Your invitation to a party – to launch the Paralympics!

Disabled people are being encouraged to turn out in force for a community festival on the opening night of the Paralympics at Stoke Mandeville Stadium in Aylesbury – a place closely associated with the history of the Games.

A huge turnout is being anticipated for ‘Stoke Mandeville Live’ which will feature a big screen relaying the opening ceremony live from London, a programme of fun, arts, crafts and sporting activities along with free food and drink. It will run from 6-10pm on Wednesday 29th August.

‘This is a unique and exciting opportunity to see Christian inclusivity in action, that could potentially become a global model,’ says Tim Wood, CEO of the disability organisation Through the Roof.

The event is committed to inclusivity including allocated parking for disabled people, step-free access, a loop system and sign language interpreters.

Local groups, including Torch Fellowship Groups, have been invited and people are expected to attend from London, Oxford, Milton Keynes and further afield.

Organisers of this ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunity are primarily More Than Gold and the Aylesbury Church Network. The committee for the church network says, ‘The most distinctive thing about the opening event is that will have a strong disability focus that should make it attractive for both disabled adults and children. We want to model inclusion and see the community working together to celebrate everyone’s gifts and talents. We hope to help create a legacy of disability ministry and build on an already considerable festival-type ministry in the centre of town.’

If you live locally, you are encouraged to attend and bring your friends, along with a picnic rug and suitable outdoor clothing. The postcode for the stadium in Guttmann Road, Aylesbury, is HP21 9PP.

More Info and a Map from the Aylesbury Church Network Website