HILLINGDON youngsters will be going for gold at the final of a mini Paralympics at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park next week.

More than 200 disabled schoolchildren from eight boroughs will compete in the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic venue at the London Panathlon Finals on Thursday, June 16.

Cheering them on will be Panathlon ambassador Liz Johnson, a triple Paralympic medallist in swimming for Team GB.

She said: “Very few people get the chance to compete at such an iconic venue as the Copper Box Arena.

“Without Panathlon, many of these children wouldn’t get the chance to play any sport at all, so to get the opportunity to compete here in the Olympic Park is very special.”

Johnson, 30, won a gold medal in Beijing in 2008, a silver in Athens 2004 and bronze in London 2012 in the 100m breaststroke S6, before retiring in April.

Also showing his support will be Steve Brown, who captained Team GB’s wheelchair rugby team at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Hillingdon schools Pield Heath, Coteford, Ruislip High and Harefield Academy will be up against pupils from Barking & Dagenham, Croydon and Enfield in the Champions Final.

They qualified after 16 rounds of competition involving all 32 London boroughs held between January and March this year.

The Panathlon Foundation charity’s work is funded in London by the Jack Petchey Foundation, St. James’s Place Foundation and the Mayor of London.

Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “I want to ensure all Londoners can participate and compete in sport at all levels.

“The Panathlon Challenge offers thousands of young Londoners the opportunity to take part in competitive sport each year, where they might not have otherwise found an outlet for their talents.

“I am proud to support these inspirational competitors and I look forward to this event going from strength to strength in the future.”

Image 2 courtesy of Channel 4 via YouTube, with thanks