Danny Crates relishing opening ceremony

Danny Crates has described being selected as Great Britain's flag bearer for the Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony as "the pinnacle" of his career - but revealed injury nearly prevented him from competing in Beijing.

The 35-year-old from Heybridge, Essex, has been struggling with an Achilles injury in the build-up to his third Paralympics and his preparation has not been as he would have liked.

However, that will not prevent him from leading the team into the National Stadium tomorrow or from lining up for the defence of his T46 800metres title a week on Sunday.

"At one stage I didn't even think I was going to get to step inside the Bird's Nest," said Crates.

"To step inside with the greatest honour of all - carrying the flag - and then knowing a week later I will step inside there as a competitor is what we all dream of."

Crates works as a motivational speaker and is sure to inspire his team-mates ahead of the athletes' procession.

"This is pretty much the pinnacle as your team-mates are the ones that actually vote for you," he added.

"I'm really looking forward to tomorrow evening and carrying that flag around - hopefully the first time of many that we'll see the Union Flag held aloft over the next 10 days, two weeks of competition."

Chef de Mission Phil Lane applauded Crates' selection as the flag bearer.

"I can't think of a more deserving athlete to carry the flag representing Great Britain," said Lane.

"I can't imagine anyone else at this stage who was going to inspire his fellow athletes into great performances more than Danny."

Crates was a talented rugby player before losing his right arm in a road accident in Australia in 1994.

He played on as an amputee but was subsequently talent-spotted by athletics.

He made his Paralympics debut in Sydney, winning bronze in the T46 400m, but stepped up a distance four years later and finished at the top of the podium.

Crates is in the 10th year of his athletics career, yet this is the first time a serious injury has affected his preparation for a major championship.

"I had a long period from March onwards where I suffered with problems with my Achilles and around that area," added Crates.

"Even though I never stopped fighting for it and never stopped believing I would get here, I started to believe it might not happen for me in Beijing."

Crates then had what he describes as "a miracle turnaround" which enabled him to train and compete at his full capacity, rather than relying on building his fitness on the non-weight-bearing cross-training machine and aqua jogging in the swimming pool.

However, the injury resurfaced before the holding camp in Macau, setting back his preparation further.

"Sadly, two days before I came out here some of the problems came back," Crates added.

"It's not the best position to be in, but when I step on the track - I will step on the track because I haven't gone through the last five-and-a-half months for no reason - I will give it everything I have.

"I'm very, very fit - I haven't done all the running work I would like to have done by now, but that doesn't rule me out of contention because I have the heart to do it.

"Miracles happen at the Paralympic Games."

Despite his injury problems, Crates did not once contemplate skipping the opening ceremony.

"My race is right near the end so it gives me the opportunity to go, and for me it's such a massive part of the Games," he added.

"The pride you feel when you walk out as part of the team - that moment is what really brings the Paralympics to life for me.

"Everything you've been through, the years of training, preparation camps, it starts the moment they light that torch.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Crates is confident the Paralympic team will rise to the challenge and emulate the tremendous success of their Olympic counterparts.

"We've kind of always joked that the Olympics team comes to the Games, under-performs and the Paralympic team steps out and says, 'Move aside, we'll do the business'," added Crates.

"This year watching the Olympic team go from strength to strength, I did at times wonder if the Paralympics team should stay at home, if it was too big a feat to follow.

"This Games our team almost overachieved, so we have a tough act to follow.

"But we've never been shy of a challenge and we can look forward to seeing many, many medals from the British athletes."

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