By Gary Anderson

August 21 - Designers say the Welsh dragon will empower athletes with "pride and tenacity" at Swansea 2014With less than a year to go until the start of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics European Championships, Swansea 2014 has unveiled its event mark and launched the official website.

This will be the first time the event will be staged in Britain, and IPC chief executive Xavier Gonzalez was on-hand at Swansea University, which is due to host the event from August 18 to 23 next year, to officially launch the branding.

"We are delighted that another major international athletics competition will be hosted in Great Britain, and particularly in Wales," said Gonzalez.

"Swansea 2014 cements and continues the legacy of a fantastic London 2012 Paralympic Games, and spreads that legacy further into the British Isles.

"We can be sure that in one year's time, Europe's best athletes will arrive in this fantastic city looking to put in strong performances on their road to Rio 2016."

Swansea 2014 has promised to make next year's European Championships the "biggest and best" to date, and as part of this the new branding has been designed to reflect both Swansea and Wales and is underpinned by the red, green and blue colours of the IPC.

"The mark represents everyone, by representing no one," said Chris Fox of Goldfox, the company behind the design.

"That is to say, it intentionally doesn't visually represent any people.

"Instead, we felt the best way to unite all athletes and supporters from all impairment groups and all walks of life, was to speak to them through emotions and values.

"The mark calls upon the Welsh dragon to embody the pride, power, and tenacity required to compete at the highest echelon of competitive sport.

"It is a mark that welcomes athletes, spectators and businesses alike to Wales, Swansea and the Championships, and asks that they come away from their engagement with a bit of the dragon's spirit in them; empowered, proud and ready to take on the world all over again."

Competitions will take place at the Swansea University International Sports VillageCompetitions will take place at the Swansea University International Sports Village



All competitive and training activity for the event will be hosted at the Swansea University International Sports Village, located within 800 metres of the main athlete accommodation where around 600 athletes from 40 countries are expected to stay during the competition.

Last year, the university hosted training camps for the Mexican and New Zealand Paralympic teams prior to London 2012.

"With one year to go to the exciting start of the 2014 IPC Championships I am thrilled that Swansea 2014 will be recognised across far and wide with this groundbreaking branding," said chairman of Swansea 2014, Paul Thorburn.

"Staging the Championships will be a great moment for Swansea and Wales.

"You can be assured that not only will we will deliver an outstanding Championships that the whole of Swansea and Wales can be proud of - we will also provide a professional and welcoming environment, reflecting the warmth of a nation unlike any other in the world."

The 2014 European Championships in Swansea will be the fourth edition of the event following Assen 2003, Espoo 2005 and Stadskanaal 2012.

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