National Lottery funding guarantees there is a future for British Paralympic athletes in post-Olympic landscape I would not for a moment suggest we have reached the point we want to, or that there are not great problems still to be overcome. But the Games showed what is possible, and it is beholden on everyone involved now to build on the momentum of London and create opportunities for this twin agenda around performance and perception to be continued. One example from the BPA is our ParalympicsGB Sport Fest - recently launched and starting on December 3 in Surrey and giving disabled people of all ages the chance to meet the stars, try out with the sports and get inspired. So lots of opportunity awaits. But it did not happen overnight and indeed for many people it has been a long journey to get to this exciting place. Among the many things that have made an impact on disability and Paralympic sport in the past twenty years it is hard to think of one more profound than the National Lottery. It has been in place for elite sport since before the Sydney Games of 2000, and ParalympicsGB has not been outside of the top three in the medal table since that Games. The National Lottery has ensured that our athletes can train full time with all the coaching, equipment, medical and other technical and living support that a world class athlete needs. It funded ParalympicsGB as the team gathered at a series of athlete preparation camps for the biggest Games of their lives. It has supported sport from elite down to grassroots, helping with sports facilities and also providing opportunities for clubs and local communities to think more positively about inclusion and opportunity for disabled people. And we should not forget that it has also made a huge contribution to the staging of the London 2012 Paralympic Games itself. The National Lottery has come of age - turning 18 this week. It is part of the story of the Paralympics, and part of how our Paralympians have shown people what is possible when you bring together talent, hard work and - crucially - strategic investment of resources. Through the partnership between BPA, UK Sport and National Governing Bodies we have succeeded on the world stage and helped make the nation proud. As we move on from London, we will continue to strive to achieve that outcome on the field of play, whilst also knowing that our athletes" achievements are promoting a wider agenda and opportunity, and helping to shift perceptions in society. By buying a ticket, and supporting them, Lottery Players are making a real lasting difference. With the coming of age of the National Lottery this week, it seems the right time to acknowledge and celebrate that.