The wheelchair racing legend was here today to mark six months to go until the start of the Paralympic Games where it was confirmed that the Queen would be attending the Opening Ceremony on August 29.

Baroness Tanni also showed off the sparkling London 2012 Paralympic Torch for the first time, after the aluminium design was unveiled this morning.

Having first competed at the Paralympics in Seoul in 1988, where there was virtually no media coverage of the event in Britain, she has predicted that the huge exposure Paralympic sport is now getting will ensure a major legacy for disability sport.

"I still can't believe how far we have come in such a short space time," she told insideworldparasport.

"I think that we are all now starting to feel that the London 2012 Paralympics will be the best Paralympics there has ever been and I'm sure it will go to a whole new level in this country because of that.

"I don't think Paralympic sport will ever be the same again.

"Perhaps the year after the Games, there might be a short drop-off on both the Olympics and Paralympics for a while, which is understandable.

"But I think the amount of media coverage on the Paralympics right now in this country means that heading into Rio 2016 and beyond, it won't drop back to the level it was at before London 2012."

Baroness Tanni also admitted that she loves the mirrored finish design of the Paralympic Torch which means that its colour will adapt to its surroundings.

"I think it is amazing," she said.

"When the flame is lit it's very sparkly and it will pick up a lot of light.

"It is also very light so it can be easily carried.

"The unveiling of the Paralympic Torch is an important part of the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay, as it will become the symbol that everyone recognises.

"With six months to go until the start of the Paralympic Games, I hope this will help build on the growing excitement and inspire the teams that are in line to carry the Flame from Stoke Mandeville to London."


Baroness Tanni added that she will be carrying the Paralympic Torch, but that she does not know when or where.

"I know that I'll be carrying it at one stage but I don't know exactly when that is," she said.

"I'm looking forward to it though.

"I love the whole idea of having four separate Flames [in London, Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff] that come together at Stoke Mandeville, which is obviously the home of the Paralympics, to make the Paralympic Flame.

"I'm excited to see how that happens and exactly how the Paralympic Flame is lit at Stoke Mandeville, which I'm sure will be very different to how the Olympic Flame is lit."

Baroness Tanni added that she would be happy to light the Paralympic Flame at the Opening Ceremony if asked by organisers but that it is not a major concern for her.

"I wouldn't say no," she joked.

"But I'm happy just to be involved in any way at all."

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