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Paralympic Games: Crowds line torch relay route Paralympic Games: Crowds line torch relay route
(about 1 hour later)
Thousands of people have turned out to welcome the Paralympic flame which is en route to the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony of the Games.Thousands of people have turned out to welcome the Paralympic flame which is en route to the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony of the Games.
Crowds have lined the route of the 24-hour torch relay which began in Stoke Mandeville on Tuesday night.Crowds have lined the route of the 24-hour torch relay which began in Stoke Mandeville on Tuesday night.
The flame arrived in north London almost two hours late and organisers said breaks would be cut to save time. The relay is running more than two hours late but organisers insisted reduced breaks would make up the time.
The Queen and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are due to attend the opening ceremony which starts at 20:30 BST. However, a splinter flame has been taken to the Stadium to ensure the cauldron is lit at the planned time.
A late-finishing ceremony in Stoke Mandeville and the time required for multiple exchanges of the flame between team members has been blamed for the timing slipping throughout the relay.
Beatles' pose
Organisers Locog said it would cut breaks and reduce the number of photo opportunities along the route in the hope the relay would arrive in time for the cauldron lighting.
But as a back up, a splinter flame has been taken to the Stadium so events at the opening ceremony can go ahead as planned should the relay not make up the time.
The Queen and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are among those due to attend the opening ceremony which starts at 20:30 BST.
Crowds gathered in the market square in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, to watch the start of the relay and thousands more turned out overnight along the route to cheer on the torchbearers.Crowds gathered in the market square in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, to watch the start of the relay and thousands more turned out overnight along the route to cheer on the torchbearers.
Guard of honour After arriving in London almost two hours late, the flame, which is being carried by href="http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/torch-relay/torchbearers/" >580 torchbearers, was taken up the steps to Britain's first traditional Hindu temple, the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir temple in Brent, where a torch was lit at about 08:30 BST.
After arriving in London, the flame, which is being carried by 580 torchbearers, was taken up the steps to Britain's first traditional Hindu temple, the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir temple in Brent, where a torch was lit at about 08:30 BST.
Barry Gardiner, MP for Brent, took part in a ceremony which involved pulling apart string made up of different threads and colours to "allow" the Paralympic torch through.Barry Gardiner, MP for Brent, took part in a ceremony which involved pulling apart string made up of different threads and colours to "allow" the Paralympic torch through.
He said: "It was a very special moment. We have been waiting since 6.30am and the thrill and excitement is just fantastic. I don't think there has ever been a setting like this, for an Olympic or Paralympic flame." He said: "It was a very special moment. We have been waiting since 6.30 am and the thrill and excitement is just fantastic. I don't think there has ever been a setting like this, for an Olympic or Paralympic flame."
London 2012 organisers Locog said of the delay: 'We are running approximately 1hr 30 mins late due to the late finish of the Stoke Mandeville event and the time required for multiple exchanges of the flame between team members.
"Overnight we have refined the exchange process and are making up time."
In Maida Vale a team of torchbearers was cheered by crowds as the flame was carried over the Abbey Road crossing, made famous by The Beatles album cover.In Maida Vale a team of torchbearers was cheered by crowds as the flame was carried over the Abbey Road crossing, made famous by The Beatles album cover.
At London Zoo in Regents Park the flame was held aloft in the penguin enclosure by torchbearers Adam Hollick, John Craig, Fiona Forsyth, Charlie Humphrys and Aruna Mahtani.
All members of the team, who were previously unemployed and have disabilities including spinal cord injury, blindness and impaired mental health, have trained and qualified as gym fitness instructors.
The Paralympic Games are being talked-up a lot this year.The Paralympic Games are being talked-up a lot this year.
Channel 4 has put a lot of marketing and production effort into bringing the Games to a wider audience than before, with over 500 hours promised to UK viewers.Channel 4 has put a lot of marketing and production effort into bringing the Games to a wider audience than before, with over 500 hours promised to UK viewers.
Important figures in sport and politics have stepped up to tell us that the Games will "dazzle" and "inspire". Seb Coe said those watching the sports would be "blown away".Important figures in sport and politics have stepped up to tell us that the Games will "dazzle" and "inspire". Seb Coe said those watching the sports would be "blown away".
But will we all want to see TV coverage of the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi? Or the next summer Games at Rio 2016? And is there a worldwide clamour to push this recently unearthed disability agenda across the globe, or are we just feeling it more because it's our Games?But will we all want to see TV coverage of the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi? Or the next summer Games at Rio 2016? And is there a worldwide clamour to push this recently unearthed disability agenda across the globe, or are we just feeling it more because it's our Games?
The significance of London 2012 Paralympics will be in the legacy and it might take a little while before we can fully appreciate the impact of that.The significance of London 2012 Paralympics will be in the legacy and it might take a little while before we can fully appreciate the impact of that.
In Trafalgar Square former boxer Michael Watson, wheelchair racer Dame Tanni Grey Thompson and Paralympic swimmer Chris Holmes were due to carry the flame. At London Zoo in Regents Park the flame was held aloft in the penguin enclosure by torchbearers Adam Hollick, John Craig, Fiona Forsyth, Charlie Humphrys and Aruna Mahtani.
All members of the team, who were previously unemployed and have disabilities including spinal cord injury, blindness and impaired mental health, have trained and qualified as gym fitness instructors.
Former boxer Michael Watson, wheelchair racer Dame Tanni Grey Thompson and Paralympic swimmer Chris Holmes were in the team that carried the flame along Regent Street and through Piccadilly Circus.
About 3,000 invited guests, including Paralympians, representatives from disability groups and local residents, attended Tuesday evening's ceremony at Stoke Mandeville Stadium - the spiritual home of the Paralympics.About 3,000 invited guests, including Paralympians, representatives from disability groups and local residents, attended Tuesday evening's ceremony at Stoke Mandeville Stadium - the spiritual home of the Paralympics.
Flames representing England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales were then used to create the Paralympic flame in a ceremonial cauldron.Flames representing England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales were then used to create the Paralympic flame in a ceremonial cauldron.
Shortly after 20:00 BST on Tuesday, the first team of torchbearers - Paralympians chosen by the IPC - left the stadium, signalling the start of the 24-hour torch relay.Shortly after 20:00 BST on Tuesday, the first team of torchbearers - Paralympians chosen by the IPC - left the stadium, signalling the start of the 24-hour torch relay.
Just before midnight the torch was carried through the village of Weston Turville, in Buckinghamshire, where residents lit candles to line the route.Just before midnight the torch was carried through the village of Weston Turville, in Buckinghamshire, where residents lit candles to line the route.
A London 2012 spokeswoman said: "It is great. Each place has got a different way of doing things.A London 2012 spokeswoman said: "It is great. Each place has got a different way of doing things.
"In Weston Turville the candles along the street were superb, in Tring it was the sheer number of people, and in Berkhamsted there was music while the torch went along the High Street, and when it left the church bells rang out.""In Weston Turville the candles along the street were superb, in Tring it was the sheer number of people, and in Berkhamsted there was music while the torch went along the High Street, and when it left the church bells rang out."
When it arrives at the Olympic Park in Stratford, 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 Stratford, east London, it will be used to light the cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Games.
Are you planning to watch the Paralympic torch relay? Do you have tickets for Paralympic events? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you planning to watch the Paralympic torch relay? Do you have tickets for Paralympic events? Send us your comments using the form below.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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