By Tom Degun

Woods wheelchair_lights_up_Heathrow_August_23August 23 - British Airways, the Official Airline of London 2012, have created a giant projection of T54 wheelchair racing star Shelly Woods at Heathrow Airport where it has been seen by the vast majority of international athletes attending the Paralympic Games.


The projections show the ParalympicsGB star beamed onto the airline's engineering hangars with the words "Welcome to our manor" and "#HomeAdvantage".

They are visible to Paralympic competitors and passengers before touch down and have been displayed for thousands to see during the busiest two days – yesterday (August 22) and today – for international athletes arriving for the Paralympic Games.

The images are designed to encourage British supporters and remind athletes from overseas that only one country has home advantage.

WElcome to_our_manor_August_23One of the projections welcoming international visitors to the London 2012 Paralympic Games 

It is a move that follows the giant painting of heptathlete Jessica Ennis on the flightpath to Heathrow airport alongside the words "Welcome to our turf" which was in place before the start of the Olympics.

British Airways ambassador Woods said she was delighted to be involved.

"I was so thrilled to see my image welcoming the world to London for the Paralympic Games, what a great start to an exciting few weeks ahead," said the 26-year-old double Paralympic medallist from Blackpool.

Ennis flightpath_paininting_August_23_The giant painting of Jessica Ennis that could be seen by passengers flying into London for the Olympic Games 

"The support from the home crowd at the Olympic Games was absolutely terrific and really helped to spur Team GB on to glory.

"It will be really important to all of us competing in the Paralympic Games too."

Extra powerful lumen projectors were used to create the images, the largest of which measures 58 metres x 18 metres – the equivalent to 24 London double decker buses.

It comes after British Airways supported athletes and their families from 26 Olympic and 20 Paralympic sports with flights to train and compete abroad.

Shelley Woods_in_action_August_23Shelley Woods on her way to victory in the women's wheelchair race during the Virgin London Marathon 2012

The airline is also the partner of the British Olympic Association (BOA) and British Paralympic Association (BPA).

"We are very excited about the Paralympic Games and wanted to give the athletes an extra boost in the run up to them," British Airways sponsorship manager Luisa Fernandez commented.

"We hope this celebratory message does just that."

During the Paralympic Games, the airline is hosting Park Live at the Olympic Park, where fans can watch all the action on Europe's largest outdoor LED screen, just like over 40,000 did during the Olympics.

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June 2012: Giant painting of heptathlon star Ennis unveiled on Heathrow flight path