It was revealed last year that four Paralympic Flames will be lit with the first in London on August 24, the second in Belfast on August 25, the third in Edinburgh on August 26 and the fourth in Cardiff on August 27.

The four Flames will then be brought together at Stoke Mandeville on August 28 to create the Paralympic Flame because it is the location where Sir Ludwig Guttmann sowed the seeds for the Paralympics back in 1948 when he organised sporting competition for injured patients rehabilitating from World War Two.

The Paralympic Flame will be then carried 87 miles by 580 Torchbearers in a 24 hour relay – presented by BT, Lloyds TSB and Sainsbury's – to the Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony on the evening of August 29 but it is today that the details of the 24-hour journey have been revealed.

The Paralympic Torch will travel through communities in Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire before visiting all six London Host Boroughs and a number of internationally recognisable London landmarks.

It will pass the iconic Abbey Road crossing in the north-west of the city and then Greenwich in the south-east before coming right through the heart of London.


Upon reaching central London, it will pass down Regent Street from Oxford Circus to Piccadilly Circus before going by Westminster Abbey, Downing Street and Trafalgar Square, where there will be live entertainment and sport screened throughout the Paralympic Games.

The Flame will then cross the Thames over some of London's most famous bridges including Lambeth Bridge, Waterloo Bridge and Tower Bridge.

Tower Bridge will be particularly special as by then the Agitos, the symbol of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), will be on display.

It will then head on to the Olympic Stadium to light the Cauldron at the Opening Ceremony in the evening.

"The announcement of the route for the Paralympic Torch Relay is another step closer to the start of the Paralympic Games," said IPC President Sir Philip Craven.

"I think it is fantastic that is starts at Stoke Mandeville, the spiritual birthplace of the Movement, and am confident that the British pubic will turn out in force to support those taking part in the Relay."

London 2012 is also calling for over 15,000 Local Leaders help light the way to the Paralympic Games.

Local Leaders are asked to register at http://www.london2012.com/lightalantern and then get people together to make lanterns and attend their local Flame Festivals, Flame Celebrations or hold their own Light a Lantern event.

Another special 50 days to go celebration has seen the Paralympic Agitos dug into the sand in Rhossili Bay (pictured below) in Wales by a group of volunteers and schoolchildren in association with the National Trust.


"With just 50 days to go, these highlights serve as a great taster for the Paralympic Games," said London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe.

"I'm looking forward to crowds coming out to line the streets and cheer on the inspirational teams of Torchbearers and as the Paralympic Games get set to amaze us all, I am delighted that we still have some great tickets to give everyone the chance to be there."

London 2012 has also used 50 days to go to name some of the anticipated highlights of the Paralympic Games, for which there are still tickets available.

Perhaps the highlight will be the T44 100 metres final on September 6 when defending champion Oscar Pistorius of South Africa, world champion Jerome Singleton of America and Britain's world record holder Jonnie Peacock face off in what should be a blistering race.

Another highlight will be Britain's wheelchair racing star Dave Weir lining up against Australian Kurt Fearnley in the T54 marathon in the streets of London on the last day of the Paralympics on September 9.

Meanwhile, British swimmer Ellie Simmonds (pictured below) will compete against Dutch rival Mirjam de Koning-Peper at the Aquatics Centre in the S6 100m freestyle on September 8 in what will be another thrilling contest.


Tickets are available at www.tickets.london2012.com or by phone at 0844 847 2012 with tickets also still available for the Opening Ceremony on August 29 and Closing Ceremony on September 9.

"The huge demand for Paralympic tickets has already proved appetite for this unique and thrilling festival of sport is higher than ever," said the Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

"With just 50 days to go, excitement is building as London prepares to stage the greatest Paralympics in history and I can't wait to see the Paralympic Flame arriving in London, heralding the beginning of another two weeks of thrilling action in the Olympic Park."

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