As a young child, Loeffler and her brother Dennis (pictured below) were taken by their father, a highly respected German neurologist, to England in 1939 as they fled Nazi Germany.

Several years later, Sir Ludwig was asked by the British Government to found the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital to help World War Two veterans rehabilitating from spinal cord injuries.

In 1948, Sir Ludwig began to organise sporting competitions for them in what proved the precursor to the first Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960.

Loeffler herself served as a volunteer at those first competitions in 1948 and she has since become one of the towering figures in disability sport as she was one of the original directors of the British Paralympic Association (BPA) and a member of the 1989 Colin Moynihan Review into sport for the disabled.

She also serves as chair of British Wheelchair Sports Foundation (BWSF) and vice-president of Wheelpower while earlier this year, Loeffler and her brother unveiled a permanent life-size bronze statue of their father at Stoke Mandeville as well as a cast-bronze bust that will be displayed at all future Paralympic Games, including London 2012.

A life-size statue of Sir Ludwig Guttmann was unveiled by Sir Ludwig's son, Dr Dennis Guttmann, and daughter Eva Loeffler at Stoke Mandeville Stadium in June 2012

"The development of Paralympic sport and the Paralympic Games has played a significant role in my life and I'm thrilled to be appointed Paralympic Village Mayor as the Games return to the UK," said Loeffler, who follows London 2012 Olympic Village Mayor Charles Allen.

"I'm really looking forward to working with the whole team to deliver an outstanding and memorable experience for Village residents and visitors this summer."

The role of Village Mayor is to act as the figurehead of the Paralympic Village while key responsibilities include welcoming and hosting international and domestic guests and dignitaries, attending and speaking at Village events and maintaining a visible and accessible presence throughout the Games for both residents and Games Makers.

Loeffler will be supported by a wider Mayoral team including co-chair of the Liberal Democrat Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport Parliamentary Committee Don Foster and politician and former Olympian Ming Campbell.

"Eva has a longstanding association with the Paralympic Games having been involved since its inception," said London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe.

"I'm delighted to appoint her as Paralympic Village Mayor."

The Mayoral team, who will live in the Paralympic Village in Stratford for the duration of the Games, will be busy from now on.

Team officials begin arriving in the Paralympic Village today ahead of athletes' arrival from Wednesday (August 22).

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