Four Paralympic Flames Lit

Paralympic Flames were lit on the highest peaks of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and will soon come together to form the Paralympic Torch. 22 Aug 2012
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London 2012 Paralympic Torch

London 2012 Paralympic Torch

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On 28 August the four Flames will be united in Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire – the spiritual home of the Paralympic Movement – to create the London 2012 Paralympic Flame.

Four groups of scouts and mountaineers climbed the highest peaks of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on Wednesday morning (22 August) to kindle the four flames that will be brought together to form the London 2012 Paralympic Flame.

Groups of disabled and non-disabled Scouts ascended Scafell Pike (England), Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa (Wales), Ben Nevis (Scotland) and Slieve Donard (Northern Ireland), where they used the traditional technique of rubbing flint to create sparks and kindle a flame.

Chair of London 2012 Organizing Committee Seb Coe said: "By creating the four Flames through human endeavour at the four highest peaks in the UK we will ensure that the spirit of each home nation is represented in the Paralympic Flame."

The Flames will then be transferred to each nation’s capital city where they will become the focus for a day of Paralympic celebrations.

National Flame Festivals

Evening celebrations, called Flame Festivals, will take place in Belfast on 25 August, in Edinburgh on 26 August and in Cardiff on 27 August. People are encouraged to come along and show their support for the Paralympic Torch Relay and the forthcoming Paralympic Games, and to enjoy plenty of activities and entertainment.

Creating the London 2012 Paralympic Flame

On 28 August the four Flames will be united in Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire – the spiritual home of the Paralympic Movement – to create the London 2012 Paralympic Flame.

24-hour Torch Relay

At the end of the Flame Lighting ceremony in Stoke Mandeville, the 24-hour overnight Relay will see the Paralympic Flame carried 92 miles by 580 inspirational Torchbearers, working in teams of five, to the Olympic Stadium.

The teams of Torchbearers have been selected through public nomination campaigns run by BT, Lloyds TSB and Sainsbury as well as the British Paralympic Association, and have been chosen for the way they represent the Paralympic Values.

They include five members of the UK’s first blind cricket team, five PE teachers from Davenant Foundation School nominated for their dedication to teaching Paralympic sports, and Argyle Bird, a 13-year-old from Hull who has not let his disability get in the way of him taking part in sport.

The Paralympic Torch Relay will travel through some of the communities of Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire, before visiting all six host boroughs and a number of London landmarks. View the route map here.