Birmingham hosts ParalympicsGB Homecoming to celebrate Paris success

A big homecoming celebration for the ParalympicsGB team has been hosted in Birmingham tonight (12 September).

The National Lottery's ParalympicsGB Homecoming event celebrated the success of athletes during the Paris 2024 Games, after their return from France.

Held at the Utilita Arena, the event also included live performances from the likes of Craig David, Sugababes and Aitch.

The Last Leg's Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker hosted.

Speaking to us on the red carpet, Hannah Cockroft who stormed to her ninth Paralympic gold medal in the women’s T34 800m in Paris, said: "My Games couldn't have been better, Paris was everything I wanted and more!

"Being back in full stands, full stadiums, 70,000 people. It's something I've dreamt of for the last 12 years since London 2012, and Paris delivered."

Bromsgrove-born Lauren Rowles won her third rowing gold at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in the PR2 mixed double sculls event.

She told us she hopes she to help inspire other disabled people to get involved in sport: "Before I was disabled, I'd never done rowing before. Growing up in Birmingham, it's like you don't go rowing on the canals round here.

"But I was given the opportunity to get in a boat, so try different things and allow your disability to let you try different things that you never thought would be possible."

The National Lottery's ParalympicsGB Homecoming event will be broadcast on Channel 4 on Saturday, September 14.

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