Paralympic games to kick off this weekend

Global (Commonwealth) _ The famous Games of Paris 2024 Cauldron will shine once more on August 25 and 26, marking the formal start of the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024. The Paralympic Flame will be ignited at Stoke Mandeville, England, as part of the Paralympic Torch Relay. From August 25 to 28, twelve flames will journey throughout France.

Now that the historic Paris 2024 Olympic Games have finally settled, it’s time for the world’s Paralympians to compete against one another on the international arena.

In honor of the Paralympic Games’ inception, the Paralympic Flame will begin its journey on Saturday, August 24, in Stoke Mandeville, England. World War II injured soldiers had the chance to play in an athletic event staged in Stoke Mandeville Hospital by German neurologist Sir Ludwig Guttmann in 1948, during the London Olympic Games.
Known as the Stoke Mandeville Games, they served as the model for the inaugural Summer Paralympics, which took place in Rome in 1960. Since then, the Paralympics have been held every four years, featuring an opening ceremony and a torch relay akin to the Olympic Games.

At a lighting ceremony at Stoke Mandeville on August 24, the Paralympic Flame will be lighted. Then, on August 24, 24 British torchbearers will cross the Channel Tunnel to pass the flame to 24 French torchbearers at the midway point between the UK and France.

After emerging from the Channel Tunnel, the flame will split into 12 and journey through France to more than 50 towns and cities with 1,200 torchbearers. In August 28, the flames will converge in Paris in time for the Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony.

In addition to the traveling 12 torches, which represent the 12 days of the Paralympic Games, a 13th torch will be ignited in Paris on August 25, the opening day of the Torch Relay, and used in celebrations honoring the 80th anniversary of Paris’ liberation.

“The last thing we want to do is say goodbye to the Olympic Games after the emotional storm that passed through us throughout the competition. The good news is that the Games are not finished since France will host the Summer Paralympic Games for the first time ever shortly.” stated Tony Estanguet, the Paris 2024 Organising Committee President.

“We are thrilled to host 1,200 Forerunners who will be meeting French men and women over the course of four historic days. Twelve Flames will burn at the same time during this Relay to honor areas that represent the range and depth of French ancestry as well as our common goal of advancing inclusivity and sports. I’ll see you on the French roads shortly!

The schedule for the Paralympic Games includes a variety of sporting events, cultural activities in lively settings, DJs and live acts, and displays of parasports that will take place from August 24 to September 8th.

There will be a new name for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Torch Relay: the “Forerunners Relay.” These Forerunners are individuals who are passionate about the Paris 2024 Games, who live and breathe sport every day, and who can’t wait to welcome and experience them. The Forerunners will formally kick off the Paralympic celebrations in Paris in 2024 and revive the festive mood of the Games.

Between August 25 and 28, 2024, over the course of four days, almost 1,000 Forerunners will transport the Paralympic torch to 50 French cities. By doing this, they want to spark interest in the next Paralympics by promoting the enthusiastic message that “The Games are back!”

The ancient cradle of Paralympic sport, Stoke Mandeville, England, will host the lighting of the Paralympic torch. In order to aid in the rehabilitation of World War II veterans suffering from spinal cord injuries at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, German neurologist Sir Ludwig Guttmann organized the inaugural sports tournament for them on July 29, 1948, the day of the Opening Ceremony of the London 1948 Olympic Games. The tournament, wheelchair archery for sixteen wounded military members, was dubbed the Stoke Mandeville Games by Dr. Guttman.

The beginning of a famous relay will be marked when the flame, like its Olympic twin, is kindled in Stoke Mandeville and travels across the water via the Channel Tunnel. In order to transfer the torch and the enthusiasm of the Games, 24 French competitors will meet up with 24 British athletes halfway down the tunnel.