From the Temple of Heaven, and through Ancient and Modern China, the Paralympic Torch Relay carried the focus of many Paralympic athletes and fans. About 850 torchbearers participated in this high standard-setting run which began with the Torch Lighting Ceremony on 28 August at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

The Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao officially began the Torch Relay with the lighting of the cauldron at the historic monument. Others present at the event were IPC President Sir Philip Craven, BOCOG President Liu Qi, Executive Vice President of the China Disabled Persons Federation (CDPF), Deng Pufang, BOCOG Executive Vice President Tang Xiaoquan, as well as additional high-ranking officials from China.

 “Transcendence, Integration and Equality” was the theme of the Paralympic Torch Relay, which included two different routes run simultaneously, totalling a length of 13,181 kilometres. The “Ancient China” route included Huangdi Mausoleum, Xi’an, Hohhot, Changsha, Nanjing and Luoyang. The “Modern China” route included Shenzhen, Wuhan, Shanghai, Qingdao and Dalian.

 Within the IPC community, a total of 46 torchbearers took part in the Torch Relay. This included IPC Family members, Worldwide Partners, IPC Patrons, as well as other partners. After the extensive relay around China, the Paralympic Torch made its way to Beijing on 5 September. For two days the flame travelled around the city, eventually leading to the main lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony in the Bird’s Nest.

 Sir Philip Craven was one of the first Torchbearers in Beijing, beginning his stretch of the relay at the Millennium Square. Sir Philip said that the Torch Relay went from the Temple of Heaven and throughout the country to demonstrate to the world the equality of these Games and of our athletes.

 “What we have witnessed with the Paralympic Torch Relay going through several cities and monuments around Modern and Ancient China was a display of integration that China has worked hard to achieve with these Games,” Sir Philip said.