The Paralympic torch has been lit in Stoke Mandeville, England, a historic site recognized as the birthplace of the Paralympic movement. British Paralympians Helene Raynsford and Gregor Ewan participated in the lighting ceremony. The flame is now set to travel through the Channel Tunnel to France, where it will begin a four-day relay across the nation, passing through over 50 cities from the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean.
Over 1,000 torchbearers, including past Paralympians, emerging young athletes, and committed volunteers, will take part in carrying the flame. The relay will feature notable locations associated with Paralympic champions, such as Lorient and Blois, the hometowns of Damien Seguin and Marie-Amélie Le Fur, respectively.
The culmination of this journey will be in Paris, where the flame is scheduled to arrive just in time for the Paralympic Games opening ceremony on August 28. An innovative, eco-friendly cauldron will be lit and ascend each night in a hot-air balloon over the Tuileries gardens, symbolizing the games’ commitment to sustainability and innovation. (NNT)
