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A last minute change of plan meant five Hackney residents were able to carry the torch through the borough at the start of the Paralympic Games.
But as eager crowds waited for the procession to pass by the Town Hall last month, some disabled onlookers complained about an obstructed view of the proceedings.
Under the Olympic organising committee LOCOG’s original plans for the event, locals had been asked to travel to Hertfordshire to carry the torch there, whilst those carrying the flame through Hackney would have hailed from outside of the borough.
The local torchbearers had been unhappy with these arrangements and one had refused to make the journey altogether, sparking a U-turn.
There was further controversy outside the Town Hall in Mare Street on the day of the torch event itself, with some of those in wheelchairs saying they were herded into a special section that was blocked off from the celebrations.
Wheelchair user Salli Booth said: “The torch was meant to go directly past the disabled area but as it was late, everything happened in the centre which was blocked from our view and we were forgotten about.
“It took a lot for my carer and me to get here, the taxi fare was expensive and we couldn’t see anything, it was utter rubbish for ages. Even tonight, it seems thinking about the disabled was an afterthought.”
Fortunately this faux pas was realised at the end of the event when some Paralympians and torchbearers headed over to the viewing area for the disabled. Ms Booth said: “We got given Sainsburys flags… well at least wasn’t it Atos paraphernalia.
“Even a few months ago according to the media we were a bunch of scroungers who caused the economic downturn, with some saying it was easy to pretend to have a disability and claim benefits.
“But everyone is excited about this and it is a big boost to everyone, helping people see us in a better light and raising awareness around attitudes. The Paralympics are showing that disabled people are all different, we are not all washed up.”
Despite the logistical problems, spirits remained high as a young dance troupe provided a colourful
carnival parade.
