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Paralympic Games: Torch relay due to get under way Paralympic Games: Torch relay due to get under way
(about 2 hours later)
The torch relay which will herald the start of the 2012 Paralympic Games in London is due to start in a few hours.The torch relay which will herald the start of the 2012 Paralympic Games in London is due to start in a few hours.
Four national flames, kindled last week, are being brought together in a ceremony in Stoke Mandeville - the spiritual home of the Paralympics.Four national flames, kindled last week, are being brought together in a ceremony in Stoke Mandeville - the spiritual home of the Paralympics.
Leaving Buckinghamshire at 20:00 BST, the flame will be carried to London overnight for Wednesday's opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium.Leaving Buckinghamshire at 20:00 BST, the flame will be carried to London overnight for Wednesday's opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium.
The Paralympic flame will be carried 92 miles by a total of 580 torchbearers.The Paralympic flame will be carried 92 miles by a total of 580 torchbearers.
Lantern procession
Around 3,000 invited guests, including Paralympians, representatives from disability groups and local residents, will attend the ceremony at Stoke Mandeville Stadium which starts at 16:00 BST.Around 3,000 invited guests, including Paralympians, representatives from disability groups and local residents, will attend the ceremony at Stoke Mandeville Stadium which starts at 16:00 BST.
Local performers will entertain the crowds ahead of speeches by International Paralympic Committee president Sir Phillip Craven, Sebastian Coe, chair of Games organisers Locog, and culture secretary Jeremy Hunt. Lantern procession
At about 19:45 BST a lantern procession will see the four national flames carried into the stadium by torchbearers. Local performers will entertain the crowds ahead of speeches by International Paralympic Committee (IPC) president Sir Philip Craven, Sebastian Coe, chair of Games organisers Locog, and culture secretary Jeremy Hunt.
Eva Loeffler, the daughter of the founder of the Paralympic Games, Dr Ludwig Guttman, will also pay tribute to the role the Stoke Mandeville Games had in defining the modern Paralympic movement.
At about 19:45 BST up to 150 local residents will take part in a lantern procession and form a guard of honour for eight torchbearers who will carry a national flame into the stadium.
Carrying the English flame will be Katie Piper and Paralympian Tony Griffin.
Ms Piper, who suffered major injuries when her ex-boyfriend attacked her with sulphuric acid, was nominated for setting up the Katie Piper Foundation and raising awareness of burns survivors.
During a 10-year career Mr Griffin won 38 medals and works as Bolton's Sports Ambassador promoting disabled sport.
Boxer Jon Jo Look, who has a prosthetic leg and coaches youngsters in the sport, and Noel McShane, who set up the National Wheelchair Tennis Association of Great Britain and the British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships, will carry the Scotland flame.
Darren Ferguson, a special constable who talked down a distressed man from a bridge, and Joseph Morris who saved a girl from drowning in a river, will carry the Northern Ireland flame.
Carrying the Wales flame will be Julie Gilbert and Marsha Wiseman.
Once inside they will light a celebration cauldron - creating the Paralympic flame from the national flames.Once inside they will light a celebration cauldron - creating the Paralympic flame from the national flames.
At 20:00 BST the first team of torchbearers will leave the stadium, signalling the start of the 24-hour torch relay. At 20:00 BST the first team of torchbearers, chosen by the IPC and all of whom are Paralympians, will leave the stadium, signalling the start of the 24-hour torch relay.
Making up the team are:
  • IPC president Sir Philip Craven took part in five Paralympic Games mainly in wheelchair basketball, and swimming.
  • Baroness Susan Masham represented GB at the first two Paralympic Games winning medals in swimming and table tennis.
  • Caz Walton has been involved in every Paralympic Games since 1964 as both an athlete and team manager.
  • Sally Haynes took part in the first Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960 and went on to compete at a further three Games winning medals in the Epee discipline of wheelchair fencing and table tennis team.
  • Jane Blackburn took part in five Paralympic Games between 1972 and 1992 competing in archery, athletics, lawn bowls, swimming and table tennis. and winning 11 Paralympic medals including five golds.
Highlights of the route include visits to the National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville, Lord's Cricket Ground and London Zoo.Highlights of the route include visits to the National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville, Lord's Cricket Ground and London Zoo.
In Trafalgar Square former boxer Michael Watson, wheelchair racer Dame Tanni Grey Thompson and Paralympic swimmer Chris Holmes will carry the flame.In Trafalgar Square former boxer Michael Watson, wheelchair racer Dame Tanni Grey Thompson and Paralympic swimmer Chris Holmes will carry the flame.
When it arrives at the Olympic Park in east London it will be used to light the cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Games.When it arrives at the Olympic Park in east London it will be used to light the cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Games.
The event, called Enlightenment and created by Bradley Hemmings and Jenny Sealey, will showcase the skills of disabled artists with a cast of 3,000 adult volunteers including injured soldiers and past Paralympic athletes.The event, called Enlightenment and created by Bradley Hemmings and Jenny Sealey, will showcase the skills of disabled artists with a cast of 3,000 adult volunteers including injured soldiers and past Paralympic athletes.
The four national flames were kindled at the summit of the highest peaks in Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales last week.The four national flames were kindled at the summit of the highest peaks in Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales last week.
They were used to light ceremonial cauldrons in London's Trafalgar Square on Friday, outside Stormont in Northern Ireland on Saturday, at the Mound in Edinburgh on Sunday and outside City Hall in Cardiff on Monday.They were used to light ceremonial cauldrons in London's Trafalgar Square on Friday, outside Stormont in Northern Ireland on Saturday, at the Mound in Edinburgh on Sunday and outside City Hall in Cardiff on Monday.
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