RECOGNITION OF SIR LUDWIG GUTTMANN

Early day motion 439, tabled 3 September 2012 by Lord Beith (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 36 members.

That this House supports the Jewish News' campaign for Sir Ludwig Guttmann, the founder of the Paralympics, to be formally recognised by the Olympic Authorities; calls on the London Development Legacy Corporation, the Government and all relevant authorities to recognise Sir Ludwig in the post-Games Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park; notes that Sir Ludwig represents triumph in the face of adversity after he fled Nazi Germany and later became head of Stoke Mandeville Hospital's National Spinal Injury Centre which led him to establish the first Games for the disabled in 1948 which eventually paved the way for the realisation of his dream of a parallel Olympics for disabled people in 1960; and considers that it is therefore fitting, in this year of Olympic and Paralympic triumph for Great Britain, that Sir Ludwig Guttmann is formally recognised so that generations to come can be inspired by his significant contribution to the Paralympic movement.

Signatures by party: Labour 11, Liberal Democrat 10, Conservative 7, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Alliance 1, DUP 1, Independent 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Respect 1.