845 repairs before Paralympics opened
Ottobock Healthcare, Official Prosthetic, Orthotic and Wheelchair Technical Service Provider to the 2012 Paralympic Games, has completed 845 repairs before the Games were declared open, since opening the workshop doors on 22nd August.
Following the announcement of the flag bearers in the lead up to the opening ceremony, Ottobock technicians worked quickly to attach flag pole holders to over 60 wheelchairs.
Working behind the scenes in a 6,500 ft2 workshop in the Paralympic Village and nine other workshops next to the field of play at nine competition venues, Ottobock technicians are responsible for repairs throughout the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
The team of technicians come from 18 countries and speak 23 languages and all were required to lend a hand with the influx of athletes ahead of the Opening Ceremony. Each technician was matched to their home country – to attach flag holders to the athletes’ wheelchairs. An emergency team of technicians was also on hand at the Opening Ceremony to make last minute alterations to the flag holders. Four repairs were carried out in the Olympic Stadium, due to the high wind experienced.
“The Opening Ceremony day is always a busy one, and today we were flooded with requests for attaching holders for the flag bearers”, said Ken Hurst, Technical Director, Ottobock International Leadership Team at 2012 Paralympic Games. “Following our experience in Beijing, we came prepared with 55 flag holders, however when over 60 athletes walked through the door, we were required to do some quick thinking and sent our mobile unit to the hardware store to pick up some more material. In the end, it was a great success”.
On arrival in London, Paralympians from many of the competing countries visited Ottobock workshops to have their equipment repaired by the Technical Service Team ahead of competition, following damage to equipment during transit or training. Jobs were carried out by the team of experts including repairs to running blades, sockets, orthotic devices and rugby wheelchairs. Ottobock is supporting all 4,200 competing athletes with a team of 80 expert prosthetists, orthotists and wheelchair technicians, including 12 welders, who have all volunteered their services.
Athletes competing at the London 2012 Paralympic Games can all have their equipment checked and repaired by Ottobock experts before or during competition. Like the services provided by mechanics during a pit-stop in motor racing, Ottobock’s technical service team are located next to the field of play responsible for the repair and maintenance of equipment used by Paralympians and getting athletes back into the competition as fast as possible.
Ottobock has been a partner to the Paralympic Games providing technical service since the Seoul 1988 Paralympic Games, and has completed approximately 10,000 repairs for athletes during Paralympic competition since then. Records for most repairs completed in a single Games were set at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games where technicians worked over 10,000 hours, completing 2,188 repairs, including 183 in a single day.
(Pictured caption Ottobock Healthcare, Official Prosthetic, Orthotic and Wheelchair Technical Service Provider to the 2012 Paralympic Games, completed 845 repairs before the Games were even declared open. Following the announcement of the flag bearers in the lead up to the opening ceremony, 80 Ottobock technicians worked quickly to prepare and attach flag pole holders to over 60 wheelchairs.)
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