22/08/2012
Paralympic Flame Lit In Northern Ireland
The Paralympic Torch has been lit at the top of Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland’s highest peak.
Scouts and mountaineers climbed the County Newcastle hill today to create the National Flame as part of the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay.
It will be taken to Belfast on Saturday for a day of celebrations, before it is joined with other flames in Stoke Mandeville, the home of the Paralympic movement.
A ferrocerium rod was struck against a rough steel surface to create the sparks for the flame at 09:30 BST.
It was placed in a miner's lantern to be brought back down on foot.
The flame will visit Ballymena, Cookstown, Carrickfergus, Londonderry, Lisburn, Newry and Strabane, over the next few days.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said the combination of teamwork and human endeavour being used to create the Northern Irish Flame was "a very fitting start to the Paralympic Torch Relay celebrations".
"This group of inspirational individuals will be lighting the way to a fantastic 10 days of sport," he added.
Northern Ireland Sports Minister Carál Ni Chuilín said the flame-lighting ceremony at the top of Slieve Donard marked "the start of the Paralympic flame events in Ireland".
She added: "There are a number of exciting events taking place on Saturday 25 August. I would like to encourage everyone to get involved in the events and to get behind all the athletes from Ireland who will be competing in the games."
(NE)
Scouts and mountaineers climbed the County Newcastle hill today to create the National Flame as part of the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay.
It will be taken to Belfast on Saturday for a day of celebrations, before it is joined with other flames in Stoke Mandeville, the home of the Paralympic movement.
A ferrocerium rod was struck against a rough steel surface to create the sparks for the flame at 09:30 BST.
It was placed in a miner's lantern to be brought back down on foot.
The flame will visit Ballymena, Cookstown, Carrickfergus, Londonderry, Lisburn, Newry and Strabane, over the next few days.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said the combination of teamwork and human endeavour being used to create the Northern Irish Flame was "a very fitting start to the Paralympic Torch Relay celebrations".
"This group of inspirational individuals will be lighting the way to a fantastic 10 days of sport," he added.
Northern Ireland Sports Minister Carál Ni Chuilín said the flame-lighting ceremony at the top of Slieve Donard marked "the start of the Paralympic flame events in Ireland".
She added: "There are a number of exciting events taking place on Saturday 25 August. I would like to encourage everyone to get involved in the events and to get behind all the athletes from Ireland who will be competing in the games."
(NE)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Mainly dry this morning with sunny spells then scattered showers breaking out this afternoon. A chilly start then feeling warmer in afternoon sunshine. Light southerly winds. Maximum temperature 11 °C.Tonight:Any showers at first soon dying out. Then dry overnight with clear periods and turning chilly with a touch of frost later tonight. Minimum temperature 1 °C.