Paralympic stars return to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Sainsbury's Anniversary Games PIC london.gov.uk

Paralympic hero David Weir will return to the Olympic Park PIC: london.gov.uk

Paralympic champions including wheelchair athlete David Weir and swimmer Ellie Simmonds will be back at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on Sunday to celebrate National Paralympic Day.

They will be joined by other Paralympic champions and taking part in a day of competitions including an international Paralympic swimming event and the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games Finale.

The sporting celebrations will take place alongside the Liberty Festival bringing together the nation’s top deaf and disabled artists.

2014 Liberty Festival highlights PIC london.gov.uk

Thousands attended last year’s free Liberty Festival PIC: london.gov.uk

The festival is free to attend and will showcase performances from aerial performers Extraordinary Bodies, seven piece band Mbongwana Star and ComBUStion Extant, a leading performing arts company of visually impaired artists.

Live bands and DJs will also feature alongside a curated film programme, pop-up art studios, storytelling sessions and visual art installations.

During the day visitors can also meet Paralympic stars and try out disability sport including Wheelchair Tennis, New Age Kurling, Rowing and Fencing.

You can watch the 2015 Liberty Festival preview below.

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, said: “We’ve a fantastic variety of artists and performers at this year’s Liberty Festival at National Paralympic Day, with a little bit of something for everybody to enjoy. It underlines why London is not just at the vanguard of disability arts but is one of the great cultural capitals of the world.”

Amy Marren, a Paralympic swimmer competing at National Paralympic Day 2015, said: “I’m very, very excited to be part of National Paralympic Day. It definitely puts Paralympic athletes on the map. When I swim at the Olympic Aquatics Centre it brings back some of that atmosphere from 2012. It’s surprising how sport really does bring the nation together.”

Tim Reddish OBE, Chairman of the British Paralympic Association, said: “This is the third time we have held National Paralympic Day here at the Park since the 2012 Paralympic Games and each year I am excited to see this iconic place fill up with fans of disability sport.”

To watch the Paralympic sporting heroes compete, visit paralympics.org.uk for ticket details.

The full programme of events can be downloaded here.

By Scarlett Alexander

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