Britain’s greatest Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson says the Olympic Park is ‘setting new standards’ for disabled access.

Steps taken by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and the Olympic Delivery Authority to accommodate people with disabilities and mobility problems include; gentle gradients; wider corridors, aisles, and entrances to venues; specialist computer modelling to ensure good sightlines for disabled spectators; tactile surfaces and contrasting colours for visitors with visual impairments; and more than 250 benches with 3,300 seats across the Olympic Park a maximum of 50m apart.

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Britain’s most successful Paralympian winning 11 gold medals from Barcelona in 1992 to Athens in 2004, praised the development for its accessibility.

Tanni said: “London is setting new standards to ensure absolutely no one misses out, whether competitors or spectators.

“These important features are central to enabling spectators to get around the Olympic Park and venues easily - making it an ideal space for older people and parents with prams, as well as those with mobility impairments.”

Each of the apartments in the Athlete’s Village have also been designed to be easily adaptable to suit individuals’ needs and thoroughly tested by former Paralympians.

Dennis Hone, chief executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority, said: “Includive design was built into the Olympic Park and its venues from the very beginning.

“We listened to what the experts said at every step to make sure the facilities and infrastructure we were building were just right - getting the views of people with disabilities, local communities and those with high levels of technical expertise.

“The Park was a bit hit during the Olympic Games and I am confident it will be just as much of a success during the Paralympic Games, with more and more people valuing the innovation and features that are designed to make it a place for everyone to go and enjoy a day out.”