In what will undoubtedly be a blow to organisers, the 35-year-old was set to be one of the star attractions at the Championships, which are due to launched tonight with an Opening Ceremony at the Swansea University International Sports Village. 

Weir missed last year's IPC World Championships in Lyon due to injury, but looked to be back to his best form at the recent Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where he powered to victory in the T54 1500 metres.

"I'm absolutely devastated to have pulled out of Swansea," said Weir.

"I've had a tendonitis problem since Glasgow and unfortunately I'm not in a position to compete.

"I'm determined to come back stronger to ensure that I'm up and running for next year's World Championships in Doha and then the [2016] Paralympic Games in Rio."

Weir had been set to renew his rivalry with Switzerland's Marcel Hug in the T54 category, with both due to compete in the 400m, 800m, 1500m and 5,000m events.

The battle between Marcel Hug and David Weir was set to be one of the highlights of the action in Swansea ©AFP/Getty Images



Weir won four gold medals at London 2012, while Hug capitalised on the Briton's absence from the World Championships in Lyon last year by claiming five world titles.

IPC President Sir Philip Craven is set to appear at tonight's Opening Ceremony to open the Championships, scheduled to last until Saturday (August 23).

He will be joined by Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan, Byron Lewis; Lord Mayor of the City and County of Swansea, Councillor Ceinwen Thomas and Welsh Sports Minister John Griffiths.

As well as speeches from Sir Philip and Griffiths, Swansea 2014 chairman and former Welsh rugby union international Paul Thorburn will also make an address.

IPC President Sir Philip Craven will be in Swansea tonight to officially open the 2014 IPC Athletics European Championships ©Getty Images




The Royal Air Force Air Cadets will be performing at the Ceremony along with the Morrison Choir, who will be singing the anthems, while there will also be appearances from John Adams from the television talent show The X Factor and vocalist Amy Ware.

The official Swansea 2014 song, Good for Gold will also be performed as the Welsh city welcomes the 560 athletes from 37 countries set take part in the Championships.

This year's Championships will be the fourth edition of the event following Assen 2003, Espoo 2005 and Stadskanaal 2012, and will be the first time it has been held in Britain.

Organisers are hoping around 15,000 spectators will watch the action set to feature a host of the world's top Paralympic athletes.

Home star Aled Davies is among nine Paralympic and world champions appearing in Swansea as part of the British team that also includes Hannah Cockroft, Jonnie Peacock and Stef Reid.

Irish hopes will be resting with double Paralympic and world champions Jason Smyth and Michael McKillop.

Meanwhile, the likes of  Hug, the world's fastest female blade runner Marlou van Rhijn of The Netherlands, French sprinter Mandy Francois-Elie and Germany's T44 long jump world record holder Markus Rehm, will lead the continental challenge.

Swansea is set to welcome some of the world's top Paralympic athletes, including double Paralympic Games and world champion Michael McKillop of Ireland ©Getty Images