Pistorius: Paralympics to be huge

Double-amputee Oscar Pistorius thinks the world will become "addicted" to Paralympic sport when the Games come to London next year.

The Paralympics have come a long way since they were first held in Rome 51 years ago, but popularity, TV audiences and levels of interest are still way behind the competition's able-bodied equivalent.
Nevertheless, London 2012 chairman Lord Coe said on Wednesday that surveys suggest the Paralympics will be a sell-out, with a large number of the tickets expected to be snapped up when they go on sale on Friday.
The 100 metre, 200 metre, 400 metre and relay events Pistorius will race in will no doubt be the biggest sellers of the lot.
The 24-year-old South African has become an iconic figure in the Paralympic movement after clinching three gold medals in Beijing.
He has also been given the green light to compete in the Olympic Games after the IAAF decided the carbon fibre blades he uses do not give him an unfair advantage.
He thinks the world will become gripped by the competition and expects tickets to be snapped up quickly.
"The excitement will spread across the world when the Paralympics and the Olympics come here," Pistorius said.
"I have no doubt that the Paralympic tickets will get snapped up just as quickly as the Olympic tickets did."
The 'Blade Runner' also hopes next summer will herald a new-found respect among sports fans for the Paralympics - and give it the stage that it deserves.
"We are trying to change the inspirational aspect of it," he said.
"This is sport, it's dedication. Blood, sweat and tears are shed on a daily basis.
"People are going to witness that for the first time next year.
"We hope it will undergo a transition from Paralympic sport just being something that we think is inspirational to something that we get addicted to just like any other sport."
Pistorius looks set to compete in both the Paralympics and the Olympics next summer.
His participation in able-bodied competition has always been the source of contention despite the IAAF being happy that tests confirm his blades do not give him any advantage over his rivals.
He admits that controversy is unlikely to ever go away.
"It has been proven that the blades do not give me an advantage," he said.
"There will always be critics but at the same time I will have to take it with a pinch of salt because there is science to back up my claim."