BRITAIN’S gold rush will continue at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, according to a medal-winning blind swimmer from Kidderminster who is spearheading the global event.

Chris Holmes said his team of organisers were busy putting the finishing touches to the 12-day festival and would put on a “phenomenal show”.

The former Harry Cheshire High School pupil was appointed as director of integration for the Paralympic Games in September, 2009 and there are now just six days before Wednesday’s opening ceremony.

He said: “It has been an incredible journey and we are now making sure we nail those final details.”

Mr Holmes was already a keen swimmer when one night, aged 14, he went to bed and woke up the next morning to find most of his sight had gone.

Three months later, he was back in the pool and went on to have a decorated swimming career, winning 15 medals – nine gold, five silver and one bronze – at the Barcelona, Atlanta, Seoul and Sydney Games.

“One thing I never had the opportunity to do was compete at a home Games,” he said. “For the athletes, it will be the performance of their lives in front of a home crowd.”

London 2012 has broken the record for the number of Paralympic tickets sold – 2.2 million with 2.5 million expected in total.

“It is sensational – the British public clearly do not want the gold rush to come to an end and it has not,”

added Mr Holmes.

Wyre Forest will also be represented inside the Games’ arenas by Stourport’s Matt Dimbylow in seven-a-side football and Kidderminster swimmer Claire Cashmore .

Mr Holmes said: “I have been watching their progress since they joined up with the team. It is great we have local people in our team at the Games.

“The potential is for millions of people around the country to see the Games and it will have a profound impact in how people see disabled sport. In Wyre Forest that can change attitudes in employment and education and provide a sense of inclusion.”

The British team, which finished second in the medal table in Beijing, has been set a target of 103 medals from at least 12 different sports.

“We saw an awesome Olympics and we will put on a sensational Paralympic Games,” said Mr Holmes.|