London 2012 Paralympic Flame to be created out of 4 "national flames"

PanARMENIAN.Net - The London 2012 Paralympic flame will be created on Tuesday, Aug 28 at the spiritual home of disabled sport, signifying the start of a 24-hour torch relay before the start of this year's Games.

The head of the International Paralympic Committee, Philip Craven, London organizing committee chief Sebastian Coe and other dignitaries will be at Stoke Mandeville Stadium in southern England for the ceremony at 1830 GMT.

Joining them will be Eva Loeffler, whose father Ludwig Guttmann organised the first recognised sporting event for disabled athletes in 1948, giving birth to the Paralympic movement and the creation of the first Games 12 years later.

The London 2012 Paralympic Flame will be created out of four "national flames" that have been kindled by scouts on the four highest peaks in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It will then be carried overnight from the world-famous centre for spinal injuries 92 miles (148 kilometers) to the British capital and past major landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London.

Queen Elizabeth II is due to open the Games at a ceremony on Wednesday evening, signaling the start of 10 days of competition involving some 4,200 athletes.