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Saturday 29th August marked exactly three years to go to the start of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) marked the milestone date by announcing the appointment of UK Sport Board member, Chris Holmes MBE, as its new Director of Paralympic Integration.

Holmes will lead on all aspects of London 2012’s planning and organisation for the Paralympic Games. He has had a distinguished career as a Paralympic swimmer, winning nine Paralympic gold medals, six at the Barcelona Games in 1992. He is a Patron of the ‘Help for Heroes’ charity and the British Paralympic Association and was a Commissioner on the board of the Disability Rights Commission from 2002-07, as well as practicing at a leading City international law firm.

Chris Holmes commented: “I am honoured to be taking up this position and it is a dream come true for me. My role is to ensure we continue our detailed work for a first class delivery of the Paralympic Games in 2012. My priorities are to educate our audiences so they understand and enjoy Paralympic sport. The Games offer a truly unique opportunity for our country – a chance to change Britain for the better.”

Holmes has been a highly valued member of UK Sport’s Board since 2005. He also Chairs the Audit Committee and sits on the Mission 2012 Paralympic Panel.

Baroness Sue Campbell, Chair of UK Sport, said: “Chris has been, and will continue to be, an extremely conscientious and hard working member of UK Sport’s board and I am delighted that he will be taking on this important role in the build up to the London 2012 Paralympic Games. I have no doubt that he will make a huge contribution to the success of the Paralympic Games, as he does to the ongoing achievements of UK Sport.”

UK Sport is investing over £47 million into Paralympic sports and athletes for the London 2012 cycle (2009-2013) and is targeting second place in the Paralympic medal table. UK Sport is also investing funds from its National Lottery backed World Class Events Programme to bring major Paralympic sporting events to the UK over the next three years, to help British athletes prepare for world class competition on home soil.

(Source: UK Sport)