The Paralympic torch was ignited in Stoke Mandeville, a locale situated in England.
The spark was ignited by two renowned Paralympic athletes from the UK, Helene Raynsford and Gregor Ewan, in the region where the World Sports Games for the disabled were initially established. Raynsford, the first Paralympic gold medalist in rowing during the 2008 Beijing Games, expressed her gratitude, stating, "It's an honor." This marks the first time the Paralympic flame has been ignited in Stoke Mandeville since the 2012 London Paralympics.
Raynsford and Ewan subsequently handed the flame to the inaugural torchbearer, Andrew Parsons, who serves as the President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). On the upcoming Sunday, the flame will journey across the English Channel: 24 British torchbearers will swap it with 24 French torchbearers midway, who will then carry it to Calais. From there, the Paralympic flame will proceed to Paris, where the competitions will unfold from August 28 to September 8.
The tradition of a World Sports Festival for disabled individuals was established in 1948 by German neurologist Ludwig Guttmann at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, located northwest of London. Guttmann organized sports competitions for war veterans who were immobilized or using wheelchairs, coordinating them to coincide with the 1948 London Olympics. The first Paralympics took place in Rome in 1960, involving 400 athletes from 23 different countries.
The ignition of the Paralympic flame by Raynsford and Ewan was a significant moment, as it signified the start of the journey towards the Paralympics in Paris. The Paralympic Games will be held in Paris from August 28 to September 8, making it an exciting time for athletes and fans of the Paralympics.
