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Paralympic Torch Events
Here we go again!
Just weeks after we saw the Olympic Torch come through Herts, Beds, Bucks and Northants - it's now the turn of the Paralympic Torch.
Creating the National Flames
Using a combination of teamwork and human endeavour, groups of disabled and non-disabled Scouts will ascend the highest peaks of the four home nations: Scafell Pike (England), Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa (Wales), Ben Nevis (Scotland) and Slieve Donard (Northern Ireland). At the summits, using the traditional technique of rubbing flint together they will create sparks to kindle a Flame.
These Flames will then be placed in miner’s lanterns and transferred to the nation’s capital cities where they will each become the focus for a day of Paralympic celebrations.
Flame Lightings
On the mornings of 24 through 27 August, a ceremonial cauldron will be lit to signify the arrival of the National Flame in the capital city.
Friday 24 August: Trafalgar Square, London
Saturday 25 August: Stormont, Belfast
Sunday 26 August: The Mound, Edinburgh
Monday 27 August: City Hall, Cardiff
There will then be a series of events throughout the UK culminating in the 4 flames coming together in Stoke Mandeville in Aylesbury on Tuesday August 28th.
So here are the key events, dates and times.
Friday August 24th
England National Flame lit in Trafalgar Square
Saturday August 25th - Flame Celebration
Bunyan Sports Centre, Bedford
10.00 - 14.00
A series of opportunities to celebrate The Flame including a Young Persons Multi Sport Club in Bedford, at the Disability Resource Centre in Dunstable, at the Inter County Athletics Championships in Bedford and at the opening of the Inspire Luton Sports Village which includes a new 50 metre Olympic/Paralympic Pool.
Ticketed event: No
Prices: Free
Disabled access available.
Saturday August 25th - Flame Celebration
Verulamium Park, St Albans
11.30 - 17.00
Verulamium Park in St Albans will come to life as St Albans City and District Council hosts the District’s first Inclusive Sports Festival to welcome Hertfordshire's splinter of the Paralympic Flame. One hundred acres of park land will be used to create a stimulating environment where residents and visitors are able to take part in as many sports as possible at one venue, in one day.
The free event will begin at 11.30am with a procession including local athletes, representatives from local disability groups and the local Flame Ambassador carrying The National Flame. The procession will lead into the main event area where the official welcoming of the Flame and opening of the event will take place. An action-packed programme of activities will then run through until 5pm.
Local sports clubs and organisations will host demonstrations and taster sessions showcasing Olympic and Paralympic type sports with the aim of inspiring and motivating people to become more active. Mini sports competitions will also be held throughout the day, including turn up and play events and competitions involving young athletes who are members of the Herts Youth Games training squad or who have attended courses through Sportivate, a Sport England scheme.
The sports festival will provide exciting, accessible opportunities for the community to be inspired by and engage in sport. It will also create an environment where local athletes can showcase their talent and mainstream sport and disability sport come together as equal.
The event will be supported by live music from local bands/artist showcasing their work throughout the day. Street performers will be performing in and around the venue throughout the event.
The event will also be a showcase for a range of artwork which has been produced by the Districts Special Schools and a number of adult Disability groups. The artwork has been designed and produced to use the arts to celebrate disability sport. Some of the work has been used to design hand flags which will be distributed to participants at the event.
The event is a bringing together of our diverse community using the arts, heritage and sport to celebrate the Paralympic Games and all it stands for.
Ticketed event: No
Prices: Free
Venue type: Outdoor
Accessibility: The venue is accessible. Event takes place in park land and therefore 70% of the infrastructure is on grass, but all accessible.
Disabled parking is available at the venue.
Sunday August 26th - Flame Celebration
Bedford International Athletics Stadium
13.30 - 17.00
A series of opportunities to celebrate The Flame including a Young Persons Multi Sport Club in Bedford, at the Disability Resource Centre in Dunstable, at the Inter County Athletics Championships in Bedford and at the opening of the Inspire Luton Sports Village which includes a new 50 metre Olympic/Paralympic Pool.
Ticketed event: No
Prices: Free
Sunday August 26th - Flame Celebration
Disability Resource Centre, Poynters Lane, Dunstable. LU5 4TP
09.30 - 12.30
A series of opportunities to celebrate The Flame including a Young Persons Multi Sport Club in Bedford, at the Disability Resource Centre in Dunstable, at the Inter County Athletics Championships in Bedford and at the opening of the Inspire Luton Sports Village which includes a new 50 metre Olympic/Paralympic Pool.
Ticketed event: No
Prices: Free
Tuesday August 28th - Paralympic Flame Lighting
17.30
Stoke Mandeville
Four separate flames will be lit at Flame Lighting events in London, Greater Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff. Each nation will also host a Flame Festival, where you can watch Paralympic sport demonstrations, enjoy a live stage show with rising stars and join in lighting the way to the Paralympic Games, culminating in a beautiful lantern procession.
The flames will then be united at Stoke Mandeville. Join in the celebrations as the four UK Flames are combined to create the London 2012 Paralympic Flame at the spiritual home of the Paralympic Movement, before a 24-hour Torch Relay starting on the 28 August to journey the Flame to the Olympic Stadium ready for the start of the Paralympic Games.
Ticketed event: Yes
Prices: Free
Where: Stoke Mandeville Stadium, Aylesbury, Guttmann Road, Aylesbury. HP21 9PP
Venue type: Outdoor http://www.stokemandevillestadium.co.uk
Accessibility note: Fully accessible.
Tuesday August 28th - Flame Celebration
Aylesbury Town Centre
14.00 - 22.00
Celebrating the legacy of Stoke Mandeville, the birthplace of the Paralympic Games. The event will feature live footage from the Paralympic Flame Lighting Ceremony at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, street acts, live art, community performances and sports demonstrations and taster sessions.
http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/leisure-culture/london-2012/
http://www.facebook.com/AylesburyVale
Ticketed event: No
Prices: Free
Venue type: Outdoor
Accessibility note
An invited guest area will be provided for people with disabilities with access for wheelchair users. A hearing loop and signer will be present. Disabled parking and toilets will be close by.
A ballot process will take place for tickets for the invited guest area, due to space restrictions. The ballot will open in mid July.
For more information and to register interest please call Bucks Disability Service on 01494 568864 (office hours Mon-Fri 10.00-15.00)
Or email info@buds.org.co.uk
Tuesday August 28th - Olympic Torch Relay
The Torch will then travel back from Aylesbury Town Centre to Stoke Mandeville before starting it's relay towards the Olympic Park.
The timings we have so far are:-
22.23 - Weston Turville
22.50 - Aston Clinton
23.10 - Tring
23.33 - Berkhamstead.
00.18 - Bourne End
00.50 - Watford
02.43 - Bushey
And then it continues into London before arriving at the Olympic Stadium in time for the start of the Paralympic Games on Wednesday August 29th.