The Paralympic Games are just around the corner! And as with the Olympic version, a flame will be travelling through France from August 25 onwards. It will traditionally start in Stoke Mandeville, England, before crossing under the English Channel to France, where it will be divided into 12 flames, which will travel through the regions before arriving in the capital on the opening ceremony day, August 28. But a 13th flame has slipped into the story and intends to light up two Parisian events: the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Paris and Rock en Seine!
Designed as a tribute to French history, this additional flame will be lit on August 25. After a week of commemorations throughout the capital, the Liberation of Paris will be celebrated with a military parade starting at 4.15pm, from Porte d'Orléans to Place Denfert-Rochereau, in the 14th arrondissement. An hour later, on the same square, numerous officials will be present, for the arrival of the flame at around 5:55pm. It will be carried "by a collective relay made up of a representative from each of the five communes that were honored by General de Gaulle as Compagnons de la Libération".
At 7.30pm, the bells of Parisian churches will ring to mark the end of the commemorations. The flame will then head for the Rock en Seine festival, which has been awarded the Cultural Olympiad label, near Saint-Cloud, to light up the stage at around 9:30pm, between concerts by PJ Harvey and LCD Soundsystem.
JOP 2024: the complete route of the Paralympic Torch Relay in Paris and Île-de-France
As with the Olympic Games, a torch relay takes place before the Paralympics, and will pass through the whole of Ile-de-France on August 27, 2024, then end its journey the following day in the capital. Find out more! [Read more]
Unlike its Olympic cousin, the Paralympic flame does not originate in Greece, but in England. Discover its history, which began in 1948. [Read more]
JOP 2024: the complete route of the Paralympic Torch Relay in Paris and Île-de-France
Did you know that the Paralympic flame always starts in England? Here's its history.
