Following the award of £155,000 (€187,000) to Stoke Mandeville Stadium to help mark it with a permanent role for the future in Flame Lighting ceremonies for the Paralympic Games, 2014 will see its first official event.

The grant from the British Arts Council will be used to install a new flame lighting mechanism in time to light the torch for Sochi on March 1st during the Paralympic Heritage Flame Lighting Ceremony.

"I’m looking forward to seeing what the exact design and appearance of this thing is going to be," said David Lidington, the MP for Aylesbury, which includes Stoke Mandeville. 

"I think it’s really great news because what this amounts to is formal, official recognition of Stoke Mandeville as birth-place of the Paralympic Movement."
 

The celebrations will continue on March 2^nd with the ‘Spirit in Motion’ show, which will include the opportunity to see aerial circus performers and the winner of the UK’s ‘The Voice’ Andrea Begley perform.  

After the Flame Lighting Ceremony for Sochi 2014 at Stoke Mandeville Stadium it will visit several local landmarks before a special celebration is held to send it on its way to Russia for the Opening Ceremony on March 7.

With IWAS HQ also based Stoke Mandeville Stadium, we too are excited to see what will be put in place to commemorate the history of the Paralympic Movement. And don’t forget for those attending the IWAS World Junior Games here in August will also be able to see what has been designed.