British athletes light Paralympic Flame in birthplace of Games near London

Four days before the Paris Paralympics begin, the torch was lit on Saturday next to the English hospital where the idea for the competition was born. The flame arrives in France on Sunday via the Channel tunnel.

Two British Paralympians, Helene Raynsford and Gregor Ewan, lit the famous torch on Saturday in the stadium close to Stoke Mandeville hospital, northwest of London.

Raynsford was the first Paralympic champion in Para rowing when the sport made its debut in Beijing in 2008. Ewan is a three-time Paralympian in wheelchair curling.

"It's such an honour," Raynsford said, "it's the birthplace of the Paralympic movement."

The ceremony was attended by Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 organising committee, and Andrew Parsons, president of the International Paralympic Committee.

German-British roots

The Paralympic movement dates back to 1948. After World War II ended, Ludwig Guttmann, a German neurologist at Stoke Mandeville hospital organised an archery tournament for injured veterans who were using wheelchairs.

The first Stoke Mandeville Games coincided with the 1948 London Olympics and were held on grounds next to the hospital.

They soon became an international competition and in 1960 the first ever official Paralympic Games were held in Rome, with 400 athletes competing from 23 countries.

Last year it was decided that the Paralympic Flame should leave from its "home" in Stoke Mandeville for each edition of the Games.

Read more on RFI English

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