Paralympics cauldron lit in London

25 Aug, 2012

A celebration cauldron was lit in front of the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square on 24 August to mark London’s start to the Paralympic Games that open on 29 August.

Four flames ignited in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England will be brought together on 28 August at Stoke Manderville hospital in Buckinghamshire where the first Paralympics were held in 1948 to rehabilitate war veterans suffering from severe spinal injuries.

The torch will then be carried on a 24-hour relay around the capital before arriving at the Olympic stadium on 29 August.

Over 2.3 million tickets have been sold for the Paralmypics although the original aim was to sell 2.5 million. About 100,000 non-event tickets are also available for access to the Olympic park only.

450 athletes from all five continents are taking part in 21 different sports, from archery to wheelchair tennis, during the 11 days of the Paralympics.