Paralympic Games - We salute all competitors in London

For too long people who were physically disabled were hidden away, either for their own protection, or in some instances because they were seen as an embarrassment to their families.

This was grossly wrong and exhibited a flaw in the mentality of those family members.

The Paralympic Games, which began with the opening ceremony in London last night, are the best evidence of a change in attitude as such people are now being celebrated rather than hidden. The Games, which strive for equal treatment with able-bodied athletes, have grown from a small gathering of British veterans of the Second World War in 1948 to what is now one of the biggest sporting events in the world, with 2.5m tickets to various events already having been sold.