Professor Stephen Hawking helps launch London's Paralympic Games
Image: London's Paralympic Games are now underway
World-renowned scientist and physicist Professor Stephen Hawking has made a rare public appearance to help mark the launch of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
The Opening Ceremony - created by artistic directors Jenny Sealey and Bradley Hemmings - focused on the scientific advances across history that have challenged human perceptions.
In a series of statements that formed part of the event, Professor Hawking called for a "new age of enlightenment" as the two-week period of Paralympic competition got underway.
Athletes from 164 Paralympic teams will be participating in the London 2012 Games, which are set to be the largest of their kind ever held during the Games' 52-year official history.
LOCOG chair Sebastian Coe said: "Prepare to be inspired. Prepare to be dazzled. Prepare to be moved by the Paralympic Games of London 2012."
• A "huge transitional operation" has been undertaken by LOCOG following the end of the Olympic Games in order to prepare for the Paralympic Games.
Among work carried out has been the transformation of the Athletes' Village from a complex housing 10,000 Olympians to one catering for 4,280 Paralympians in just five days.
Click here for more information about the Paralympic Opening Ceremony.
Image: DCMS
UAE’s first Dior Spa debuts in Dubai at Dorchester Collection’s newest hotel, The Lana
Europe's premier Evian Spa unveiled at Hôtel Royal in France
Clinique La Prairie unveils health resort in China after two-year project
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Four Seasons announces luxury wellness resort and residences at Amaala
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
From Nobu Restaurants and Ian Schrager’s latest hotel to Imagination Playgrounds and the set design for The Rocky Horror Show, US architect and designer David Rockwell always keeps it fresh. He tells us the secrets of his creativity