The Paralympic Flame Lighted Prior To Its Incredible Trip To Paris

British athletes Helene Raynsford and Gregor Ewan lit the Paralympic Flame in Stoke Mandeville, the birthplace of the Games, two weeks after the Paris Olympics ended. The Flame will travel to France for a four-day relay under the English Channel.

The completion of its remarkable journey will culminate in the vibrant city of Paris on Thursday, coinciding with the grand spectacle of the Paralympics opening ceremony.

Lighting ceremony of the Paralympic Heritage Flame was held in Buckinghamshire

The Paralympic Heritage Flame lighting ceremony was a significant event that occurred in Buckinghamshire. This location holds historical significance as it was where the Stoke Mandeville Games, the precursor to the Paralympic Games, were first hosted in 1948. 

The athletes who participated in these games were wheelchair users who had sustained spinal injuries during World War II, showcasing their resilience and determination in overcoming their disabilities.

Ludwig Guttmann, a Jewish neurosurgeon who escaped Germany and worked at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, developed a method in which patients were urged to sit up and utilize their muscles, with competition serving as a motivator during a time when spinal injuries were believed fatal.

“I can feel his [Guttmann] presence here today, no doubt about it,”

During the lighting ceremony International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons said “I can feel his [Guttmann] presence here today, no doubt about it,”

The president of the organizing committee for Paris 2024, Tony Estanguet, declared that the French capital was “proud and excited” to host the 17th Paralympic Games.

He said “We are ready to make it unique and memorable for France and the whole world,” 

It will be used to light 12 torches

The Stoke Mandeville Games later evolved into the first Paralympic Games, held in Rome in 1960. The Heritage Flame ceremony at Stoke Mandeville began in 2012, prior to the London Paralympics.

The Paralympic relay will begin with the Flame crossing the Channel Tunnel, led by 24 British athletes. 

The flame will be handed over to 24 French athletes, who will bring it ashore in Calais, it will be used to light 12 torches symbolizing 11 days of competition and the opening ceremony.

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