Rio 2016 reveals Paralympic torch relay details
28.04.2015Event will involve all five regions of Brazil and British town Stoke Mandeville, the birthplace of the Paralympic Games
The flame at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
© • Lieven Coudenys
The Paralympic torch relay will take place across seven days in all five regions of Brazil.
© • Rio 2016
The Rio 2016 Organising Committee revealed the first details of the Paralympic Torch Relay, as part of the celebrations for 500 days until the Paralympic Games. The relay will take place across seven days in all five regions of Brazil and will also feature the British town of Stoke Mandeville, the birthplace of the Paralympic Games. About 500 torchbearers will carry the flame, while the public will be invited to take part through digital media.
“We want to invite people from across Brazil and all over the planet to participate and send a little of their warmth and energy to create the Paralympic Games flame,” said Andrew Parsons, president of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee, vice-president of the International Paralympic Committee and head of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Integration Committee.
One city will be selected in each of the five Brazilian regions (the North, North East, Central-West, South East and South), and each city will have its own relay that will end with a mini Paralympic cauldron being lit. Meanwhile, another flame will be lit in Stoke Mandeville and then all six flames will be sent to Rio, where they will combine to form the Paralympic flame.
This will be carried around Rio over two days (6-7 September), ending with the lighting of the Paralympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Games at the Maracana stadium.
Brazilian bank Bradesco and Japanese multi-national car maker Nissan were announced as the official sponsors of the torch relay. Together with the Rio 2016 Organising Committee, they will select the torch bearers. The Brazilian post office Correios was announced as an official supporter of the event.
