An optician, who is back at the office this morning after taking part in the Paralympic Closing Ceremony, received a standing ovation last night along with the other Games Makers.

Anil Gupta, of Wellesley Road, Ilford, describes 2012 as year of the Olympic and Paralympic Games after taking part in three out of the four ceremonies.

The 61-year-old, who works at Aves Opticians, Wellesley Road, Ilford, said: “I can only describe taking part in the ceremonies as amazing. The Paralympic Closing Ceremony was more special than the Olympics as these athletes who have gone through so much proved they can achieve just as much.

“I hope the legacy will keep disability sports on television as they are not second class to sports that we see everyday.”

Mr Gupta, who took part in the Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies also, was a field marshal at the Paralympics and was looking after the athletes.

He said: “I was mainly stood with athletes from China and Zimbabwe. In the end all the volunteers got a standing ovation and everyone wanted to swap shirts with us, like at the end of a football match.

“I feel so down now it is over but I got an email from Seb Coe this morning thanking us again. I will definitely stay in touch with all the volunteers, I get messages from them every day.”