afterthought.

Blade runner Oscar Pistorius, who won three athletics golds in Beijing, is again attempting to qualify for both events - although he recently failed to make the South African Commonwealth Games team.

"The Paralympics is not the B final to the Olympics," said Grey-Thompson, who retired after the Athens Games and sits on several committees at organisers Locog.

"We are getting closer and closer to having a level playing field with the Olympics - and London 2012 will play a big part in closing the gap even further.

"I fully support Oscar because the Olympics can bring big rewards for an athlete. However, I want the same rewards for the Paralympics."

London 2012's Paralympic chief Chris Holmes admits one of his chief tasks is to sell Paralympic sport to the British public - after a recent survey revealed 86 per-cent couldn't name a single Paralympian, past or present.

"If we put on the greatest Paralympic Games ever staged then the British gold medallists in 2012 will resonate all the whole of the United Kingdom," he said.

"We need to see people not just dreaming their dreams but realising their potential."

This weekend is two years to go to the Paralympics – plan your games at www.london2012.com