Paralympic sprint runner Oscar Pistorius will be among the stars promoting the 2012 Paralympics at an event next month.

International Paralympic Day, on September 8, will let people experience at first hand the thrill of the build-up to next year’s Games.

The International Paralympic Committee will use the event, taking place the day before Paralympics tickets go on sale, to officially invite athletes and national paralympic committees from around the world to take part in the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

xhead

It also kicks off a month of activity promoting the Paralympics.

Highlights of the event, to be held in Trafalgar Square, include the chance to see triple world recorder holder and Paralympic gold medallist Pistorius. TeamGB Paralympic athletes, including Ellie Simmonds, Sascha Kindred and Sam Scowan will also attend.

There will be a world record attempt in sitting volleyball and demonstrations of sports including wheelchair basketball, powerlifting and wheelchair rugby.

Sir Philip Craven, International Paralympic Committee president, said: “We are very excited that the fifth International Paralympic Day will be held in London.

“It will give the public an opportunity to interact with our athletes, learn more about each sport and see for themselves just why the Paralympic Games is growing in popularity all the time.”

Tim Hollingsworth, chief executive of the British Paralympic Association, said: “The athletes are all working incredibly hard to produce their lifetime best performances at London 2012 and we want the whole nation behind them.”