By Tom Degun

David Knott_on_right_and_Adam_Knott_on_leftJuly 5 - Adam and David Knott, two brothers from Hampshire, have been named in Britain's goalball squad for London 2012 after the six-strong men's squad for the Games was unveiled today.

The two brothers (pictured above with David on the right and Adam on the left) were both born with a rare hereditary condition at birth that left them both blind but they are likely to be two of Britain's biggest Paralympic medal prospects in the sport at London 2012.

The duo took up goalball, a sport played by athletes who have visual impairments, after their father saw a feature on Paralympic sport on television.

He then took them to a British Paralympic Association (BPA)-run multi-sport Paralympic Potential Day at Brunel University in 2010, where they were identified as potential elite stars.

Adam, the elder of the two brothers at 17, admitted he was delighted to be named in the squad along with his sibling.

"To hear my name in the squad was incredible and the Paralympics will be awesome," he said.

"We played in the venue [the Copper Box] in front of 1,000 people and that was fantastic.

"But it is off the scale to think we will be playing for GB in front of 7,000 fans.

"It will be amazing and emotional.

"I can't wait."

David, who is two years younger than his brother, admitted he was also very excited on learning that he had made the team.

"The training has been very tough but it's all worthwhile to get into the squad and represent Great Britain in the Paralympics," said the 15-year-old.

"To be there alongside my brother is an extra bonus for both of us."

Michael Sharkey_and_Anne_SharkeyRather surprisingly, the Knott brothers are not the only siblings who will represent ParalympicsGB in the sport of goalball at London 2012 as Michael Sharkey (pictured left) was also named in the men's squad today with his sister Anna (pictured right), who recently married and plays under the name Tipton, named in the women's team in May.

"The Paralympics will be incredible and I intend to enjoy every second of it," he said.

"There will never be another moment like this and I will cherish it.

"Anna has been a fantastic support for me and it will be very special for us to be there together.

"I'm not sure how much time we'll get together but we both feel so honoured to be a part of it."

Also selected is Niall Graham, a former England basketball player who started losing his sight aged 18 due to a congenital condition.

"I've enjoyed all the hard work of training and challenging myself to get better at a sport I love," said Graham, who carried the Olympic Torch through his home town of Corby earlier this week.

"You have to want it badly to keep going and I'm delighted to make the squad.

"I was lucky enough to carry the Olympic Torch through my home town of Corby and the reception was amazing.

"It shows how much the public are behind the Olympics and Paralympics.

The team is completed by the selection of Joe Dodson and Simon Goodall with ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission Craig Hunter predicting a strong showing from the six men at London 2012.

"The selection of the men's goalball team completes the squad that will compete in London in this sport," said Hunter.

"We have worked closely with the sport of goalball, identifying potential athletes through our Paralympic Potential Days and helping to develop them through our Talent Transition Programme.

"As a result it is a genuine pleasure to announce these players as members of ParalympicsGB.

"Goalball is such a fast and intensive sport that I'm sure the British public will enjoy watching it."

Goalball players compete wearing black-out masks over their eyes and the aim of the sport is to score goals by throwing a ball with a bell inside it towards the opposition's goal, while the opposing team use their bodies to try to prevent a goal.

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