Just two weeks after the Paris Olympics wrapped up with Léon Marchand extinguishing the Olympic flame, the focus has now shifted to the Paralympic flame. It’s an exciting time as we get ready for the Paralympics with the torch journey getting underway.
The Paralympic Games originated in Stoke Mandeville, a hamlet northwest of London, where British athletes Helene Raynsford and Gregor Ewan lit the inaugural flame this past Saturday. The amount of progress we’ve made since then is astounding.
From here, the flame will travel across the English Channel to France, embarking on a four-day relay journey that will take it from the Atlantic shores to the Mediterranean, and from the Pyrenees mountains to the Alps. It’s going to be quite the adventure, culminating in Paris on Wednesday at the opening ceremony.
In Paris, we’ll see something truly unique—a special Olympic cauldron attached to a hot-air balloon that will fly over the city every evening throughout the 11 days of competition. It’s a wonderful way to light up the city and celebrate the Games.
The Stoke Mandeville Games, which began in 1948 with a small group of wheelchair athletes, have grown into what we now know as the Paralympics. Ludwig Guttmann, the visionary behind these games, was a Jewish neurosurgeon who fled Nazi Germany and worked at the Stoke Mandeville hospital. His approach to spinal injury rehabilitation through sports was revolutionary and has left a lasting legacy. Andrew Parsons, the president of the International Paralympic Committee, spoke at the lighting ceremony and mentioned feeling Guttmann’s presence, highlighting the profound impact he’s had.
Tony Estanguet, the president of the Paris 2024 organizing committee, expressed how proud and excited Paris is to host the 17th edition of the Summer Paralympics. He assured us that the city is ready to make this event unique and memorable for everyone.
The flame’s journey from Stoke Mandeville to Paris will include an underwater passage through the Channel Tunnel, a nod to the Olympic flame’s journey earlier this year. A group of 24 British athletes will carry the flame through the tunnel, passing it to 24 French athletes in Calais. This flame will then light up 12 torches to mark the 11 days of competition.
Once in France, the flame will travel to 50 cities, spotlighting places dedicated to promoting para sports and celebrating communities that support inclusion and awareness of disabilities. Former Paralympians, aspiring para athletes, and volunteers from a variety of fields will be among the torchbearers.
We’ll also see the flame pass through significant locations, such as Lorient, the hometown of double Paralympic gold medalist Damien Seguin, and Blois, known for its sports complex named after Paralympic track athlete Marie-Amélie Le Fur. The relay will highlight places with adapted sports facilities, like Châlons-en-Champagne, which supports athletes with intellectual disabilities, and Chambly, known for its sports facilities adapted for para sports.
The relay will culminate in Paris on Wednesday, where the 12 flames will merge into one for the grand opening ceremony. The new cauldron, which lights up using water and electric light, will make a stunning debut, flying over the Tuileries Gardens each night of the Games. It’s a beautiful and innovative way to celebrate the Paralympics and honor its rich heritage.
