The Exciting Paralympic Torch Relay: What You Need to Know
The Paralympic Torch Relay, scheduled to occur from August 25 to 28, is designed to feature a group of one thousand Pathfinders carrying the Torch. With just a few days remaining until the commencement of this significant event, it is crucial to consider all the key details.
Michaël Aloïsio, Deputy CEO of the Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, highlighted that the Games are an ongoing affair during a digital press briefing on Monday, as he unveiled the highlights of the Torch Relay. Despite its brief duration, the relay is expected to be innovative. The relay’s unique format will involve the digital multiplication of the Flame into 12 as it enters France at Calais on August 25. To commemorate this event, 24 English porters will join 24 French porters at the Midpoint, which signifies the border between the two nations.
Over the course of four consecutive days, 12 Flames will travel through the country simultaneously in order to cover all the regions of mainland France. Michaël Aloïsio stated, “It’s quite original to be able to cover so much territory in a Paralympic relay. We’re expecting a lot of people and these will be important days for launching the Paralympic Games.”
So, what does the significance of 12 Paralympic Flames represent? It symbolizes the 12 days of the first Summer Paralympic Games to be hosted in France, which encompass the 11 days of competitions from August 29 to September 8, as well as the opening ceremony on August 28. In total, the Torch Relay will visit over 50 towns and cities.
On August 25, a thirteenth Flame will be ignited in Paris for two special events: the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Paris and Rock en Seine. Furthermore, the Paralympic Torch Relay route will include two Paralympic venues, the Vélodrome national de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines and the Invalides, as well as a major Coca-Cola concert in Bobigny on the evening of August 27.
Each evening on the 12 Paralympic Relay routes, daily celebrations known as “Festivals of the Flame” will be held. These festivals will include music, introductions to Paralympic sports, and family-friendly activities. The Paralympic Cauldron will be lit at the conclusion of each day’s events.
Finally, on August 25, the Paralympic Flame will be lit at midday in Stoke Mandeville, the birthplace of Paralympic sports in Great Britain. Later that evening, the Lantern will rest in Folkestone, the last English town before the entrance to the Channel Tunnel, where the first of the 1,000 Pathfinders will carry it.
The Paralympic Torch Relay is set to be an extraordinary event, encapsulating the spirit of unity and celebrating the exceptional achievements of Paralympic athletes. Therefore, take note of the dates and prepare to be part of this extraordinary journey!
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