A journey through France old and new: Paris 2024 unveils the Paralympic Torch Relay route
Discover the route of the torch relay, from the flame lighting at the historic birthplace of the Paralympic Movement, across the Atlantic waters, and through 50 historical and change-driving cities in France.
Paralympic Games
Medieval towns, birthplaces of famous Paralympians and cities leading the charge to make sport accessible to all – there are just some of the stops on the Paralympic Torch Relay of the Paris 2024 Games.
After the flame is lit in mid-August, the relay will continue through 50 French towns with 1,000 people serving as torchbearers along its route to the heart of the French capital.
Once there, the flame will pass by the architectural gems of Paris - the Invalides and the Hotel de Ville, among others - until making its way to the Paralympic cauldron on 28 August at the Opening Ceremony of the first Summer Paralympics in French history.
“This relay of the Paralympic Torch promises to be spectacular," Tony Estanguet, President of the Paris 2024 Organising Committee, said at a press conference on 10 November.
"All the French regions will be crossed. We are extremely proud of the result. It promises to be quite magical because there will be coastal cities, cities in the mountains, rural cities that will allow to celebrate the Paralympic Games in the most beautiful way. ”
Paris 2024 Paralympic Torch Relay: "Our past, present and future"
Shortly after the Olympic Games come to a close in the French capital, another flame will be lit more than 500 kilometres away in Stoke Mandeville, located approximately 70km northwest of London.
It was at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital, named after a British village nearby, where German neurologist Sir Ludwig Guttmann organised the first Para sports competition in 1948. Running parallel to the 1948 Olympic Games in London, the competition involved World War II veterans with spinal cord injuries and became the forerunner to the modern-day Paralympic Games.
"What I love about the Paris 2024 Paralympic Torch Relay is that it represents our past, present and future," said Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee. "The Flame is a global symbol. Paralympic athletes are the largest showcase for the world's 1.2 billion people with disabilities. The Games say we're here and we want a more inclusive future."
On August 25, the Paralympic Flame will cross Atlantic waters to arrive at the host of the next Paralympic Games. Twenty-four British athletes will start the torch’s journey through the Channel Tunnel between Great Britain and France to be met hallway by 24 French athletes who will then carry it to home soil.
Once it arrives in the port city of Calais, the Paralympic Flame will be split into 12 flames: one flame to symbolise each of the 11 days of competition and another for the day of the Opening Ceremony.
The 12 flames will then set off in different directions, simultaneously, to begin a dizzying four-day journey through France.
A trip through French history and the possibilities of the future
As the 12 flames follow their individual paths, converge and eventually reunite in the French capital, they will pass through the hearts of 50 cities spread across all regions of the country.
The cities along the route were chosen based on their historical significance or their current role in promoting sports culture and greater inclusion in sport. The homes of celebrated Paralympians are also represented on the route map.
For example, one flame will pass through Lorient, a seaport on the rugged coastline of Brittany, which is home to double Paralympic sailing champion Damien Seguin. The relay will also reach the banks of the Loire river as it crosses through Blois, the stage of Marie-Amelie Le Fur’s record-breaking athletic feats.
"The 2024 Torch Relay is a tremendous catalyst for the energy of a nation's territories as it prepares to host the Paralympic Games," the triple Olympic champion Le Fur said. "Before igniting the cauldron during the Opening Ceremony, the flame, carried by a multitude of torchbearers, will criss-cross the territory and visit all the regions of France for four days. This relay, punctuated by symbolic stages, collective moments and celebrations, will allow us to spread the spirit of the Games along the way and to discover Paralympic sports."
From celebrating personal milestones to showcasing national history, the 12 flames will pass through the historical gems of France, weaving through the Napoleonic city of La Roche-sur-Yon, gliding alongside the baroque facades of Arras, and plunging into the medieval enchantment of Limoges.
In addition to commemorating France’s rich history, the Torch Relay will also be a celebration of the country’s recent sporting success. As such, the relay will stop at the host of the Terre de Jeux forum - Montpellier, the host of the 2023 Virtus Global Games - Vichy, and the hubs of Para sport Chambly, Chartres, Rouen, and Troyes.
A Flame Festival will be held in each host city to celebrate the arrival of the Paralympic Flame with music, Para sport demonstrations and activities for families among the many offerings.
The Paris 2024 Torch relay route