Day 1: Thursday 30th Aug

 
 
 

Day 1: Thursday 30th Aug

 

The London Paralympics goes off with a bang with the first medal of the competition going to the winner of the women's R2 10m air rifle standing SH1.

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Day 1 Sporting Events

Thursday 30th August

 

British hope Di Coates is the big favourite as she attempts to win her fourth Paralympic Shooting gold in the women's R2 10m air rifle standing SH1 – the first medal event of the Games. Team GB's Ben Quilter, the Judo World Champion, also competes in the men's under-60kg Judo on Day One at 4.10pm at the ExCeL. He was fifth in Beijing and won European gold in 2011. In Equestrian, Britain starts the defence of the team title they have won at the past four consecutive Paralympics since Atlanta when equestrian events were introduced. The traditionally strong German team will be the main threat. Also on the opening day, cyclists Darren Kenny, Rik Waddon, and gold medal winner Sarah Storey hope to contest Track Cycling finals. Kenny defends his 1km Time Trial title in the velodrome at 2pm, looking for what would be his fourth Paralympic gold. Fellow Brit, Beijing silver medallist Rik Waddon, could prove one of his main rivals in the C3 category. In the Aquatics Centre, New Zealand's 'Golden Girl' Sophie Pascoe will try and double up with victory in the 100m backstroke four years after she took gold in Beijing, aged 15. Other Swimming finals include the men's 100m backstroke where Ukraine's Yevheniy Bohodayko is expected to shine, while feted South African swimmer Nathalie Du Toit will face stiff competition from Spain's Serai Gascon in the women's 100m butterfly S9. In Table Tennis, world number one, Great Britain's Will Bayley, begins his attempt to win gold at 5.20pm at the ExCeL.

Medal Events: Cycling Track, Judo, Shooting, Powerlifting, Swimming

 
 
 

Non sporting events on Day 1 around London

Thursday 30th August

 

Running for the duration of the Paralympics, the Southbank Centre's 11-day Unlimited festival is the culmination of their summer-long Festival of the World. In the same way that the Paralympics have given deaf and disabled people a worldwide arena in which to compete, Unlimited gives disabled artists the same kind of platform to perform. Starting on 30th August and taking place across the Southbank Centre site, highlights on the first day include Candoco Dance Company who begin with an inclusive dance workshop in the Royal Festival Hall's Clore Ballroom, offering young people aged 11 to 25 the chance to join a free dance workshop. A further free workshop on circus skills, led by Mish Weaver of Stumble danceCircus, follows. The Proms continue and tonight it's the turn of English conductor Sir Simon Rattle and the Berliner Philharmoniker which he has been in partnership with for ten years. They play the first of two concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, performing works by Wagner, Debussy and Ravel before returning tomorrow evening.

Last chance: Just two more days of Kids Week to go, get your youngsters into over 35 London shows for free, ends tomorrow

 
 
 
 
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