Paralympic symbol hung from Tower Bridge

The Agitos symbol was hung from the bridge this morning. Credit: ITN

Agito is Latin for 'I move'. Credit: ITN

Paralympic Torch Relay history

Past Summer Paralympic Torch Relay highlights

Sydney 2000

The Paralympic Flame was lit during an indigenous lighting ceremony at Parliament House, Canberra, in the presence of the Australian Prime Minister. The Flame was transported by plane to each of Australia’s state capitals, and a total of 920 Torchbearers carried the Flame.

Athens 2004

The Paralympic Flame was lit in the Hephaestus Temple in Athens. Hephaestus was the Greek god of fire and manufacturing and had a disability. The Flame was carried by 680 Torchbearers through 54 municipalities, visiting a number of historical and cultural landmarks.

Beijing 2008

The Paralympic Flame was lit in the Temple of Heaven, Beijing, before following two routes intended to capture the characters of ancient and modern China. A total of 850 Torchbearers took part along the routes, which returned to Beijing

The London 2012 Paralympic Torch 

The London 2012 Paralympic Torch has been created to represent modernity and innovation, with a mirrored finish reflecting the light of the Flame and teams of Torchbearers that carry it.

The Paralympic Torch was designed by London-based designers Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby. Reflecting the UK’s talent in design and manufacturing, it was created by working in partnership with Basildon-based product engineers Tecosim and Coventry-based manufacturers The Premier Group.

The Torch has been given a mirrored finish which means that its colour will adapt to its surroundings. It will not only reflect the light from the Flame but also shine bright on the teams of Torchbearers that carry it and the communities that it travels through on the 24-hour Relay from Stoke Mandeville to the Olympic Stadium.

Design: light yet strong

• Made from an aluminium alloy, the Torch is light whilst having good strength and excellent heat resistance. Thousands of round perforations, made using cutting-edge laser technology, help ensure that heat from the flame is quickly dissipated without being conducted down the handle.
• The perforations also make the Torch lighter and give it a strong texture that is easy to grip.
• They also offer a transparency that allows people to see right to the heart of the Torch and view the burner system which will keep the Flame alive.
• The Torch stands 800mm high.
• The Torch is made up of an inner and an outer skin. These skins are held in place by a cast top piece and base.
• Although appearing completely seamless, the Torch body is actually made from six separate components. 

Shape: the power of '3'

The three-sided form was inspired by the multiples of ‘three’ identified across London 2012. One of these is the Agitos, the symbol of the International Paralympic Committee.

The three Agitos encircle a central point to emphasise the role the International Paralympic Committee plays in bringing athletes from all corners of the world together to compete. In the same way, the three sides of the Paralympic Torch encircle the Paralympic Flame.

Colour: a reflective finish

The Torch reflects light and shines to light the way during the night, which is particularly appropriate for our overnight Relay.

The Paralympic Torch Relay is all about community involvement and engagement, and the Paralympic Torch reflects the communities it will be travelling through.

It is always changing depending on its surroundings, so is adaptable and flexible.

Paralympic Torch Relay

The Relay will have a distinctive and unique voice: celebrating the power of human endeavour and energy in the run up to the Paralympic Games.

Building on the traditional Torch Relay format, the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay will begin in London on Friday 24 August with the lighting of England’s flame. The United Kingdom’s other three capital cities – Greater Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh – will then light a flame on each of the following days, at special Flame Lighting events. Each city will develop its unique method of lighting.

Once a flame has been lit, it will visit local community groups and key locations in and around the city. In addition to the lighting events there will be a series of evening celebrations called Flame Festivals. Confirmed locations to date for Flame Festivals are Greater Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff. The Flame Festivals are public events staged by LOCOG with the assistance of the host Local Authority and will include plenty of activities and entertainment.

Flame Festivals25 August: Belfast – City Hall
26 August: Edinburgh – Inverleith Park
27 August: Cardiff – Roald Dahl Plass

Paralympic Flame Lighting Ceremony

Each flame will then be taken to Stoke Mandeville, home of the Paralympic Movement where the four flames will be combined at a Paralympic Flame Lighting Ceremony on 28 August to create the London 2012 Paralympic Flame.

Later that evening, there will be a 24-hour Torch Relay from Stoke Mandeville. Torchbearers working in teams of five will carry the Paralympic Flame to the Olympic Stadium to light the Cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. 

Paralympic Torch Relay locations

The Paralympic Torch Relay will visit Flame Festivals and Flame Celebrations around the UK before taking part in a 24 hour relay from Stoke-Mandeville to London.

In addition to the Flame Festivals, the following 33 communities across the UK will host a Flame Celebration Event over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Locations of the Paralympic Torch Relay Flame Celebrations

East of England Cambridgeshire Bedfordshire Essex Norfolk Suffolk Hertfordshire East Midlands Leicester Northern Ireland Cookstown Ballymena Derry Newry and Mourne Carrickfergus North East Beamish North West Manchester Preston Merseyside Cheshire

Scotland Glasgow South East Horsham Aylesbury South West Bath Plymouth Weymouth & Portland Yorkshire Leeds York Sheffield Beverley Huddersfield Wales Conwy West Midlands Hereford Coventry Trentham Lake Cannock