Endorsed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), London 2012: A Legacy for Disabled People, aims to improve the lives of 10 million disabled people in the UK by increasing participation in sport and physical activity, improving business, transport and employment opportunities and changing attitudes and perceptions of disabled people in society.

Sport England has given sport for disabled people a further boost by announcing that they will be investing £1.5 million of Exchequer funding in the English Federation of Disability Sport to help them deliver a new strategy to increase participation and opportunities for disabled people. 

They have also announced that they will be making £2 million of targeted National Lottery funding available, by application, to nine disability sports organisations including British Blind Sport, Mencap Sport, Wheelpower and the Special Olympics. 

A further £8 million of National Lottery funding has also been ring-fenced by Sport England for investment in sport for disabled people over the next two years.

Details of the scheme had first been revealed on insideworldparasport earlier this week.

Other initiatives outlined in the legacy plan include work with Channel 4, the official London 2012 Paralympic Games broadcaster, to ensure coverage is appropriate, accessible and extends beyond Games time.

Jowell said: "We want the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to showcase a Britain without barriers.

"By working to increase sports participation, improve employment opportunities amongst disabled people and develop a greater appreciation of disability issues in society, our legacy plan for disabled people aims to make a real difference to the way disabled people live their lives every day.

"The backing of the International Paralympic Committee is recognition of the scale of our ambition and our determination to ensure the benefits of London 2012 live long beyond the Games.

"With this strategy we have developed a blueprint for other host nations looking to deliver a lasting legacy for disabled people from the Olympic and Paralympic Games."

Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe said: "We want to use the Games in 2012 to inspire people across the UK to get more active.

"We want more opportunities for disabled people to play sport and this targeted investment over the next two years will help do just that."

In addition to the investment by Sport England and the National Lottery, London 2012 and Arts Council England officially announced today that £400,000 of funding has been awarded to ten commissions by disabled artists as part of the Unlimited programme.

The scheme which celebrates the arts, culture and sport by disabled and deaf people aims to help transform the disability arts movement in the UK and celebrate the inspiration of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

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