Просмотр кода страницы Английская Википедия:2012 Summer Paralympics

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{{Short description|Multi-parasport event in London, England}}
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{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox Olympic games|2012|Summer|Paralympics
| image       = London Paralympics 2012.svg
| host_city   = [[London]], United Kingdom
| motto       = ''Inspire a Generation''
| nations     = 164
| athletes    = 4,302
| events      = 503 in 20 sports
| opening     = 29 August
| closing     = 9 September
| opened_by   = [[Queen Elizabeth II]]
| cauldron    = [[Margaret Maughan]]
| stadium     = [[London Stadium|London Olympic Stadium]]
| summer_prev = [[2008 Summer Paralympics|Beijing 2008]]
| summer_next = [[2016 Summer Paralympics|Rio 2016]]
| winter_prev = [[2010 Winter Paralympics|Vancouver 2010]]
| winter_next = [[2014 Winter Paralympics|Sochi 2014]]
}}
{{2012 Summer Paralympics Sidebar}}

The '''2012 Summer Paralympics''', branded as the '''London 2012 Paralympic Games''', were an international [[Multi-sport event|multi-sport]] [[parasports]] event held from 29 August to 9 September 2012 in [[London]], England, United Kingdom. They were the 14th Summer Paralympic Games as organised by the [[International Paralympic Committee]] (IPC).

These Games were the first Summer Paralympics to be hosted by London, and the first hosted solely by Great Britain; the English village of [[Stoke Mandeville]] co-hosted the [[1984 Summer Paralympics|1984 Games]] with [[Long Island|Long Island, New York]] after its original host, the [[University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign]], withdrew due to financial issues.<ref name="sml-1984">{{cite web |title=Mandeville Legacy: Stoke Mandeville 1984 |url=http://www.mandevillelegacy.org.uk/page_id__40_path__0p4p14p22p.aspx |access-date=14 August 2012}}</ref> In 1948, the village hosted the [[Stoke Mandeville Games]]—the first organised sporting event for athletes with disabilities, and a precursor to the modern Paralympic Games—to coincide with the opening of the [[1948 Summer Olympics|1948 Olympics]] in London.

Due to the fact that Parasports is a cultural factor of great impact in Great Britain,the organisers expected the Games to be the first Paralympics to achieve [[mass market|mass-market]] appeal, fuelled by continued enthusiasm over [[Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics|Great Britain's performance during the Olympics]], awareness of Great Britain's role in the history of the Paralympics,the first global paralympic star on history,the South African sprinter [[Oscar Pistorius]] presence (who had become the first double amputee to compete in the Summer Olympics alongside non-disabled athletes), and increasing media coverage and promotion of [[Paralympic sports|Paralympic sport]] (including the first developed major advertising campaign made by a [[Channel 4|local broadcaster]]). The Games ultimately met these expectations, breaking records for ticket sales, heightening the profile of the Paralympics in relation to the Olympics, and prompting IPC president [[Philip Craven]] to declare them the "greatest Paralympic Games ever."<ref name=guardian-massmarket/><ref name=guardian-emotional-finale>{{cite news|title=Paralympics closing ceremony review: an emotional and fiery finale|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/sep/09/paralympics-closing-ceremony-finale-coldplay| work = [[The Guardian]] |access-date=12 September 2012|location=London|first=Owen|last=Gibson|date=9 September 2012}}</ref>

A total of 503 events in 20 sports were held during the Games; events for athletes with [[Intellectual disability|intellectual disabilities]] (ID) returned to the Paralympic programme after being suspended following the [[2000 Summer Paralympics]], The Games were contested by a record 4,302 athletes representing 164 [[National Paralympic Committee]]s, with 14 countries making their Paralympic debut.  For the third Summer Paralympics in a row, [[China at the Paralympics|China]] won the most medals overall, with a total of 231 (95 of them being gold), followed by Russia and Great Britain.

==Bidding process==
{{Main|Bids for the 2012 Summer Olympics}}
As part of a formal agreement between the [[International Paralympic Committee]] and the [[International Olympic Committee]] established in 2001, the winner of the bid for the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] was also to host the 2012 Summer Paralympics.<ref name=bbc-firstglobal>{{cite news|title=Paralympics 2012: London to host 'first truly global Games'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/disability-sport/18143145|work=BBC Sport|access-date=1 August 2012}}</ref> At the 117th IOC Session in Singapore, the rights to host the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics were awarded to London.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/4655555.stm |work =BBC News |title=London beats Paris to 2012 Games |date=6 July 2005}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/sep/02/london.Olympics2012 |title=The party that never was: capital marks the games at last—Eight weeks after Olympic celebrations were cut short by bombings, London puts on a low-key spectacle to show it means business |work= [[The Guardian]]  |date=6 July 2005 |access-date=22 August 2008 |first=Andrew |last=Culf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002091306/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2005/sep/02/london.Olympics2012 |archive-date=2 October 2008 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable collapsible"
|-
! colspan="7" | 2012 Summer Olympics bidding results
|-
! City
! NOC/NPC
| style="background:silver;"|'''Round 1'''
| style="background:silver;"|'''Round 2'''
| style="background:silver;"|'''Round 3'''
| style="background:silver;"|'''Round 4'''
|-
||[[London 2012 Olympic bid|London]]||{{flag|Great Britain}}|| style="text-align:center;"|'''22'''|| style="text-align:center;"|27|| style="text-align:center;"|'''39'''|| style="text-align:center;"|'''54'''
|-
||[[Paris 2012 Olympic bid|Paris]]||{{flag|France}}|| style="text-align:center;"|21|| style="text-align:center;"|25|| style="text-align:center;"|33|| style="text-align:center;"|50
|-
||[[Madrid 2012 Olympic bid|Madrid]]||{{flag|Spain}}|| style="text-align:center;"|20|| style="text-align:center;"|'''32'''|| style="text-align:center;"|31|| style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
||[[New York City 2012 Olympic bid|New York City]]||{{flag|United States}}|| style="text-align:center;"|19|| style="text-align:center;"|16|| style="text-align:center;"|—|| style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
||[[Moscow 2012 Olympic bid|Moscow]]||{{flag|Russia}}|| style="text-align:center;"|15|| style="text-align:center;"|—|| style="text-align:center;"|—|| style="text-align:center;"|—
|}

==Development and preparation==
{{Main|2012 Summer Olympic development}}
As with the Olympics, the 2012 Summer Paralympics were overseen by [[LOCOG]] and the [[Olympic Delivery Authority]] (ODA). LOCOG was responsible for overseeing the staging of the games, while the ODA dealt with infrastructure and venues.<ref>{{Citation |author=London 2012|author-link=LOCOG|year=2005|title=LOCOG Formally Established|url=http://www.olympic.org/content/news/media-resources/manual-news/1999-2009/2005/10/07/london-2012-locog-formally-established/|access-date=23 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|author=Olympic Delivery Authority|author-link=Olympic Delivery Authority |year=2007 |title=Annual Report and Accounts 2006–2007|publisher=Olympic Delivery Authority|publication-place= London|page=10|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/250791/0741.pdf|access-date=23 April 2014}}</ref>

The [[Government Olympic Executive]] (GOE) within the [[Department for Culture, Media and Sport]] (DCMS) was the lead Government body for co-ordinating the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. The GOE reported through the DCMS Permanent Secretary to the Minister for Sports and the Olympics [[Hugh Robertson (politician)|Hugh Robertson]]. It focused on oversight of the Games, cross-programme management and the [[London 2012 Olympic Legacy]].<ref>{{Citation|author=Government Olympic Executive|author-link=Government Olympic Executive|year=2011|title=London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Annual Report February 2011|publisher=Department for Culture, Media and Sport|publication-place= London|page=2|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/77633/DCMS_GOE_annual_report_february_2011.pdf|access-date=23 April 2014}}</ref>

England's role in the history of the Paralympics was emphasised as part of the Games: an event known as the [[Stoke Mandeville Games]] were hosted by the village of [[Stoke Mandeville]]—site of the [[Stoke Mandeville Hospital|National Spinal Injuries Centre]]—to coincide with the opening of the [[1948 Summer Olympics]] in London. Contested between British veterans of the [[Second World War]], it was the first organised sporting event for athletes with disabilities, and served as a precursor to the modern Paralympic Games.<ref name="guardian-massmarket" /><ref name="bbc-phistory">{{cite news |date=6 July 2004 |title=History of the Paralympics |work=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/3628745.stm |access-date=1 August 2012}}</ref>

===Venues and infrastructure===
[[File:ParalympicCyclingatBrandsHatch.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The [[Brands Hatch]] circuit hosted [[road bicycle racing|road cycling]] during the Paralympics.]]
{{Further|Venues of the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics}}
The 2012 Summer Paralympics used many of the same venues as the 2012 Summer Olympics, along with two exclusive venues ( [[Eton Manor]] for wheelchair tennis and [[Brands Hatch]] circuit for road cycling.<ref name=guardian-paraprep/>All the London's purpose-built Olympic venues and facilities, including the Olympic Village, were designed and planned to be accessible as possible so they could easily accommodate the Paralympics. Some older venues also contained additional accessible seating areas during the Paralympics.<ref name=guardian-paraprep>{{cite news|title=London 2012: let the Paralympics preparations begin|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/13/london-2012-paralympic-preparations-begin| work = [[The Guardian]] |access-date=18 August 2012|first=Alexandra|last=Topping|date=13 August 2012}}</ref><ref name=paralympic-twists>{{cite news|last=Gibson|first=Owen|title=Paralympics reignite the Olympic buzz but with added twists|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/30/london-paralympics-olympics-differences-similiarities| work = [[The Guardian]] |access-date=31 August 2012|location=London|date=30 August 2012}}</ref>

===Public transport===
{{See also|2012 Summer Olympics#Public transport}}
[[Transport for London]] (TfL) operated the Paralympic Route Network (a downsized version of the Olympic Route Network operated during the Summer Olympics) to facilitate road traffic between venues and facilities. The network provided {{convert|8.7|mi|abbr=off}} of lanes specifically reserved for Paralympic athletes and officials.<ref name=lm-prn>{{cite web|title=London sets out road plans for Paralympics|url=http://www.logisticsmanager.com/Articles/19021/London+sets+out+road+plans+for+Paralympics.html|publisher=Logistics Manager|access-date=15 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828224145/http://www.logisticsmanager.com/Articles/19021/London+sets+out+road+plans+for+Paralympics.html|archive-date=28 August 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> TfL continued to operate its ''Get Ahead of the Games'' website during the Paralympics, which provided updates and advice for commuters during the Games.<ref name=les-cycling>{{cite news |title=The Olympic commute... Get ahead of the Games by bike |url= https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/the-olympic-commute-get-ahead-of-the-games-by-bike-7978591.html | work = [[London Evening Standard]] |date=26 July 2012 |author=Gardner, Jasmine |access-date=14 August 2012}}</ref> Prior to the Games, concerns were raised by TfL commissioner [[Peter Hendy]] that London's transportation system might not be able to handle the Paralympics adequately. He feared that the end of the school summer holiday (which fell during the Games) would result in increased traffic, and that commuters might not heed traffic warnings or change their [[travel behavior|travel behaviour]] as they had during the Olympics.<ref name=guardian-transport>{{cite news|title=Transport fears as Paralympic ticket sales surge|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/aug/12/paralympic-games-london-transport-fears| work = [[The Guardian]]|access-date=13 August 2012|location=London|first1=Gwyn|last1=Topham|first2=Alexandra|last2=Topping|date=12 August 2012}}</ref>

[[Sevenoaks railway station]] was designated as the preferred station for spectators travelling to watch the cycling at [[Brands Hatch]]. Organisers chose Sevenoaks over the closer [[Swanley railway station]] because of its "existing step-free access and excellent transport links", and because Swanley did not yet have a [[wheelchair lift]]. Whilst organisers did not believe that Swanley would be able to have wheelchair lifts installed by the start of the Paralympics, the station finished their installation by early August 2012.<ref name=bbc-swanley-lifts>{{cite news|title=New station lifts open in time for Paralympics|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-19258777|work=BBC News|access-date=15 August 2012|date=14 August 2012}}</ref>

===Lead-up and promotion===
[[File:London 2012 countdown clock (1).jpg|thumb|A digital clock in [[Trafalgar Square]], counting down to the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Paralympics]]

====Handover ceremony====
The formal handover occurred during the closing ceremony of the [[2008 Summer Paralympics]] in Beijing, when [[Mayor of London]] [[Boris Johnson]] received the [[Paralympic flag#Flag|Paralympic Flag]] from Mayor of Beijing [[Guo Jinlong]]. This was followed by a cultural presentation by Britain, which was a which was a sequel to the presentation during the [[2008 Summer Olympics closing ceremony|Antwerp Ceremony during the Olympics closing ceremonies]]. It featured urban dance group ZooNation, the [[Royal Ballet]], and [[Candoco]], a [[physically integrated dance]] group, all dressed as London commuters and waiting for a bus by a zebra crossing. A double-decker bus drove around the stadium, guided by [[Ade Adepitan]], to music composed by [[Philip Sheppard (musician)|Philip Sheppard]]. The top of the bus was open and folded down to show a privet hedge featuring London landmarks such as [[Tower Bridge]], [[30 St Mary Axe|The Gherkin]] and the [[London Eye]]. [[Cherisse Osei]], drummer for [[Mika (singer)|Mika]], and [[Sam Hegedus]] then performed, before the top of the bus folded up into its original form,sporting multi-coloured Paralympic livery.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.london2012.com/documents/press-kits/paralympic-handover-media-guide.pdf |title=Media guide to the London 2012 Paralympic Games Handover segment, Closing Ceremony, Beijing 2008 Games. |publisher=London 2012 |date=17 June 2008 |access-date=20 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608023725/http://www.london2012.com/documents/press-kits/paralympic-handover-media-guide.pdf |archive-date=8 June 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Both the Paralympic and Olympic flags were formally raised outside of London's [[City Hall, Southwark|City Hall]] on 26 September 2008. British Paralympians [[Helene Raynsford]] and [[Chris Holmes (swimmer)|Chris Holmes]] raised the Paralympic flag.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://legacy.london.gov.uk/mayor/videos/flag-raising.jsp |title=Mayor of London&nbsp;— Video clips: Olympic and Paralympic flags raised at City Hall |publisher=Legacy.london.gov.uk |date=26 September 2008 |access-date=22 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113110735/http://legacy.london.gov.uk/mayor/videos/flag-raising.jsp |archive-date=13 January 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://legacy.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=18998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113113104/http://legacy.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=18998 |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 January 2012 |title=1948 Olympians and 2012 hopefuls join Beijing heroes as Olympic and Paralympic flags raised at City Hall |publisher=Legacy.london.gov.uk |date=26 September 2008 |access-date=22 September 2011 }}</ref>

====Paralympic Day and Super Saturday====

On 8 September 2011 [[Trafalgar Square]] staged ''International Paralympic Day'', hosted by [[Rick Edwards]], [[Ade Adepitan]] and [[Iwan Thomas]], to coincide with a visit to London by representatives of the IPC. The event featured showcases and demonstrations of the 20 sports that would feature during the Games, with some sessions also made inclusive to people with hearing disabilities. It also included appearances by Paralympic athletes [[Oscar Pistorius]], [[Ellie Simmonds]] and [[Sascha Kindred]], and the unveiling of a bronze statue of Pistorius by [[Ben Dearnley]]. British Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] and London's mayor Boris Johnson also appeared.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paralympic.org/news/london-2012-host-international-paralympic-day-september-2011|title=London 2012 to Host International Paralympic Day in September 2011|publisher=International Paralympic Committee|access-date=22 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14819063 | work=BBC News | title=London 2012: David Cameron visits Paralympic Day | date=8 September 2011}}</ref>

Two days later on 10 September, supermarket chain [[Sainsbury's]] and [[Channel 4]] presented ''Sainsbury's Super Saturday'', a family event at [[Clapham Common]]. The event featured showcases of Paralympic sports, and a concert featuring pop music acts including [[Nicola Roberts]], [[Olly Murs]], [[The Wanted]], [[Will Young]], [[Pixie Lott]], [[Dappy]], [[Sugababes]], [[The Saturdays]], [[Chipmunk (rapper)|Chipmunk]] and [[Taio Cruz]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://j-sainsbury.co.uk/media/events/2011/20110910-sainsburys-super-saturday/|title=Sainsbury's Super Saturday|publisher=J Sainsbury plc|access-date=22 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330094443/http://j-sainsbury.co.uk/media/events/2011/20110910-sainsburys-super-saturday/|archive-date=30 March 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insidethegames.biz/paralympics/summer-paralympics/2012/109672-sainsburys-super-saturday-is-a-hit-as-pop-stars-help-promote-london-2012-paralympics|title=Sainsbury's Super Saturday is a hit as pop stars help promote London 2012 Paralympics|publisher=Inside the Games|author= Tom Degun|date=10 September 2011 |access-date=22 April 2014}}</ref>

====Channel 4 promotional campaign {{anchor|Channel 4 television advert}}====
[[Channel 4]] the new local broadcaster of the 2012 Summer Paralympics in the United Kingdom—held a multi-platform [[advertising campaign]] to promote its coverage. The broadcaster sought to change the public perception of the Paralympics, encouraging viewers to see them as an "event in its own right", rather than as an afterthought to the Olympics. The campaign included television adverts, online content, and [[billboard advertising]], some of which carrying the infamous slogan "Thanks for [[2012 Summer Olympics|the warm-up]]".<ref name=time-londonpromotion>{{cite news|title=After the 2012 London Olympics, Will Sponsors Embrace the Paralympics?|url=http://olympics.time.com/2012/09/07/after-london-2012-will-sponsors-and-media-finally-embrace-the-paralympics/|magazine=Time|access-date=5 January 2014|date=7 September 2012}}</ref>

As part of the campaign, Channel 4 produced a two-minute-long trailer for its coverage entitled ''Meet the Superhumans'', which was directed by Tom Tagholm with input from Deborah Poulton, 2012 Paralympic Project Leader and Alison Walsh, Editorial Manager of Disability, both at Channel 4. The trailer, set to [[Public Enemy (group)|Public Enemy]]'s song "[[Harder Than You Think]]", focused on the competitive and "superhuman" aspects of Paralympic sport, while acknowledging the personal events and struggles that reflected every athlete's participation in the Games. ''Meet the Superhumans'' premiered on 17 July 2012, airing simultaneously on 78 different commercial television channels in the UK (which included rival comercial channels [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] and [[Sky1]]).<ref name=adott-c4paralympics>{{cite web|title=Ad of the Day: Paralympic Games Forget the Olympics. This is the summer's most stunning sports commercial|url=http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/ad-day-paralympic-games-142183| work =[[Adweek]]|access-date=11 August 2012}}</ref><ref name=ind-c4para>{{cite news|title=Paralympics: Channel 4's superhuman effort|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/paralympics-channel-4s-superhuman-effort-7956894.html|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=11 August 2012|location=London|first=Simon|last=Usborne|date=19 July 2012|archive-date=22 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822101635/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/paralympics-channel-4s-superhuman-effort-7956894.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The advert was met with critical acclaim: ''[[Adweek]]''{{'s}} Tim Nudd declared it "the summer's most stunning sports commercial",<ref name=adott-c4paralympics/> while Simon Usborne of ''[[The Independent]]'' felt it was "an act of branding genius" and "a clear bid to bring the Paralympics from the sporting wings to centre stage."<ref name=ind-c4para/> The advert was seen by an estimated audience of 10 million viewers; Channel 4's marketing and 
communications chief Dan Brooke estimated that reaction to the advert through [[social media]] was double that of the première of the BBC's trailer for its Olympics coverage.<ref name=adott-c4paralympics/><ref name=ind-c4para/>

''Meet the Superhumans'' won a Golden Lion award at the [[Cannes lions International Festival of Creativity|Cannes Lions Festival]] in June 2013, losing the overall award to the railway safety [[public service announcement|PSA]] ''[[Dumb Ways to Die]]''. [[Bartle Bogle Hegarty|Sir John Hegarty]], the jury president said of it: "When you've got some really outstanding work it is tragic in some ways it can't get a bigger award, but there can only be one grand prix", while jury member Carlo Cavallone added "[Meet the Superhumans] is an amazing campaign, one of the golds that went through [the judging process] immediately ... Everyone felt it had the highest level of craft. It puts an issue that was really important before London 2012 to raise awareness of the Paralympics [and] they were hyper successful … ''Dumb Ways to Die'' was a tough contender."<ref>{{cite news|title=Cannes Lions: Dumb Ways to Die scoops top award|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/jun/22/cannes-lions-advertising-awards|work = [[The Guardian]] |date=22 June 2013|access-date=23 June 2013|location=London|first=Mark|last=Sweney}}</ref>

====Royal Mail stamps and gold post boxes====
{{see also|2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics gold post boxes}}
[[File:2012 Paralympics Royal Mail gold postbox scheme launch box, Lower Road, Stoke Mandeville Hospital (1).jpg|thumb|right|A post box outside the [[National Spinal Injuries Centre]] in [[Stoke Mandeville]] was painted gold in honour of the village's role in the history of the Paralympic movement.]]
In August 2009, [[Royal Mail]] unveiled a series of 30 stamps (reflecting the 30th Olympiad) in honour of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, released in batches of ten between 2009 and July 2011. Each stamp featured an Olympic or Paralympic sport and the London 2012 logo.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalmailgroup.com/royal-mail-launches-major-series-olympic-stamps-london-2012 |title=Royal Mail launches major series of Olympic Stamps for London 2012 |publisher=Royal Mail Group |date=24 August 2009 |access-date=22 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828224145/http://www.royalmailgroup.com/royal-mail-launches-major-series-olympic-stamps-london-2012 |archive-date=28 August 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/summer-olympics/2012/13670-royal-mail-releases-final-set-of-2012-olympic-stamps |title=Royal Mail releases final set of 2012 Olympic stamps &#124; London 2012 |publisher=insidethegames.biz |date=22 July 2011 |access-date=22 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14244890 | work=BBC News | title=Year-to-go Olympic stamps unveiled by Royal Mail | date=22 July 2011}}</ref>

As it had done during the Olympics, Royal Mail honoured Britain's Paralympic gold medallists by painting a [[post box]] gold in each of their home towns (along with an additional post box outside the [[National Spinal Injuries Centre]] in [[Stoke Mandeville]], in honour of its role in the Games' history),<ref name="Pock Post">{{cite news|title=Gold Post Boxes Launched For ParalympicsGB Gold Medal Winners|url=http://www.pocklingtonpost.co.uk/community/gold-post-boxes-launched-for-paralympicsgb-gold-medal-winners-1-4876138|access-date=10 September 2012|newspaper=Pocklington Post|date=29 August 2012}}</ref> and featured them on commemorative stamps released throughout the Games.<ref name=rm-stamps/><ref name=guardian-rmstamps/> Royal Mail originally planned only to release a series of six stamps with group portraits of Britain's medallists; however, the decision was met with backlash from critics, who argued that the organisation was discriminating against Paralympians by not granting them the same individual recognition as their Olympian counterparts.<ref name=rm-stamps/> Olympic [[Shadow Cabinet|shadow minister]] [[Tessa Jowell]] was also critical of Royal Mail's plan, saying that the stamps were a symbolic aspect of Britain's celebration of the Olympics and that "it would be a shame if this important symbol was not offered to our Paralympian heroes as well."<ref name=guardian-rmstamps/>

Royal Mail initially defended its decision, arguing that it would have been "logistically and practically impossible" to issue individual stamps for each gold medallist, since it expected the British team to meet or exceed its performance at Beijing of 42 gold medals.<ref name=rm-stamps>{{cite news|title=Royal Mail defends decision to deny Paralympic gold medallists own stamps|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/08/royal-mail-defends-paralympic-stamps| work = [[The Guardian]]|access-date=12 August 2012|location=London|first=Matthew|last=Taylor|date=8 August 2012}}</ref> As a result of the criticism, Royal Mail announced on 15 August 2012 that it would release individual stamps for each British gold medallist during the Paralympics.<ref name=guardian-rmstamps>{{cite news|title=Royal Mail will issue stamp for every UK Paralympic gold medal winners|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/15/royal-mail-pressure-paralympics-stamps| work = [[The Guardian]] |access-date=16 August 2012|location=London|first=Alexandra|last=Topping|date=15 August 2012}}</ref>

====Test events====
{{main|London Prepares series}}
Several Paralympics-specific events were held during the [[London Prepares series]] of test events for the Olympic and Paralympic Games; these included the London International [[Goalball]] Tournament, and the London Disability Grand Prix—which was also the first Paralympic event to be held at London's Olympic Stadium.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/london_2012/9397066.stm | work=BBC News | title=London 2012 test events unveiled | date=24 February 2011}}</ref><ref name=bbc-para-goalball>{{cite news|title=GB goalball hopeful on Paralympic place after test event|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/disability-sport/16033528|work=BBC Sport|access-date=11 August 2012}}</ref>

===Torch relay===
{{see also|2012 Summer Paralympics torch relay}}
[[File:London 2012 Paralympic Games torch relay.jpg|thumb|A group of torchbearers in wheelchairs bringing the Paralympic flame through [[Canary Wharf]]]]
The Paralympic torch relay began on 22 August, when groups of [[Community integration|integrated]] [[Scouting and Guiding in the United Kingdom|scouts]] kindled four Paralympic flames on the highest peaks of each [[Home Nation]]: [[Scafell Pike]] in England, [[Ben Nevis]] in Scotland, [[Slieve Donard]] in Northern Ireland, and [[Snowdon]] in Wales. On 24 August the four flames were used to light ceremonial cauldrons in London, [[Edinburgh]], [[Belfast]] and [[Cardiff]] during special "Flame Festival" events; smaller "Flame Celebration" events were also held in various communities over the [[bank holiday]] weekend.<ref name=bbc-torchrelay/><ref name=ind-relay>{{cite news|title=Mountain cauldrons will spark Paralympic torch relay|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympics/mountain-cauldrons-will-spark-paralympic-torch-relay-8050170.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympics/mountain-cauldrons-will-spark-paralympic-torch-relay-8050170.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription|work= [[The Independent]]|access-date=19 August 2012|location=London|first=Jerome|last=Taylor|date=15 August 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name=telegraph-relaybegin>{{cite news|title=Paralympics 2012: flames lit across Britain at the start of Paralympic torch relay celebrations|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9492379/Paralympics-2012-flames-lit-across-Britain-at-the-start-of-Paralympic-torch-relay-celebrations.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9492379/Paralympics-2012-flames-lit-across-Britain-at-the-start-of-Paralympic-torch-relay-celebrations.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live| work = [[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=23 August 2012|location=London|first=Tim|last=Williams|date=22 August 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On 28 August the four flames were united during a ceremony at [[Stoke Mandeville Stadium]].<ref name=telegraph-united>{{cite news|title=Four Paralympic flames united at Stoke Mandeville|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9504731/Four-Paralympic-flames-united-at-Stoke-Mandeville.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9504731/Four-Paralympic-flames-united-at-Stoke-Mandeville.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work = [[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=29 August 2012|location=London|first=Victoria|last=Ward|date=28 August 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The flame then travelled a {{convert|92|mi|adj=on|abbr=off}} route to Olympic Stadium in a 24-hour relay, with 580 torchbearers working in teams of five.<ref name=bbc-torchrelay>{{cite news|title=London 2012: Scouts to spark Paralympic flame|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19265010|work=BBC News|access-date=16 August 2012|date=15 August 2012}}</ref> After a two-hour weather delay, a backup flame was taken straight to the stadium as a contingency, and the relay route was modified.<ref>{{cite news|title=Paralympics 2012: Backup torch is lit after delays cause fears that flame won't make opening ceremony on time|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9507005/Paralympics-2012-Backup-torch-is-lit-after-delays-cause-fears-that-flame-wont-make-opening-ceremony-on-time.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9507005/Paralympics-2012-Backup-torch-is-lit-after-delays-cause-fears-that-flame-wont-make-opening-ceremony-on-time.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live| work = [[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=30 August 2012|location=London|date=29 August 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> However, as the opening ceremony's parade of nations took longer than expected, the flame was able to reach the external area of Olympic Stadium in time.<ref name=guardian-oczip/>

===Ticketing===
2.7 million tickets were offered in total, including event-specific tickets and those granting access solely to the Olympic Park, along with multi-event passes offered for ExCeL London and Olympic Park that were intended to allow spectators to discover a variety of Paralympic events.<ref name="paralympic-twists"/><ref name=bbc-27million/> Unlike previous Paralympics, tickets were in extremely high demand, and the ticket allocation was increased from the originally planned 2.5 million. Whilst the period during the Olympics has historically been the busiest for Paralympic sales, 1.4 million tickets were already sold before the start of the Summer Olympics, already surpassing the total number sold in Sydney.<ref name=ind-snapped>{{cite news|title=2.1m Paralympic tickets snapped up|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympics/21m-paralympic-tickets-snapped-up-8022473.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympics/21m-paralympic-tickets-snapped-up-8022473.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription| work = [[The Independent]] |access-date=11 August 2012|location=London|first=Helen|last=William|date=8 August 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The high demand resulted in the [[Ticketmaster]]-operated website crashing under the load.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Mark King |title=London 2012 Paralympic tickets: everything you need to know |url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2012/aug/14/london-2012-paralympic-tickets |work=The Guardian |access-date=14 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714231319/https://www.theguardian.com/money/2012/aug/14/london-2012-paralympic-tickets |archive-date=14 July 2021 |language=English |date=14 Aug 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Organisers expected the first ever sell-out in the history of the Paralympics; LOCOG's chief executive [[Paul Deighton]] remarked that "the interest in attending the Paralympics has been extraordinary from the start."<ref name=bbc-27million>{{cite news|title=Paralympics tickets raise £10m more than predicted|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19500185|work=BBC News|access-date=6 September 2012|date=6 September 2012}}</ref> This success was attributed to the enthusiasm surrounding [[Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics|Great Britain's performance during the Olympics]], fan interest in South African sprinter [[Oscar Pistorius]]—who had become the first ever double amputee to compete in the Olympics alongside non-disabled athletes, and affordable prices.<ref name=bbc-27million/><ref name=thei-tickets>{{cite news|last=Cecil|first=Nicholas|title=Interest in 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius pushes up London 2012 Paralympic ticket sales|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympics/interest-in-blade-runner-oscar-pistorius-pushes-up-london-2012-paralympic-ticket-sales-8015168.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympics/interest-in-blade-runner-oscar-pistorius-pushes-up-london-2012-paralympic-ticket-sales-8015168.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription | work = [[The Independent]] |access-date=11 August 2012|date=7 August 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On 8 August, LOCOG announced that 2.1 million tickets had been sold (600,000 in the previous month alone), breaking the record of 1.8 million set in Beijing (1.6 million tickets were also distributed by the Chinese government).<ref name=bbc-27million/> IPC president [[Philip Craven]] congratulated London for this achievement, crediting it to "the insatiable appetite the public has for top class elite sport", and noted it would be fitting for a Paralympics held in its spiritual birthplace to have filled venues.<ref name=ind-snapped/> By the opening ceremony, 2.4 million had been sold, with the remaining 100,000 sold during the Games; 10,000 were offered each day. The last 800 tickets to the Opening Ceremony were distributed to police and the military, while Mayor Boris Johnson arranged for the distribution of 1,100 to members of London's youth athletics clubs.<ref name=bbc-onsale>{{cite news|title=Paralympic tickets on sale during Games|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19399100|work=BBC News|access-date=28 August 2012|date=28 August 2012}}</ref> Due to popular demand, a further 100,000 contingency tickets were released on 6 September (which included multi-event passes, and event tickets given up by sponsors and partners), along with 100,000 giving access solely to the Olympic Park.<ref name=bbc-27million/>

===Logo===
{{See also|2012 Summer Olympics#Logo and graphics}}
The 2012 Summer Paralympics used an emblem sharing a common design with that of the Summer Olympics{{emdash}}the first time this had ever been done.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/olympics_2012/6718243.stm|title=London 2012 logo to be unveiled|work=[[BBC Sport]]|date=4 June 2007|access-date=4 June 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070613121008/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/olympics_2012/6718243.stm| archive-date= 13 June 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> The logo, designed by [[Wolff Olins]], was unveiled on 4 June 2007, and is a representation of the number 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/olympics_2012/6718243.stm|title=London unveils logo of 2012 Games|work=[[BBC Sport]]|date=4 June 2007|access-date=5 July 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070901012256/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/olympics_2012/6718243.stm| archive-date=1 September 2007| url-status= live}}</ref> The Paralympic version has its own distinct colour scheme, and substitutes the [[Olympic symbols|Olympic Rings]] with the [[Paralympic symbol|Paralympic "agitos"]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.london2012.com/about-newlook-video.html|title=The new London 2012 brand|publisher=London 2012|date=4 June 2007|access-date=4 June 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070606204757/http://www.london2012.com/about-newlook-video.html |archive-date = 6 June 2007}}</ref>

===Mascots===
{{Main|Wenlock and Mandeville}}
[[File:Olympic mascots (cropped).jpg|thumb|London's Paralympic and Olympic Mascots, Mandeville (left) and Wenlock (right)]]
The official mascot of the 2012 Summer Paralympic Games, Mandeville, was unveiled alongside its Olympic counterpart Wenlock on 19 May 2010. As characters, they are portrayed drops of steel from a steelworks in [[Bolton]], and feature singular camera eyes {{emdash}}representing "focus"{{emdash}} with the cameras capturing aspects of the Games. Mandeville is named in honour of [[Stoke Mandeville]] due to its significance in the origins of the Paralympics. Mandeville also wears a helmet emblazoned in the red, green, and blue colours of the [[Paralympic symbols#Current|Paralympic emblem]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The London 2012 mascots |publisher=London 2012 |date=19 May 2010 |url=http://www.ourlondon2012.com/mascots/ |access-date=20 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521054503/http://www.ourlondon2012.com/mascots/ |archive-date=21 May 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref><ref name="BBCMascots">{{cite news  | title = London 2012 unveils Games mascots Wenlock & Mandeville  | work=BBC News | date = 19 May 2010  | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/london_2012/8690467.stm  | access-date =19 May 2010 | first=Gordon | last=Farquhar| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100522124841/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/london_2012/8690467.stm| archive-date= 22 May 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>

===Opening ceremony===
{{main|2012 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony}}
[[File:Paralympic flames.jpg|thumb|upright|The Paralympic cauldron]]
The opening ceremony was held on 29 August at the Olympic Stadium. It was inspired by [[William Shakespeare]]'s play ''[[The Tempest]]'' and themed around the concept of "Enlightenment", with actors [[Ian McKellen]] and [[Nicola Miles-Wildin]] playing the roles of [[Prospero]] and [[Miranda (The Tempest)|Miranda]]. It featured appearances by [[theoretical physics|theoretical physicist]] [[Stephen Hawking]], and performances by British electronic music group [[Orbital (band)|Orbital]],<ref name=guardian-oczip/> and the [[Graeae Theatre Company]], who performed [[Ian Dury]]'s 1981 protest song "[[Spasticus Autisticus]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgemckay.org/spasticus-autisticus-at-the-paralympics-opening-ceremony/|title=Spasticus Autisticus at the Paralympics opening ceremony|last1=McKay|first1=George |date=30 August 2012|access-date=22 April 2014}}</ref>

The final bearers of the Paralympic flame represented several generations of Paralympic athletes. "Future" Paralympic athlete Joe Townsend, a [[Royal Marines|Royal Marine]] who lost both of his legs after stepping on a [[land mine]] on duty in [[Afghanistan]], delivered the flame to Olympic Stadium via a [[zipline]] from the [[ArcelorMittal Orbit]] tower. He passed the flame to long-time British [[Five-a-side football]] captain [[David Clarke (five-a-side footballer)|David Clarke]], who then passed it to the lighter of the [[2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics cauldron|Paralympic cauldron]], [[Margaret Maughan]], who was the winner of Britain's first gold medal at the [[1960 Summer Paralympics|first official Paralympics]], in Rome.<ref name=guardian-oczip>{{cite news|title=Paralympics 2012 opening ceremony: Games launched on a storm of ideas|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/30/paralympics-2012-opening-ceremony-games-launched-storm-ideas| work = [[The Guardian]] |access-date=30 August 2012|location=London|first=Owen|last=Gibson|date=30 August 2012}}</ref>

===Closing ceremony===
{{main|2012 Summer Paralympics closing ceremony}}
The closing ceremony was held on 9 September at the Olympic Stadium. Entitled "The Festival of the Flame", the ceremony was themed around the gathering of people in celebration, and was directed by [[Kim Gavin]], who also directed the [[2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony|closing ceremony of the Summer Olympics]] just a few weeks prior.<ref name="bbc-cc">{{cite news|title=Paralympic Games: Closing ceremony led by Coldplay|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19537677|work=BBC News|access-date=10 September 2012|date=10 September 2012}}</ref> The artistic programme of the ceremony was set to live performances by the British rock band [[Coldplay]]. They were accompanied by guest performers such as the [[British Paraorchestra]] (who accompanied the band on "[[Strawberry Swing]]", and also performed the Paralympic anthem), [[Barbadian people|Barbadian]] singer [[Rihanna]] (who performed "[[We Found Love]]", and her collaboration with Coldplay, "[[Princess of China]]") and American rapper [[Jay-Z]] (who performed "[[Run This Town]]" with Rihanna and Coldplay, and joined in a reprise of "[[Paradise (Coldplay song)|Paradise]]").

During their closing remarks, LOCOG chief [[Sebastian Coe]] and IPC president [[Philip Craven]] both congratulated London for its successful hosting of the Paralympics; Coe was proud that both the Olympics and Paralympics in London could be labelled "[[Country of origin|Made in Britain]]", while Sir Phillip felt that the Games were the "greatest Paralympic Games ever."<ref name="guardian-emotional-finale" /> The Paralympic flag was handed over from [[Boris Johnson]], [[Mayor of London]] to [[Eduardo Paes]], [[List of mayors of Rio de Janeiro|Mayor of Rio de Janeiro]], host of the [[2016 Summer Paralympics]].<ref name="guardian-emotional-finale" /> [[Ellie Simmonds]] and [[Jonnie Peacock]] shared the honour of extinguishing the Paralympic cauldron, sharing its last flame on torches to others throughout the stadium to represent its eternal spirit.<ref name="guardian-emotional-finale" /><ref name="guardian-liveblog">{{cite news|title=London 2012 Paralympics closing ceremony – as it happened|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/sep/09/london-2012-paralympics-closing-ceremony-live| work = [[The Guardian]]|access-date=10 September 2012|first=David|last=Batty|date=9 September 2012}}</ref>

==The Games==

===Participating National Paralympic Committees===
[[File:Azerbaijani athletics team at the 2012 Summer Paralympics.JPG|thumb|[[Azerbaijan]]i athletics team at the 2012 Summer Paralympics]]
London 2012 had the largest number of athletes and participating nations of any Paralympic Games before.<ref name="biggest">{{cite web|url=http://www.paralympic.org/news/it-s-official-london-2012-be-biggest-paralympic-games-ever |title=It's Official – London 2012 to be Biggest Paralympic Games Ever |publisher=Paralympic.org |access-date=8 July 2012}}</ref> A total of 4,302 athletes from 164 countries competed in the Games.<ref name=participation/> This represented an increase of 291 athletes and 18 countries from the 2008 Games, which had 4,011 athletes from 146 countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/reports/participation2pdf.php?sport=all&games=2008PG&gender=|title=Participation Numbers Beijing 2008|publisher=IPC|access-date=23 April 2014}}</ref>

Fourteen countries made their Paralympic debut: [[Antigua and Barbuda]], [[Brunei]], [[Cameroon]], [[Comoros]], the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], [[Djibouti]], [[the Gambia]], [[Guinea-Bissau]], [[Liberia]], [[Mozambique]], [[North Korea]], [[San Marino]], the [[Solomon Islands]] and the [[US Virgin Islands]].<ref name="biggest" /> [[Trinidad and Tobago]] returned to the Games for the first time since 1988.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.tt/lifestyle/2012-05-16/paralympic-athletes-thrill-students "Paralympic athletes thrill students"]. ''[[Trinidad and Tobago Guardian]]''. 17 May 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paralympic.org/trinidad-and-tobago|title=Trinidad and Tobago Paralympic Committee|publisher=International Paralympic Committee|access-date=22 April 2014}}</ref>

[[Andorra]] made its debut in the [[Summer Paralympics]], having already made three appearances at the [[Winter Paralympics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paralympic.org/andorra|title=Andorra Paralympic Committee|publisher=International Paralympic Committee|access-date=22 April 2014}}</ref> [[Malawi]], which would have been making its debut at the Games, and [[Botswana]], were both due to send delegations but withdrew hours before the opening ceremony citing a lack of government funds.<ref>{{cite web|last=Degun|first=Tom|title=Botswana and Malawi pull out of London 2012 Paralympic Games|url=http://www.insideworldparasport.biz/paralympics/summer-paralympics/london-2012/10663-botswana-and-malawi-pull-out-of-london-2012-paralympic-games|publisher=inside world parasport|access-date=29 August 2012|date=29 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829224149/http://www.insideworldparasport.biz/paralympics/summer-paralympics/london-2012/10663-botswana-and-malawi-pull-out-of-london-2012-paralympic-games|archive-date=29 August 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The following [[National Paralympic Committee]]s sent delegations to compete:<ref name=participation>{{cite web|url=http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/reports/participation2pdf.php?sport=all&games=2012PG&gender=|title=Participation Numbers London 2012|publisher=IPC|access-date=2 November 2012}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="width:100%;"
|-
! Participating [[:Category:Nations at the 2012 Summer Paralympics|National Paralympic Committees]]
|-
|
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* {{flagIPC|AFG|2012 Summer|1}} 
* {{flagIPC|ALB|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|ALG|2012 Summer|31}}
* {{flagIPC|AND|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|ANG|2012 Summer|4}}
* {{flagIPC|ANT|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|ARG|2012 Summer|60}}
* {{flagIPC|ARM|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|AUS|2012 Summer|160}}
* {{flagIPC|AUT|2012 Summer|32}}
* {{flagIPC|AZE|2012 Summer|21}}
* {{flagIPC|BRN|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|BAR|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|BLR|2012 Summer|31}}
* {{flagIPC|BEL|2012 Summer|40}}
* {{flagIPC|BEN|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|BER|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|BIH|2012 Summer|12}}
* {{flagIPC|BRA|2012 Summer|181}}
* {{flagIPC|BRU|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|BUL|2012 Summer|8}}
* {{flagIPC|BUR|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|BDI|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|CAM|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|CMR|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|CAN|2012 Summer|147}}
* {{flagIPC|CPV|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|CAF|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|CHI|2012 Summer|7}}
* {{flagIPC|CHN|2012 Summer|284}}
* {{flagIPC|COL|2012 Summer|37}}
* {{flagIPC|COM|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|COD|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|CRC|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|CRO|2012 Summer|25}}
* {{flagIPC|CUB|2012 Summer|22}}
* {{flagIPC|CYP|2012 Summer|3}}
* {{flagIPC|CZE|2012 Summer|46}}
* {{flagIPC|DEN|2012 Summer|28}}
* {{flagIPC|DJI|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|DOM|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|ECU|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|EGY|2012 Summer|40}}
* {{flagIPC|ESA|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|EST|2012 Summer|3}}
* {{flagIPC|ETH|2012 Summer|4}}
* {{flagIPC|FRO|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|FIJ|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|FIN|2012 Summer|35}}
* {{flagIPC|FRA|2012 Summer|158}}
* {{flagIPC|GAB|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|GAM|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|GEO|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|GER|2012 Summer|152}}
* {{flagIPC|GHA|2012 Summer|4}}
* {{flagIPC|GBR|2012 Summer|294}} '''(host)'''
* {{flagIPC|GRE|2012 Summer|62}}
* {{flagIPC|GUA|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|GBS|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|HAI|2012 Summer|3}}
* {{flagIPC|HON|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|HKG|2012 Summer|28}}
* {{flagIPC|HUN|2012 Summer|33}}
* {{flagIPC|ISL|2012 Summer|4}}
* {{flagIPC|IND|2012 Summer|10}}
* {{flagIPC|INA|2012 Summer|4}}
* {{flagIPC|IRI|2012 Summer|79}}
* {{flagIPC|IRQ|2012 Summer|19}}
* {{flagIPC|IRL|2012 Summer|49}}
* {{flagIPC|ISR|2012 Summer|25}}
* {{flagIPC|ITA|2012 Summer|98}}
* {{flagIPC|CIV|2012 Summer|4}}
* {{flagIPC|JAM|2012 Summer|3}}
* {{flagIPC|JPN|2012 Summer|135}}
* {{flagIPC|JOR|2012 Summer|8}}
* {{flagIPC|KAZ|2012 Summer|7}}
* {{flagIPC|KEN|2012 Summer|13}}
* {{flagIPC|PRK|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|KOR|2012 Summer|88}}
* {{flagIPC|KUW|2012 Summer|6}}
* {{flagIPC|KGZ|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|LAO|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|LAT|2012 Summer|8}}
* {{flagIPC|LIB|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|LES|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|LBR|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|LBA|2012 Summer|2}} 
* {{flagIPC|LTU|2012 Summer|11}}
* {{flagIPC|MAC|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|MKD|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|MAD|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|MAS|2012 Summer|23}}
* {{flagIPC|MLI|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|MLT|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|MTN|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|MRI|2012 Summer|2}} 
* {{flagIPC|MEX|2012 Summer|81}}
* {{flagIPC|MDA|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|MGL|2012 Summer|6}}
* {{flagIPC|MNE|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|MAR|2012 Summer|30}}
* {{flagIPC|MOZ|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|MYA|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|NAM|2012 Summer|5}}
* {{flagIPC|NEP|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|NED|2012 Summer|91}}
* {{flagIPC|NZL|2012 Summer|24}}
* {{flagIPC|NCA|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|NIG|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|NGR|2012 Summer|27}}
* {{flagIPC|NOR|2012 Summer|22}}
* {{flagIPC|OMA|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|PAK|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|PLE|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|PAN|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|PNG|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|PER|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|PHI|2012 Summer|9}}
* {{flagIPC|POL|2012 Summer|100}}
* {{flagIPC|POR|2012 Summer|30}}
* {{flagIPC|PUR|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|QAT|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|ROU|2012 Summer|5}}
* {{flagIPC|RUS|2012 Summer|181}}
* {{flagIPC|RWA|2012 Summer|14}}
* {{flagIPC|SAM|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|SMR|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|KSA|2012 Summer|4}}
* {{flagIPC|SEN|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|SRB|2012 Summer|14}}
* {{flagIPC|SLE|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|SIN|2012 Summer|8}}
* {{flagIPC|SVK|2012 Summer|34}}
* {{flagIPC|SLO|2012 Summer|22}}
* {{flagIPC|SOL|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|RSA|2012 Summer|62}}
* {{flagIPC|ESP|2012 Summer|133}}
* {{flagIPC|SRI|2012 Summer|7}}
* {{flagIPC|SUR|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|SWE|2012 Summer|59}}
* {{flagIPC|SUI|2012 Summer|25}}
* {{flagIPC|SYR|2012 Summer|5}}
* {{flagIPC|TPE|2012 Summer|18}}
* {{flagIPC|TJK|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|TAN|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|THA|2012 Summer|49}}
* {{flagIPC|TLS|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|TGA|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|TRI|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|TUN|2012 Summer|31}}
* {{flagIPC|TUR|2012 Summer|69}}
* {{flagIPC|TKM|2012 Summer|5}}
* {{flagIPC|UGA|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|UKR|2012 Summer|150}}
* {{flagIPC|UAE|2012 Summer|15}}
* {{flagIPC|USA|2012 Summer|223}}
* {{flagIPC|URU|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|UZB|2012 Summer|10}}
* {{flagIPC|VAN|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|VEN|2012 Summer|27}}
* {{flagIPC|VIE|2012 Summer|11}}
* {{flagIPC|ISV|2012 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|ZAM|2012 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|ZIM|2012 Summer|2}}
{{div col end}}
|}

===Sports===
The programme of the 2012 Summer Paralympics featured events in 20 sports.<ref name=guardian-massmarket>{{cite news|title=Paralympics organisers feel London is launchpad for mass-market Games|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/25/paralympics-london-fever-impetus |access-date=3 October 2013 | work = [[The Guardian]]|first=Owen |last=Gibson |date=25 August 2012}}</ref> The number of events in each sport is noted in parentheses.

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[File:Archery pictogram (Paralympics).svg|17px]] [[Paralympic archery|Archery]]  <small>(9)</small> ({{detailslink|Archery at the 2012 Summer Paralympics}})
*[[File:Athletics pictogram (Paralympics).svg|17px]] [[Paralympic athletics|Athletics]]  <small>(170)</small> ({{detailslink|Athletics at the 2012 Summer Paralympics}})
*[[File:Boccia pictogram (Paralympics).svg|17px]] [[Boccia]]  <small>(7)</small> ({{detailslink|Boccia at the 2012 Summer Paralympics}})
*[[File:Cycling (road) pictogram (Paralympics).svg|17px]] [[Paralympic cycling]] ({{detailslink|Cycling at the 2012 Summer Paralympics}})
** [[File:Cycling (road) pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Road bicycle racing|Road]] <small>(30)</small>
** [[File:Cycling (track) pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Track cycling|Track]] <small>(20)</small>
*[[File:Equestrian pictogram.svg|17px]] [[Equestrian at the Summer Paralympics|Equestrian]]  <small>(11)</small> ({{detailslink|Equestrian at the 2012 Summer Paralympics}})
*[[File:Football 5-a-side pictogram (Paralympics).svg|17px]] [[Paralympic association football|Football 5-a-side]]  <small>(1)</small> ({{detailslink|Football 5-a-side at the 2012 Summer Paralympics}})
*[[File:Football 7-a-side pictogram (Paralympics).svg|17px]] [[Paralympic association football|Football 7-a-side]]  <small>(1)</small> ({{detailslink|Football 7-a-side at the 2012 Summer Paralympics}})
*[[File:Goalball pictogram (Paralympics).svg|17px]] [[Goalball]]  <small>(2)</small> ({{detailslink|Goalball at the 2012 Summer Paralympics}})
*[[File:Judo pictogram.svg|17px]] [[Paralympic Judo|Judo]]  <small>(13)</small> ({{detailslink|Judo at the 2012 Summer Paralympics}})
*[[File:Powerlifting pictogram (Paralympics).svg|17px]] [[Paralympic powerlifting|Powerlifting]]  <small>(20)</small> ({{detailslink|Powerlifting at the 2012 Summer Paralympics}})
*[[File:Rowing pictogram.svg|17px]] [[Adaptive rowing|Rowing]]  <small>(4)</small> ({{detailslink|Rowing at the 2012 Summer Paralympics}})
*[[File:Sailing pictogram.svg|17px]] [[Sailing (sport)|Sailing]]  <small>(3)</small> ({{detailslink|Sailing at the 2012 Summer Paralympics}})
*[[File:Shooting pictogram (Paralympics).svg|17px]] [[Paralympic shooting|Shooting]]  <small>(12)</small> ({{detailslink|Shooting at the 2012 Summer Paralympics}})
*[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|17px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]  <small>(148)</small> ({{detailslink|Swimming at the 2012 Summer Paralympics}})
*[[File:Table tennis pictogram.svg|17px]] [[Para table tennis|Table tennis]]  <small>(29)</small> ({{detailslink|Table tennis at the 2012 Summer Paralympics}})
*[[File:Sitting volleyball pictogram (Paralympics).svg|17px]] [[Sitting Volleyball|Volleyball]]  <small>(2)</small> ({{detailslink|Volleyball at the 2012 Summer Paralympics}})
*[[File:Wheelchair basketball pictogram (Paralympics).svg|17px]] [[Wheelchair basketball]]  <small>(2)</small> ({{detailslink|Wheelchair basketball at the 2012 Summer Paralympics}})
*[[File:Wheelchair fencing pictogram (Paralympics).svg|17px]] [[Wheelchair fencing]]  <small>(12)</small> ({{detailslink|Wheelchair fencing at the 2012 Summer Paralympics}})
*[[File:Wheelchair rugby pictogram (Paralympics).svg|17px]] [[Wheelchair rugby]]  <small>(1)</small> ({{detailslink|Wheelchair rugby at the 2012 Summer Paralympics}})
*[[File:Wheelchair tennis pictogram (Paralympics).svg|17px]] [[Wheelchair tennis]]  <small>(6)</small> ({{detailslink|Wheelchair tennis at the 2012 Summer Paralympics}})
{{Div col end}}

Events for athletes with [[intellectual disability|intellectual disabilities]] (ID class) returned to the Paralympics in [[Athletics at the 2012 Summer Paralympics|athletics]], [[Swimming at the 2012 Summer Paralympics|swimming]], and [[Table tennis at the 2012 Summer Paralympics|table tennis]] for the first time since 2000.<ref name="bbc-return"/><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.uksportsassociation.org/news/19NewsletterJuly2010.pdf |title= President's Newsletter July 2010 |publisher= [[International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability]] |date= July 2010 |access-date= 13 August 2012 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120828224149/http://www.uksportsassociation.org/news/19NewsletterJuly2010.pdf |archive-date= 28 August 2012 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> ID events had been suspended following the [[2000 Summer Paralympics]], after the [[Spain at the 2000 Summer Paralympics|Spanish]] [[Basketball ID at the 2000 Summer Paralympics|basketball]] team was [[Cheating at the Paralympic Games#Basketball controversy|stripped of their gold medals]] when it was found that only 2 of their 12 team members actually had an intellectual disability. The IPC introduced a new procedure involving "sports intelligence" testing to better determine eligibility for the ID class.<ref name="bbc-return">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/8323369.stm|title=Intellectual disability ban ends|work=BBC Sport|date=21 November 2009|access-date=23 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/7613787.stm |title=Paralympics set to alter entry policy |work=BBC News |date=13 September 2008 |access-date=13 August 2012}}</ref>

Also beginning in 2012, [[sighted guide]]s became eligible to receive medals in certain events; sighted [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]]s in [[Football 5-a-side at the Summer Paralympics|5-a-side football]], along with guides and pilots in athletics and cycling and boccia assistants were now able to receive medals for their contributions. Previously in the case of [[tandem bicycle|tandem cycling]], where a visually-impaired rider takes the rear of the bike with a sighted pilot in front, only the visually-impaired rider actually received a medal.<ref name="bbc-ablebodied">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19422244 |title=Paralympics 2012: The able-bodied athletes at the Games |work=BBC News |date=31 August 2012 |access-date=31 August 2012}}</ref>

===Calendar===
The official schedule was published on 25 August 2011.<ref name="BBC Schedule">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/disability_sport/14662054.stm | work=BBC News | title=2012 Paralympic schedule revealed | date=25 August 2011}}</ref>

{{2012 Summer Paralympics calendar}}

===Medal count===
{{Main|2012 Summer Paralympics medal table}}
This table is based on the medal count of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).<ref>{{cite web| author = Database | url=http://www.paralympic.org/results/historical|title=Medal Standings – London 2012 Paralympic Games|publisher=International Paralympic Committee|access-date= 22 April 2014}}</ref>

The ranking is sorted primarily by the number of gold medals earned by a National Paralympic Committee (NPC). The number of silver medals is taken into consideration next and then the number of bronze medals. If countries are still tied, equal ranking is given and they are listed alphabetically by IPC Country Code.

{{:2012 Summer Paralympics medal table}}

===Multiple medallists===
[[File:Oscar Pistorius wins the 400m T44 final 2.jpg|thumb|[[Oscar Pistorius]] wins the 400m T44 final]]

{| class="wikitable" width=50% style="font-size:100%; text-align:center;"
! #
! Athlete
! Sport
! [[File:Gold medal-2008PG.svg|20px]]
! [[File:Silver medal-2008PG.svg|20px]]
! [[File:Bronze medal-2008PG.svg|20px]]
|-
! 1
| align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Jacqueline Freney]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 8 || 0 || 0
|-
! 2
| align=left|{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Daniel Dias]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 6 || 0 || 0
|-
! rowspan=2|3
| align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Matthew Cowdrey]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 5 || 2 || 1
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Jessica Long]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 5 || 2 || 1
|-
! 5
| align=left|{{flagicon|BLR}} [[Ihar Boki]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 5 || 1 || 0
|-
! 6
| align=left|{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Oxana Savchenko]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 5 || 0 || 0
|-
! 7
| align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Ellie Cole]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 4 || 0 || 2
|-
! rowspan=5|8
| align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Raymond Martin (athlete)|Raymond Martin]]
| align=left|[[File:Athletics pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic athletics|Athletics]]
| 4 || 0 || 0
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Xu Qing (swimmer)|Xu Qing]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 4 || 0 || 0
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Sarah Storey]]
| align=left|[[File:Cycling (road) pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic cycling|Cycling]]
| 4 || 0 || 0
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|GBR}} [[David Weir (athlete)|Dave Weir]]
| align=left|[[File:Athletics pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic athletics|Athletics]]
| 4 || 0 || 0
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Yang Yang (swimmer)|Yang Yang]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 4 || 0 || 0
|-
! 13
| align=left|{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Sophie Pascoe]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 3 || 3 || 0
|-
! 14
| align=left|{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Yang Bozun]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 3 || 2 || 1
|-
! 15
| align=left|{{flagicon|BRA}} [[André Brasil]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 3 || 2 || 0
|-
! 16
| align=left|{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Wang Yinan]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 3 || 1 || 1
|-
! rowspan=2|17
| align=left|{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Natalie Du Toit]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 3 || 1 || 0
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Nataliia Prologaieva]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 3 || 1 || 0
|-
! rowspan=2|19
| align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Tatyana McFadden]]
| align=left|[[File:Athletics pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic athletics|Athletics]]
| 3 || 0 || 1
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Maksym Veraksa]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 3 || 0 || 1
|-
! 21
| align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Marianna Davis]]
| align=left|[[File:Cycling (road) pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic cycling|Cycling]]
| 3 || 0 || 0
|-
! rowspan=3|22
| align=left|{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Yevheniy Bohodayko]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 2 || 2 || 0
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|NOR}} [[Sarah Louise Rung]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 2 || 2 || 0
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Pan Shiyun]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 2 || 2 || 0
|-
! rowspan=2|25
| align=left|{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Summer Ashley Mortimer]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 2 || 1 || 1
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Eleanor Simmonds]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 2 || 1 || 1
|-
! rowspan=3|27
| align=left|{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Oscar Pistorius]]
| align=left|[[File:Athletics pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic athletics|Athletics]]
| 2 || 1 || 0
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Brad Snyder (swimmer)|Bradley Snyder]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 2 || 1 || 0
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Alex Zanardi]]
| align=left|[[File:Cycling (road) pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic cycling|Cycling]]
| 2 || 1 || 0
|-
! rowspan=2|29
| align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Kelley Becherer]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 2 || 0 || 2
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Cecilia Camellini]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 2 || 0 || 2
|-
! 31
| align=left|{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Du Jianping]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 2 || 0 || 1
|-
! rowspan=15|32
| align=left|{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Zhang Bian]]
| align=left|[[File:Table tennis pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic athletics|Table tennis]]
| 2 || 0 || 0
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Blake Cochrane]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 2 || 0 || 0
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Hannah Cockroft]]
| align=left|[[File:Athletics pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic athletics|Athletics]]
| 2 || 0 || 0
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Yegor Dementyev]]
| align=left|[[File:Cycling (road) pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic cycling|Cycling]]
| 2 || 0 || 0
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Katherine Downie]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 2 || 0 || 0
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Xia Jiangbo]]
| align=left|[[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]]
| 2 || 0 || 0
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Liu Jing (table tennis)|Liu Jing]]
| align=left|[[File:Table tennis pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic athletics|Table tennis]]
| 2 || 0 || 0
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Ma Lin (para table tennis)|Ma Lin]]
| align=left|[[File:Table tennis pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic athletics|Table tennis]]
| 2 || 0 || 0
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Lei Lina]]
| align=left|[[File:Table tennis pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic athletics|Table tennis]]
| 2 || 0 || 0
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Feng Panfeng]]
| align=left|[[File:Table tennis pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic athletics|Table tennis]]
| 2 || 0 || 0
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|IRE}} [[Mark Rohan]]
| align=left|[[File:Cycling (road) pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic cycling|Cycling]]
| 2 || 0 || 0
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|IRE}} [[Jason Smyth]]
| align=left|[[File:Athletics pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic athletics|Athletics]]
| 2 || 0 || 0
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Timur Tuchinov]]
| align=left|[[File:Archery pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic athletics|Archery]]
| 2 || 0 || 0
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|NED}} [[Esther Vergeer]]
| align=left|[[File:Wheelchair tennis pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic athletics|Wheelchair tennis]]
| 2 || 0 || 0
|-
| align=left|{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Zhou Ying (table tennis)|Zhou Ying]]
| align=left|[[File:Table tennis pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paralympic athletics|Table tennis]]
| 2 || 0 || 0
|-
|}

References:<ref name=guardian-medallist>{{cite web|title=Paralympics 2012: full list of every medal winner – and how they break down|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/interactive/2012/sep/06/paralympic-games-full-list-every-medalist|work=Datablog|date=6 September 2012|publisher=The Guardian|access-date=22 March 2014}}</ref>

==Broadcasting==
[[File:Trafalgar Square, Paralympics big screen.JPG|thumb|A public viewing event on the ''[[British Telecom|BT London Live]]'' stage at [[Trafalgar Square]]]]
{{main|List of 2012 Summer Paralympics broadcasters}}
Broadcast rights to the 2012 Summer Paralympics were sold to local broadcasters by LOCOG, with production of the world feeds sub-contracted to [[Olympic Broadcasting Services]] (OBS). The Games saw a significant growth in media coverage for the Paralympics; LOCOG reached deals with over 36 broadcasters to televise the Games in over 100 countries. LOCOG chief [[Sebastian Coe]] stated that "beyond how the commercial value of this package has raised the bar financially for the Paralympic movement, the fantastic broadcast coverage we have agreed will help us take advantage of this opportunity to inspire disabled people of all ages to take up sport and be a catalyst for continued change in public attitudes towards disability." LOCOG reached deals with broadcasters such as [[China Central Television]], the [[Korean Broadcasting System]], [[NHK]], [[Rede Globo]] and [[SporTV]] in [[Brazil]], the TV Pool (a consortium of free-to-air broadcasters in [[Thailand]] consisting of [[Channel 3 (Thailand)|Channel 3]], [[Royal Thai Army Radio and Television Channel 5|Channel 5]], [[BBTV Channel 7]], and [[Modernine TV]]), and the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] to air coverage.<ref name=guardian-massmarket/><ref name=nation-scramble-thisisthetvpool>{{cite web|title=Scramble to prevent blank TVs|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Scramble-to-prevent-blank-TVs-30185620.html| work = [[The Nation]]|access-date=26 August 2012}}</ref><ref name=telegraph-paralympictv>{{cite news|title=London 2012 Paralympics: organisers hail record broadcast deals|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9226149/London-2012-Paralympics-organisers-hail-record-broadcast-deals.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9226149/London-2012-Paralympics-organisers-hail-record-broadcast-deals.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Telegraph|access-date=4 October 2013|date=25 April 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name=guardian-paralympictv>{{cite web|title=Paralympics TV deals break new ground as ticket rush continues|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/27/paralympics-tv-deals-ticket-rush|work=The Guardian|date=27 August 2012|access-date=4 October 2013}}</ref> The games were to be broadcast on television in the United Kingdom by [[Channel 4]], replacing long-time Paralympic broadcaster [[BBC Sport|BBC]] in a £9 million deal; the [[BBC]] still held radio rights, with coverage on [[BBC Radio 5 Live]] and [[BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra|5 Live Sports Extra]].<ref name=bbc-c4paralympics>{{cite news|title=Channel 4 lands 2012 Paralympics|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/london_2012/8448236.stm|work=BBC Sport|access-date=4 October 2013|date=8 January 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| date = 16 August 2012 | title=BBC Paralympic Coverage Details|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/disability-sport/19118962|work= [[BBC Sport]]|access-date= 9 October 2012}}</ref><ref name="telegraph-adverts"/> The IPC [[webcast]] approximately 780 hours of its coverage through its [[YouTube]] channel, with four streams of coverage in [[English language|English]] and one in [[Spanish language|Spanish]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paralympic.org/news/ipc-announce-london-2012-livestream-commentators |title=IPC Announce London 2012 Livestream Commentators |publisher=[[International Paralympic Committee]] |date=16 August 2012 |access-date=19 August 2012}}</ref>

Channel 4's coverage of the Games was billed as the most extensive Paralympic coverage ever broadcast in the United Kingdom; it promised over 150 hours of live coverage throughout the Games on Channel 4 and sister channel [[More4]], and additional coverage online and through special channels carried by [[Freesat]], [[BSkyB|Sky]] and [[Virgin TV]] (in both standard and high definition). The broadcaster also invested around £600,000 towards training new on-air personalities with expertise in parasports, with many of them also having disabilities themselves. They would be joined by ''[[Channel 4 News]]'' anchor [[Jon Snow (journalist)|Jon Snow]], and BBC Sport personality [[Clare Balding]]. Channel 4 also broadcast supplemental programming to lead towards the Games, such as Paralympic-focused documentaries, other IPC championships, and ''That Paralympic Show'', a weekly program focusing on disability sports.<ref name=bbc-c4paralympics/><ref name="telegraph-adverts"/><ref name=bnow-c4paralympics>{{cite web|title=C4 opens Paralympic tender process|url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/c4-opens-paralympic-tender-process/5064735.article|work=Broadcast Now|access-date=8 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/info/press/news/channel-4-to-be-the-paralympic-broadcaster-in-the-uk-in-2012|title=Channel 4 to be the Paralympic Broadcaster in the UK in 2012|date=8 January 2010|publisher=[[Channel 4]]|page=3|access-date=3 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paralympic.org/news/unprecedented-rolling-coverage-london-2012 |title=Unprecedented Rolling Coverage for London 2012 |publisher=Paralympic.org |access-date=8 July 2012}}</ref><ref name=ds-c4paralympics>{{cite web|title=Channel 4 starts Paralympic Games push|url=http://www.digitalspy.ca/media/news/a258640/channel-4-starts-paralympic-games-push.html|work=Digital Spy|access-date=4 October 2013}}</ref> During the Games, comedian [[Adam Hills]] (who himself was born without a right leg, and hosted the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]'s coverage of the [[2008 Summer Paralympics|Beijing Paralympics]]) would host ''[[The Last Leg]]'', a Paralympic-themed [[chat show]] that followed the conclusion of each night's coverage.<ref>{{cite news |title=Australian comedian Adam Hills: 'I was born without a foot. Dull. Move on' |url= https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2012/aug/24/adam-hills-comedian-disability-tv-paralympics|author=Emine Saner|newspaper= [[The Guardian]]|date= 24 August 2012|access-date= 19 September 2012|location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Metlikovec, Jane | url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23888693-661,00.html | title=Comedian Adam Hills to host Paralympics |work=Herald Sun |date=19 June 2008|access-date=19 August 2008}}</ref> Channel 4's coverage of the Games drew relatively high viewership; its coverage of the opening ceremony was seen by an average of 7.6 million viewers, a 40% share, and peaked at 11.2 million viewers—making it one of Channel 4's most-watched programmes in network history.<ref>{{cite news|author=John Plunkett |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/aug/30/paralympics-opening-ceremony-8m-viewers |title=Paralympics opening ceremony attracts almost 8m viewers |newspaper=The Guardian |date= 30 August 2012|access-date=2012-08-30 |location=London}}</ref> Primetime coverage saw an average of 3.3 million viewers nightly, while viewership peaked at 4.5 million viewers during the men's T44 200m final where [[Alan Oliveira]] beat [[Oscar Pistorius]] for the gold medal.<ref name=guardian-c4ratingsoscar>{{cite web|title=Channel 4's Paralympics coverage boosted by Pistorius controversy|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/sep/03/paralympics-2012-pistorius-c4-ratings|work=The Guardian|date=3 September 2012|access-date=14 March 2014}}</ref> Its coverage of the closing ceremony peaked at 7.7 million viewers.<ref name=bbcnews-ccratings>{{cite news|title=Paralympic closing ceremony watched by 7.7m|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-19541871|work=BBC News|date=10 September 2012|access-date=16 March 2014}}</ref>

Similarly extensive coverage was televised by [[RTVE]] in [[Spain]], with approximately 150 hours of live coverage on [[Teledeporte]] and [[TVE HD]].<ref name="rtve-para12">{{cite web|title=RTVE ofrecerá en Londres 2012 la mayor cobertura de unos Juegos Paralímpicos|date=28 August 2012 |trans-title=RTVE will offer the most Paralympic Games coverage at London 2012 | language = es | url=http://www.rtve.es/rtve/20120824/rtve-ofrecera-londres-2012-mayor-cobertura-unos-juegos-paralimpicos/559781.shtml|publisher= [[RTVE]]|access-date=29 August 2012}}</ref> The [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] aired over 100 hours of coverage across its networks during the Paralympics, with coverage on both [[ABC1]] and [[ABC2]]. Coverage of the Games set viewership records for ABC, peaking at 1.6 million viewers on average (in comparison to 1.3 million in Beijing), while ABC2 peaked at a 4.7% viewership share, beating competing digital networks. ABC's coverage was also nominated for a [[Logie Award]] for "Most Popular Sports Program".<ref name=apc-paralogie>{{cite web|title=ABC Paralympic coverage up for Logie award|url=http://london2012.paralympic.org.au/news/abc-paralympic-coverage-logie-award|publisher=Australian Paralympic Committee|access-date=4 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005012110/http://london2012.paralympic.org.au/news/abc-paralympic-coverage-logie-award|archive-date=5 October 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=theaus-abc2>{{cite news|title=Paralympics a ratings winner for ABC2|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/paralympics-a-ratings-winner-for-abc/story-e6frg996-1226472161772|work=The Australian|access-date=4 October 2013|date=12 September 2012}}</ref>

In the [[United States]], [[NBC Sports]], while not being certified as an official broadcaster, purchased and provided five-and-a-half hours of coverage in total, and no live coverage. Additionally, Pay TV channel [[NBC Sports Network]] aired one-hour highlight shows, and [[NBC]] broadcast a special recapping the Games on 16 September. The [[United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee]] provided extensive coverage through its own digital outlets.<ref>{{cite web|author=Press release |title=USOC announces expanded coverage for London 2012 Paralympic Games |url=http://www2.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Features/2012/August/14/USOC-announces-expanded-coverage-for-London-2012-Paralympic-Games.aspx |publisher=[[United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee]] |access-date=14 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20120815220132/http://www2.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Features/2012/August/14/USOC-announces-expanded-coverage-for-London-2012-Paralympic-Games.aspx |archive-date=15 August 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> Critics and American athletes expressed disappointment at NBC for its decision not to broadcast any live coverage of the Games.<ref name=nbc-para>{{cite news|title=Paralympics 2012: NBC to only screen five-and-a-half hours retrospective coverage of Games|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9497286/Paralympics-2012-NBC-to-only-screen-five-and-a-half-hours-retrospective-coverage-of-Games.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9497286/Paralympics-2012-NBC-to-only-screen-five-and-a-half-hours-retrospective-coverage-of-Games.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live| work = [[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=24 August 2012|location=London|first=Gareth A|last=Davies|date=24 August 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In Canada, rights were held by [[Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium]]; [[The Sports Network|TSN]] (English) and [[Réseau des sports|RDS]] (French) produced daily hour-long highlight programs (some of which were aired by [[CTV Television]]), while tape-delayed airings of the opening ceremony were carried by [[Sportsnet One]], [[TSN2]], RDS, and [[RDS2]]. The coverage was simulcast with open [[audio description]]s by [[AMI-tv]], a network which broadcasts programming with accommodations for those who are visually or hearing impaired.<ref name="crtc-tacapproved">{{cite web|url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2007/db2007-246.htm|title=Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2007-246|date=24 July 2007|publisher=Canadian Radio-television and Communications Commission|access-date=27 February 2012}}</ref><ref name=amitv-para>{{cite web|title=How to Watch the London 2012 Paralympic Games|url=http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news/article/how-watch-the-london-2012-paralympic-games.html|work=CTVOlympics.ca|publisher=7048467 Canada, Inc.|access-date=25 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Follow Your Team: Canadian Paralympic Committee Announces London 2012 Paralympic Games Coverage|url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1011017/follow-your-team-canadian-paralympic-committee-announces-london-2012-paralympic-games-coverage|publisher=Canadian Paralympic Committee|date=23 July 2012|access-date=22 April 2014}}</ref> AMI-tv also broadcast supplemental programming, such as a daily news program from London and a documentary series focusing on Canadian athletes at the Paralympics.<ref name="ami-paralympics">{{cite web|title=Media advisory – AMI reveals reporter lineup for Paralympic Games|url=http://www.ami.ca/about/press/Pages/july-2012-2.aspx|work=Press release|access-date=22 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053452/http://www.ami.ca/about/press/Pages/july-2012-2.aspx|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Paralympic Media Awards===
The [[Telegraph Media Group]] won the Best Written (print and online) award and [[Channel 4]] won the best broadcast award. The best radio award went to [[BBC World Service]] and Larry Wong working for Edmonton Journal won the best photo prize for his image of [[Benoit Huot]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/10470312/Telegraph-wins-third-consecutive-award-for-coverage-of-the-2012-London-Paralympic-Games.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/10470312/Telegraph-wins-third-consecutive-award-for-coverage-of-the-2012-London-Paralympic-Games.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|date=23 November 2013|title=Telegraph wins third consecutive award for coverage of the 2012 London Paralympic Games|first=Gareth|last=Davies|newspaper=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Paralympic Media Awards |url=https://www.paralympic.org/paralympic-media-awards |website=International Paralympic Committee |access-date=14 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122161335/https://www.paralympic.org/the-ipc/awards/paralympic-media |archive-date=22 Jan 2014 |language=English |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Canadian Photographer Receives International Media Award For London 2012 Paralympic Games Photo |url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/canadian-photographer-receives-international-media-award-for-london-2012-paralympic-games-photo-513294121.html |access-date=14 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922190217/http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/canadian-photographer-receives-international-media-award-for-london-2012-paralympic-games-photo-513294121.html |archive-date=22 Sep 2015 |language=English |date=23 Nov 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Vergeer wins Paralympic Sport Award |url=https://www.itftennis.com/161647?channel=itfwheelchairtennisnews |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225182442/https://www.itftennis.com/161647?channel=itfwheelchairtennisnews |archive-date=2018-12-25 |publisher=International Tennis Federation |access-date=14 July 2021 |language=English |date=23 Nov 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Controversies==

===Atos involvement===
{{See also|Atos#Atos Healthcare|Work Capability Assessment}}
The role of IT company [[Atos]] as a technology provider and official sponsor of the Paralympic Games was criticised by [[disability rights|disability-rights]] groups, due to its contract with Britain's [[Department for Work and Pensions]] to carry out [[Work Capability Assessment|capability assessments]] that determine eligibility for [[Disability Living Allowance|disability benefits]].<ref name=guardian-oczip/> They argued that Atos's programme had lacked integrity and was intended to help cut government spending, since the assessments have resulted in many workers with disabilities being incorrectly judged as "fit for work" and denied benefits.<ref name=guardian-atosmp>{{cite web|title=Atos comes under attack in emotional Commons debate|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/jan/17/atos-attack-emotional-commons-debate|work=The Guardian|date=17 January 2013|access-date=5 October 2013}}</ref> Therefore, the groups considered it [[Hypocrisy|hypocritical]] for Atos to sponsor the Games, whilst simultaneously operating a programme that has negatively affected the lives of residents with disabilities. [[UK Uncut]], a political group opposed to [[public service|public-service]] budget cuts, held a series of protests dubbed "The Atos Games" to coincide with the start of the Paralympics, culminating with joint demonstrations with [[Disabled People Against Cuts]] outside the London headquarters of both Atos and the Department for Work and Pensions on 31 August 2012.<ref name=guardian-atos1>{{cite news|title=Paralympics organisers defend sponsor Atos in face of protests|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/28/atos-paraylmpic-involvement-brings-protests| work = [[The Guardian]] |access-date=30 August 2012|location=London|first=Owen|last=Gibson|date=28 August 2012}}</ref> Speaking at the protests, comedian [[Jeremy Hardy]] said that the programme's intent to "victimise people with disabilities" was "blatant and shameless."<ref name=guardian-atos-3>{{cite news|title=Paralympic sponsor Atos hit by protests|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/aug/31/paralympic-sponsor-atos-hit-protests| work = [[The Guardian]]|access-date=31 August 2012|location=London|first=Esther|last=Addley|date=31 August 2012}}</ref>

During the opening ceremony some British athletes reportedly obscured the Atos logo on their accreditation passes in protest of their involvement.<ref name=guardian-oczip/> However, an official from the [[British Paralympic Association]] denied that this had been the case.<ref name="guardian-atos-3"/> LOCOG defended Atos's involvement, stating that the company was "a critical and valued member of [the companies] delivering these Games", due to the technologies it has provided, which included information systems for managing volunteers and distributing event results.<ref name=guardian-atos1/>

===Ticketing===
Controversy arose about seating rules for wheelchair users, after two mothers with disabilities accused LOCOG of having discriminatory policies. One claimed she had been told by a LOCOG staff member that spectators in a wheelchair area at the Velodrome could only be accompanied by one adult, and children could not attend without being accompanied by another non-disabled adult, while another was told that her ability to sit in a wheelchair area with her children at [[ExCeL London]] was "not guaranteed".  A [[petition]] for improved access for families with disabilities, started by one of the mothers on [[Change.org]], quickly collected over 30,000 signatures. LOCOG denied having discriminatory policies, stating that parents with disabilities could steward their children in wheelchair seating areas at events with unreserved seats, but may not all be able to sit together at events with reserved seating.<ref name=c4-assure>{{cite web |title=Locog assures disabled parents over Paralympic tickets |date=16 August 2012 |url=http://www.channel4.com/news/disabled-parents-successful-in-paralympic-ticket-campaign |publisher=Channel 4 |access-date=19 August 2012}}</ref>

LOCOG faced further criticism for how it handled the sale of tickets for the wheelchair areas within venues. In May 2012 the online sale of tickets for wheelchair areas was replaced by a dedicated telephone hotline. Organisers were criticised for their use of an [[0844]] [[Premium-rate telephone number#United Kingdom|revenue share]] number for this hotline, and for neglecting to mention on its ticketing website that calls would be charged by the minute. Former [[sports minister]] [[Gerry Sutcliffe]] viewed this as discrimination against wheelchair users, and called upon LOCOG to compensate those who had used the hotline.<ref name=bbc-bookings-discrim>{{cite news |title=Paralympics wheelchair bookings 'discriminate', MP says |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19384473 |work=BBC News |access-date=29 August 2012 |date=26 August 2012}}</ref> LOCOG denied that it was receiving additional profits from the phone line, and claimed that a dedicated line was being used to allow customers to receive a service tailored to their individual accessibility needs.<ref name=telegraph-phone>{{cite news |title=Paralympics organisers accused of discriminating against wheelchair users with high-cost phone line |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9500253/Paralympics-organisers-accused-of-discriminating-against-wheelchair-users-with-high-cost-phone-line.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9500253/Paralympics-organisers-accused-of-discriminating-against-wheelchair-users-with-high-cost-phone-line.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=28 August 2012 |location=London |date=26 August 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

A minor incident occurred involving blind Member of Parliament [[David Blunkett]], who was attending the opening ceremony alongside a [[Channel 4]] director. Blunkett was denied access to his seat at Olympic Stadium because there was no room for his [[guide dog]], and had to watch the ceremony from seats in the stadium's gantry instead. However, Blunkett noted that this was an isolated incident and chose not to make an issue of it, simply advising organisers to "seek to find a solution rather than impose a preconceived notion of what is or is not possible."<ref name=telegraph-blunkett>{{cite news |title=David Blunkett turned away from stadium for Paralympics' opening ceremony because of his guide dog |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9512924/David-Blunkett-turned-away-from-stadium-for-Paralympics-opening-ceremony-because-of-his-guide-dog.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9512924/David-Blunkett-turned-away-from-stadium-for-Paralympics-opening-ceremony-because-of-his-guide-dog.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=11 September 2012 |location=London |first=Christopher |last=Hope |date=31 August 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===British television coverage===
British official broadcaster [[Channel 4]] received some criticism for its coverage of the Paralympics. Users of Twitter complained that its coverage of the opening ceremony contained too many commercial breaks, drawing comparisons to [[Olympics on NBC#2012 Opening Ceremony|similar complaints]] faced by [[NBC]] during the Olympics' opening ceremony; unlike the [[BBC]], who televised the Olympics in the United Kingdom, both NBC and Channel 4 are supported by advertising. Complaints noted that Channel 4 had shown five ad breaks within the first hour of the ceremony, and that ironically, it had recently broadcast a six-hour long late-night [[dance music]] special with no adverts at all. Channel 4 defended the criticism by stating that it had broadcast "significantly fewer" commercials than normal for primetime programming during the ceremony, and that the ad breaks were needed in order to help the channel invest in broadcasting programming such as the Paralympics. Criticism was also made towards comments made by [[Jon Snow (journalist)|Jon Snow]] and [[Krishnan Guru-Murthy]] during the telecast; Snow was criticized for making comments about war-torn countries during the parade of nations, while Guru-Murthy received similar criticism for quipping that "looking at the ages of these athletes, which have been helpfully provided to us, they're really quite old."<ref name="telegraph-adverts">{{cite news|last=Hough |first=Andrew |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9507747/Paralympics-2012-Channel-4-under-fire-over-opening-ceremony-adverts.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9507747/Paralympics-2012-Channel-4-under-fire-over-opening-ceremony-adverts.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Paralympics 2012: Channel 4 under fire over opening ceremony adverts |work = [[The Daily Telegraph]] |date= 30 August 2012|access-date= 30 August 2012 |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name=bbc-c4rave>{{cite news|title=Channel 4 to host all-night rave|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-18997826|work=BBC News|date=26 July 2012|access-date=28 April 2014}}</ref>

Channel 4 was also accused of showing too many studio segments during the first few days of the Games rather than live events, and for missing several notable events involving British athletes, including a swimming heat where [[Eleanor Simmonds]] set a new personal best and almost beat the world record, [[Sarah Storey]] winning her eleventh Paralympic medal, and Great Britain's opening wheelchair basketball game against Germany. Channel 4 noted that time was needed during the first few days to explain Paralympic events and the classification system to viewers, and that it was operating three additional channels' worth of live coverage throughout the Games. The broadcaster also stated that it had to make editorial decisions on which events to air during periods where a large number of events were in progress.<ref name=c4-backatcritics>{{cite news|title=Channel 4 hits back at critics after boost from Paralympics audiences|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/sep/01/channel-4-paralympics-audiences| work = [[The Guardian]]|access-date=9 September 2012|location=London|first=Owen|last=Gibson|date=1 September 2012}}</ref><ref name=inde-shorts>{{cite news|title=Paralympic Shorts: It's officially the greatest Games ever|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympics/paralympic-shorts-its-officially--the-greatest-games-ever-8114025.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympics/paralympic-shorts-its-officially--the-greatest-games-ever-8114025.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription| work = [[The Independent]]|access-date=9 September 2012|location=London|first=Liam|last=O'Brien|date=7 September 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The amount of live coverage was also affected by [[Olympic Broadcasting Services]], who did not send cameras or provide official television coverage for sports such as cycling, the marathon, and shooting. Channel 4's [[Channel 4 News|news department]] did send its own cameramen to film the affected events for highlights, but was unable to broadcast them live.<ref name=c4-backatcritics/>

===American television coverage===
In the United States, [[NBC Sports]] held the broadcast rights to both the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012. NBC had been frequently criticised in past years by American athletes and IPC officials for its minimal coverage of past Paralympics, and it was speculated by critics that NBC's history of inadequate coverage may have impacted [[New York City bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics|New York City's bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics]]. In [[2008 Summer Paralympics|2008]], it did not air any coverage while the Games were in progress (neither live or [[Broadcast delay|delayed]]), choosing to air a recap documentary on NBC in November 2008, followed by a week of highlights on [[Universal Sports]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tvguide.com/Sports/NBC-Paralympics-Documentary-35433.aspx | title=NBC to Air Stirring Documentary on 2008 Paralympics | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204031356/http://www.tvguide.com/Sports/NBC-Paralympics-Documentary-35433.aspx | archive-date=4 December 2008 | work=[[TV Guide]] | date=7 November 2008 | access-date=7 November 2008}}</ref> While relatively larger than its Beijing coverage, NBC produced only five-and-a-half hours of specials featuring tape delayed highlights of the Games; most of them aired on pay-TV channel [[NBCSN]], while the last aired on [[NBC]] a week following the conclusion of the Games. No coverage of the opening and closing ceremonies, nor any live coverage, was provided.<ref name=nbc-para/><ref name=tele-nbc>{{cite news|title=NBC criticised Paralympics after opening ceremony blackout|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9509190/NBC-criticised-Paralympics-after-opening-ceremony-blackout.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9509190/NBC-criticised-Paralympics-after-opening-ceremony-blackout.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work = [[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=10 September 2012|location=London|date=30 August 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> By contrast, some broadcasters (such as the host broadcasters, and broadcasters in Australia and Spain) planned to air at least 100 hours or more of coverage from London,<ref name="rtve-para12"/><ref name=apc-paralogie/><ref name=theaus-abc2/><ref name="tele-nbc"/> and NBC itself had provided extensive coverage of the London Olympics, which was heavily viewed.<ref name=nbc-para/>

NBC's lack of coverage drew the ire of American [[disability rights]] groups and IPC president Philip Craven, who expressed his disappointment for American athletes and viewers who were unable to fully experience the games on television. Craven remarked that "some people think that North America always [leads] on everything, and on this they don't. It's about time they caught up."<ref name="tele-nbc"/> Following the closing ceremonies, Craven hinted that the IPC might exercise greater scrutiny on broadcasters at future Paralympics by stating that "if we find our values don't fit, we'll have to go somewhere else."<ref name=metro-nbc>{{cite web|title=American broadcaster NBC could lose right to show Games after criticisms|url=http://metro.co.uk/2012/09/10/american-broadcaster-nbc-could-lose-right-to-show-games-after-criticisms-569957/| work = [[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |date=10 September 2012|access-date=10 September 2012}}</ref> NBC acquired the rights to the [[2014 Winter Paralympics|2014]] and [[2016 Summer Paralympics|2016]] Paralympic Games in September 2013; the broadcaster vowed to air a relatively larger amount of Paralympic coverage from [[Sochi]] and [[Rio de Janeiro]] respectively—in particular, NBC and NBCSN were to air at least 66 hours from Rio. Craven praised NBC's decision to devote a relatively larger amount of airtime to future Paralympics, sharing his hope that U.S. audiences would be "as captivated and emotionally enthralled as the billions around the world who tuned in to London 2012 last summer."<ref name=telegraph-nbcparalympics>{{cite news|title=Paralympic Movement given huge boost as American channels NBC and NBCSN will cover next two Games|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/10330949/Paralympic-Movement-given-huge-boost-as-American-channels-NBC-and-NBCSN-will-cover-next-two-Games.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/10330949/Paralympic-Movement-given-huge-boost-as-American-channels-NBC-and-NBCSN-will-cover-next-two-Games.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=10 February 2014|location=London|first=Gareth A|last=Davies|date=24 September 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Women's discus medals===

During the women's class F35/36 discus competition, an error in scoring caused the wrong medals to be presented. In this combined class event, final standings were determined based on a points calculation. The calculation converted distances thrown into points, to account for the different functional impairments of the participating athletes. Due to an error in the scoring system, the gold medal in the event was originally awarded to Ukrainian athlete [[Mariia Pomazan]]. When the mistake was discovered, the recalculated points showed that Chinese athlete [[Wu Qing (athlete)|Wu Qing]] had finished first, with Pomazan in second place. A second medal ceremony was held, which Pomazan did not attend in protest. She was eventually required to return her gold medal.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/sep/03/paralympics-2012-gold-medal-ukrainian| newspaper=The Guardian| title=Paralympic discus thrower must return gold medal, says IPC| date=3 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9526868/Paralympics-2012-Mariia-Pomazan-returns-discus-gold.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9526868/Paralympics-2012-Mariia-Pomazan-returns-discus-gold.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live| newspaper=The Telegraph| title=Paralympics 2012: Mariia Pomazan returns discus gold| date=6 September 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|London|Sports}}
*[[Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|2012 Summer Paralympics}}
*[https://www.paralympic.org/london-2012 London 2012 on the International Paralympic Committee website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130329095935/http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/ Official Site of the 2012 Summer Paralympics] (Archived)

{{s-start}}
{{succession box
| title = ''[[Summer Paralympic Games|Summer Paralympics]]'' <br />[[London]]
| before = [[2008 Summer Paralympics|Beijing]]
| after = [[2016 Summer Paralympics|Rio de Janeiro]]
| years = ''XIV Paralympic Summer Games'' (2012)
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Paralympic Games}}
{{NPCin2012SummerParalympics}}
{{EventsAt2012SummerParalympics}}
{{2012 Summer Paralympics venues}}
{{London history}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2012 Summer Paralympics| ]]
[[Category:2012 sports events in London|Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:International sports competitions in London|Summer Paralympics, 2012]]
[[Category:2012 in British sport|Olympics]]
[[Category:Multi-sport events in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Summer Paralympic Games]]
[[Category:2012 in disability sport]]
[[Category:2012 in multi-sport events|Paralympic Games]]
[[Category:August 2012 sports events in the United Kingdom|Paralympics]]
[[Category:September 2012 sports events in the United Kingdom|Paralympics]]
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