The London 2012 Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony, called ?Festival of Flame? and starting at 8.30pm on 9 September, will see Coldplay, one of the world?s best selling music acts, take to the stage and perform a live and one off concert in the Olympic Stadium, broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 750 million. LOCOG
• Tickets back on sale tomorrow at 11am for chance to join in
• British band Coldplay announced as star act for London 2012 Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony
– A guide to ticket availability by sport is available here
As a projection of a giant Agitos on the White Cliffs of Dover heralds the 100 days countdown to what will be a spectacular Paralympic Games, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) are delighted to announce multi award winning band Coldplay as the star act of the Paralympic Closing Ceremony.
Remaining tickets for the Paralympic Games also go on sale tomorrow morning at 11am to mark this milestone day. With the intention to allow as many people as possible to get the chance to attend the Games, over 1 million tickets are going on sale, following an unprecedented 1 million ticket sales last year.
Seb Coe, LOCOG Chair, said: “The London 2012 Paralympic Games are going to be spectacular. I am delighted that Coldplay are going to be helping us celebrate not only the end of a fantastic Paralympic Games, but also the end of a seven year journey.
“With tickets back on sale tomorrow I can guarantee that whatever ticket you decide to go for that Paralympic sport will leave a deep and lasting impression on you. The athletes involved in the Paralympic Games are incredible sportsmen and women and I urge everyone to take this chance to be there and to form memories that will last a lifetime.”
Prices start at just £10 (£5 for young people and seniors) and day pass tickets exclusive to the Paralympic Games present the chance to see up to five sports in the Olympic Park or ExCeL on just one £10 ticket.
Tickets will be made available for both Ceremonies and across all sports, including good availability for Paralympic Athletics in the Olympic Stadium which has been the biggest selling ticket so far, and a limited number for Track Cycling in the Velodrome which quickly sold out last year.
Tickets will be available from 11am tomorrow at www.tickets.london2012.com or via telephone on 0844 847 2012.
The London 2012 Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony, called ‘Festival of Flame’ and starting at 8.30pm on 9 September, will see Coldplay, one of the world’s best selling music acts, take to the stage and perform a live and one off concert in the Olympic Stadium, broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 750 million.
With over 55 million records sold worldwide, number one albums in more than 35 countries and winners of 7 Brit Awards and 7 Grammy Awards, Coldplay are one of Britain’s best-loved bands around the world. Their special performance will mark the closing of the Paralympic Games and the last night of the London 2012 Games.
The band have been working with Closing Ceremonies Artistic Director, Kim Gavin, and Coldplay’s live show co-designer and Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony designer, Misty Buckley, to play a set of their most iconic music alongside a cast of almost 2,000 in the Olympic stadium. Coldplay’s music will soundtrack a celebration of Britain’s rich culture of festivals – from the ancient to the modern day.
LOCOG is further delighted to announce that, for the first time at a summer Games, all Olympic Games partners have also signed up as Paralympic Games partners. This means a total of 55 partners are now supporting the Paralympics, and their support will be seen by their millions of customers across the UK and beyond.
Sainsbury’s, a Paralympic-only partner, today announced they had sold over 1 million Paralympic Super Shopper Bags, raising over £100,000 for Sainsbury’s London 2012 Paralympic Fund. And this morning in Manchester, BT are launching their Paralympic World Cup for elite international athletes which will run from 22-26 May.
It has also been announced that the 22 Live Sites across the UK will screen eight hours of live Channel 4 coverage of the Paralympic Games every day from 29 August to 9 September. The Live Sites, run in partnership between London 2012, the BBC and local authorities, will be fantastic places for local communities to get together and cheer on British athletes, as well those from around the world.
Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said: “With 4,200 athletes from 165 countries set to compete in the British capital in 100 days time, the London Paralympic Games will officially be the biggest ever.
“I’m also becoming increasingly confident that they may also be the best ever, even surpassing Beijing which I didn’t think was possible four years ago.
“Athletes are delivering record breaking performances on an astoundingly frequent basis, ticket sales are the best yet so far out from a Games and a record number of TV viewers are set to watch the Paralympics around the world.
“To add into that mix Coldplay for the Closing Ceremony and I think the ingredients for the best ever Games are starting to come together.”
Coldplay’s Chris Martin said: “Being asked to play at the closing celebrations for the Paralympic athletes in London is such a great honour for us. Kim Gavin and Misty Buckley are working hard to put on a spectacular Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony for the athletes and spectators in the stadium, and everyone watching around the world, and we are so happy to be involved.
“It will be one of the biggest nights of our lives and we’re very excited to try to create a performance for the last night of the games that will close London 2012 in style.”
Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics and Paralympics, Media and Sport said: “Britain is the home of the Paralympic movement, and it is incredibly exciting that London 2012 we host the biggest Paralympics ever. Our Games will be a fantastic opportunity to celebrate disability sport and Team GB’s inspirational Paralympic athletes.”
Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, said: “As well as counting down to a spectacular Paralympic Games, we’re on track to deliver the most accessible games ever. Major works along the Southbank are making this great area of London easier to get around for everyone this summer and for years to come. And in the spirit of the Paralympics we are extending our highly acclaimed Liberty Disability Arts festival across central London during the Games so that more people than ever can appreciate some breathtaking performances from a wealth of talented disabled artists.”
Kim Gavin, Closing Ceremonies Artistic Director, said: “The Closing Ceremony of the Paralympic Games is essentially a celebration of the achievements of amazing athletic endeavour of Paralympians from around the world over the previous 11 days. What better way to demonstrate our respect and commitment to these athletes than by celebrating with Britain’s most internationally renowned band.
“Working with Coldplay for the Closing Ceremony will be a great way to close the Paralympic Games and audiences will have the chance to see and hear their music in a totally unique way. Our show will be a celebration of the UK as a centre for festivals, which is a fitting finale to the amazing festival of sport that is the London 2012 Games.”
In recognition of Visa’s longstanding support of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, only Visa (debit, credit and prepaid) can be used to purchase tickets. For applicants outside of the UK, a full list of Authorised Ticket Resellers is available on the London 2012 ticketing website.
Customers are advised to purchase London 2012 Paralympic Games tickets only through official sources. It is illegal to sell London 2012 Paralympic Games tickets without the permission of LOCOG. Any website or individual claiming to have tickets for sale should be checked against the list of official outlets on the London 2012 ticketing website.
