Paris 2024 Paralympics: the names of those who will light the Paralympic Flame in Stoke Mandeville have been announced

This Saturday, the Paralympic Flame will be lit in Stoke Mandeville, Great Britain. In the birthplace of the Paralympic Movement, two British Paralympians will be responsible for carrying out this important act, just 4 days before the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

At midday on Friday, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced the names of two British Paralympians who will be lighting the Paralympic Flame in Stoke Mandeville on Saturday.

They are Helene Raynsford and Gregor Ewan. In Beijing in 2008, the former became the first Paralympic champion in the history of Para rowing, while Gregor Ewan took part in three Paralympic Games in Wheelchair curling. "There are no words to describe the honour of being chosen to light the Paralympic Flame alongside Gregor [Ewan] at the birthplace of the Paralympic Movement. It will be a very special moment", says a delighted Helene Raynsford.

Andrew Parsons first torchbearer

Saturday morning will be the first time since London 2012 that the Paralympic Flame will be lit in Stoke Mandeville. "This is part of the efforts made by the IPC, ParalympicsGB and WheelPower to raise awareness around the world of the fundamental role played by Stoke Mandeville and Sir Ludwig Guttmann in the birth and development of the Paralympic Movement", explains the international body in its communication.

After the lighting, the first torchbearer of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Torch Relay will be IPC President Andrew Parsons. He will complete a short circuit of the Stoke Mandeville athletics track. After that, the next day, the Flame will cross the Channel via the Channel Tunnel before being digitally multiplied into 12 Flames around France. These Flames will come together on 28 August in Paris, on the evening of the opening ceremony.