STOKE MANDEVILLE, UK: The historic Stoke Mandeville, often hailed as the birthplace of the Paralympic Movement, will once again become the center of global attention as British Paralympians Helene Raynsford and Gregor Ewan light the Paralympic Flame on Saturday, 24 August. This significant event marks the beginning of the flame’s journey to Paris for the 2024 Paralympic Games.
The lighting of the Paralympic Flame at Stoke Mandeville is a momentous occasion, as it is the first time since the London 2012 Paralympic Games that the flame will be ignited at this iconic location. The decision to start the flame’s journey from Stoke Mandeville underscores the venue’s foundational role in the creation and growth of the Paralympic Movement, a legacy initiated by Sir Ludwig Guttmann.
From Paris 2024 onwards, Stoke Mandeville will serve as the permanent starting point for the Paralympic Flame, reinforcing the site’s importance in Paralympic history. This decision is part of a broader initiative by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), ParalympicsGB, and WheelPower to enhance global awareness of the significant contributions that Stoke Mandeville has made to adaptive sports and the broader Paralympic community.
Helene Raynsford, a Paralympic champion in Para Rowing when the sport made its debut at Beijing 2008, and the current Chair of the ParalympicsGB Athletes’ Commission, expressed her profound honor at being chosen to light the flame. “Words cannot describe the honor of being chosen to light the Paralympic Flame alongside Gregor at the birthplace of the Paralympic Movement. It will be a very special moment ahead of a spectacular Paralympic Games,” Raynsford remarked.
Gregor Ewan, a three-time Paralympian in wheelchair curling and bronze medalist from Sochi 2014, echoed Raynsford’s sentiments, stating, “Stoke Mandeville is such an integral part of the fabric of the Paralympic Movement, and I am thrilled to have been chosen for this very special occasion.” The lighting ceremony not only honors these athletes but also pays tribute to the countless individuals who have contributed to the Paralympic Movement.
Following the lighting of the flame, IPC President Andrew Parsons will take on the prestigious role of the first torchbearer for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Torch Relay. The relay, known as the ‘Forerunners Relay,’ will kick off with a symbolic circuit around the Stoke Mandeville athletics track, setting the stage for its journey to Paris.
The Forerunners Relay will formally commence on Sunday, 25 August, as the flame travels from the United Kingdom to France through the Channel Tunnel. The relay features a symbolic handover, where 24 British torchbearers will pass the flame at the midpoint of the tunnel to 24 French Para torchbearers. This handover signifies the close ties between the two nations and their shared commitment to the Paralympic ideals.
Upon its arrival in Calais, the Paralympic Flame will multiply into 12 separate flames, each representing one of the 12 days of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. These flames will spread across France, embarking on 12 simultaneous relays covering approximately 50 cities. The grand finale of these relays will occur on 28 August, when all flames converge in Paris, where the Paralympic Cauldron will be lit during the Opening Ceremony.