London 2012 Paralympic Games set to be the best ever thanks to world-class UK research

The eyes of the world have returned to London for the 2012 Paralympic Games, which are set to be the best yet with Team GB aiming to win more than 100 medals. The opening ceremony, aired on 29 August and watched by millions, paid a fitting tribute to Britain’s tradition of science and innovation.

Wheelchair basketball is one of the most popular sports on the Paralympic programme. Research Councils UK (RCUK) has produced a film showcasing the exciting research, science and technology behind the sport, which features Colin Price, the silver medal winning captain of Britain’s Wheelchair Basketball team in Atlanta 1996 and coach to junior wheelchair athletes. The film is available to view here.

The wheelchair basketball events take place from 30 August to 8 September, featuring a total of 264 athletes. The game is broadly similar to the able-bodied sport: the court is the same size, the basket is at the same height, and the scoring is identical. Players move the ball around the court by passing or dribbling, and are required to throw or bounce the ball after every two pushes of the wheels on their chairs to avoid being penalised for travelling.

Colin Price speaks about wheelchair design and how this has developed over the last 30 years to become more lightweight and give more stability and enable athletes to turn faster. The film also features Professor Mike Caine who has worked on wheelchair design for Paralympics GB, Dr Maria Kavussanu who discussed morality in team sport, and Dr David James who spoke about far research and new technologies should be used in the quest to win gold and where should we draw the line.

This film is part of a series which has focused on a range of sports including sailing, cycling, athletics and triathlon in the run up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Cutting Edge 2012 is an RCUK initiative, in partnership with the Royal Institution, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Institute of Engineering and Technology, and PODIUM (the Further and Higher Education Unit for the 2012 Games).

All Cutting Edge 2012 films are available to view here.

- ends -

Further information

Contact:
Katie Clark
Press and Communications Manager
Tel: 01793 444592 or email: Katie Clark

Notes to editors

1. Cutting Edge 2012: The Research Behind Sport is a series of six events which took place across the UK. Details of these events is as follows:

   • Cutting Edge 2012: Behind Basketball, Wednesday 25 January, The Royal Institution, London.
   • Cutting Edge 2012: Behind Triathlon, Tuesday 27 March, Carriageworks, Leeds.
   • Cutting Edge 2012: Behind Athletics, Thursday 26 April, English Institute of Sport, Sheffield.
   • Cutting Edge 2012: Behind Sailing, Thursday 24 May, Weymouth Sailing Academy, Weymouth.
   • Cutting Edge 2012: Behind Diving, Thursday 5 July, Plymouth Life Centre, Plymouth.
   • Cutting Edge 2012: Behind Cycling, Thursday 19 July, Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow.

2. All Cutting Edge 2012 films can be found here.

3. Research Councils UK (RCUK) is the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils who annually invest around £3 billion in research. We support excellent research, as judged by peer review, that has an impact on the growth, prosperity and wellbeing of the UK. To maintain the UK’s global research position we offer a diverse range of funding opportunities, foster international collaborations and provide access to the best facilities and infrastructure around the world. We also support the training and career development of researchers and work with them to inspire young people and engage the wider public with research. To maximise the impact of research on economic growth and societal wellbeing we work in partnership with other research funders including the Technology Strategy Board, the UK Higher Education funding bodies, business, government, and charitable organisations. www.rcuk.ac.uk.

   The seven UK Research Councils are:

   • Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC);
   • Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC);
   • Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC);
   • Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC);
   • Medical Research Council (MRC);
   • Natural Environment Research Council (NERC);
   • Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC).