The Stoke Mandeville doctor, who died in 1980 aged 80, was one of just nine people honoured at Birmingham's NEC for their outstanding contribution to athletics.

The induction award for Sir Ludwig - a Hall of Fame trophy - was presented to his daughter Eva Loeffler by BBC commentator Paul Dickenson.

"He was the guy who started it all off," said Dickenson.

"It's come a long way since then, but he was solely responsible for starting it off.

"He was a real star."

Sir Ludwig Guttmann is the founder of the Paralympic Movement
@ Picture Post via Getty Images

Chris Jones, chief executive of England Athletics, claimed Sir Ludwig deserved his place in the Hall of Fame.

"The England Athletics Hall of Fame is there to enable us to recognise and draw inspiration from those individuals who have made a profound impact on the sport of athletics in England," he said.

"In being inducted, Prof Sir Ludwig Guttmann joins the likes of Lord Coe, Dame Kelly Holmes, Sally Gunnell, Sir Roger Bannister and Daley Thompson.

"He also joins two of our greatest ever Paralympic athletes, Noel Thatcher and David Holding.

"His work paved the way for what they achieved.

"I am conscious that Sir Ludwig's work has not only benefited athletics.

"However, it is fitting that we as a sport have recognised the contribution that he has made to athletics and the debt of gratitude we owe him."

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