Northern Ireland Flame to visit Stormont and events across Northern Ireland

·         Paralympian Angela Hendra MBE to light the celebration cauldron at Stormont Buildings

·         Northern Ireland Flame to visit community stops across Belfast

·         Seven Northern Ireland communities to host associated Flame Celebrations

·         Images from the day will be made available here

On Saturday 25 August a celebration cauldron will be lit in front of the Stormont Buildings to start a day of celebrations across Northern Ireland for the Paralympic Torch Relay and Paralympic Games.

The cauldron will be lit using the Northern Ireland Flame which was created on Wednesday 22 August on Slieve Donard by a team of local Scouts striking a Ferrocerium rod against a rough steel surface to create sparks.

8am – The first Torchbearer of the day, Paralympian Angela Hendra MBE will light the cauldron outside of the Stormont Buildings. Angela was invited by the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) to light the celebration cauldron for Northern Ireland. Angela has medals - three silver and three bronze for Table Tennis and one gold medal for Bowls - from four Paralympic Games between 1972 and 1984. She has also worked as a volunteer in disability sport for 40 years and is Chair of Disability Sports NI.

The Stormont cauldron lighting moment will be marked by speeches from local dignitaries. During the event representatives from seven towns across Northern Ireland will light a lantern from the cauldron to take the Flame to their associated Flame Celebration events (see listings in notes to editor). 

Ahead of the evening Flame Festival in Belfast that culminates in stage show - hosted by Belfast City Council - in front of Belfast City Hall, the Flame will also be taken in a lantern to visit people at the following locations across Greater Belfast.

Circa 10am: Sainsbury’s Holywood Exchange Store      

Circa 11am: Ozone Leisure Centre  

Circa 12 noon: Anderstown Leisure Centre

Circa 1pm: Belfast Children’s Hospice

Circa 2.15pm: The 174 Trust

Circa 3.15pm to 4.15pm: The Titanic Museum - Flame will be on public display at the Titanic Museum ahead of the Flame Festival.

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: ‘Creating the Northern Ireland Flame through human endeavour at the summit of Slieve Donard will ensure that the spirit of Northern Ireland is represented in the Paralympic Flame that will burn bright inside the Olympic Stadium during ten days of amazing sport. The visits the Flame is making to communities across Northern Ireland will help light the way to the Paralympic Games and we look forward to celebrating the amazing achievements of the Northern Ireland Torchbearers who all embody the Paralympic values of courage, determination, inspiration and equality that every Paralympian represents.’

Sports Minister Carál Ni Chuilín, said: ‘We are still basking in the warm glow of the All-Ireland Torch Relay, where hundreds of thousands of people united together in the Olympic spirit.  The Paralympic Flame is another opportunity to celebrate our athletes from across Ireland, all of whom embody the hugely positive values of sporting achievement, inspirational endeavour, social equality and the human spirit.’

Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson, said: ‘With less than a week to go until the biggest and best Paralympics ever - it’s inspirational to hear about, and to celebrate, the achievements of the Torchbearers who’ll be shining a light on Northern Ireland.  The Paralympic Games are set to be a fantastic celebration of world-class sport - with more countries, more athletes and more spectators than ever before.

‘I’d like in particular to congratulate Northern Ireland's  Paralympians for their hard work and for reaching the pinnacle of their sports, and I’m sure the whole country will be backing them as they go for gold.’

Lord Mayor of Belfast Alderman Gavin Robinson, said: ‘We are all still on a high from the Olympics and celebrating the achievements of our local athletes. Now here we are, gearing up for another spectacular celebration of sport.

‘The Flame Festival, along with the lantern parade, promises to be an unforgettable spectacle for the city. There will be something for everyone with free entertainment and family fun in the grounds of City Hall and I hope people will come along and join us.’

The day of celebration culminates with the Flame Festival that runs from 6.30pm to 9.40pm where a spectacular lantern procession will accompany eight Torchbearers as the Northern Ireland Flame is carried from Belfast Waterfront to the stage in front of Belfast City Hall. The last Torchbearer will light a celebration cauldron at on stage.  

Flame Festival entertainment includes:

Presenting Partner BT will provide entertainment on the main stage with an amazing flame and acrobatics display to light up proceedings. There will also be an interactive BT area where visitors can have their photos taken with a Paralympic Torch, sign their good luck message to ParalympicsGB on a huge signing wall, pick up a supporters flag and listen to BT’s steel drumming band The Melodians.   

Suzi Williams, Director, BT Group Marketing and Brand, added: ‘At BT we understand the power of Paralympic sport to inspire people, that's why we've brought teams together to run with the Paralympic Torch. It’s fantastic that people in Northern Ireland have the opportunity to share the Flame’s journey to London - this is their moment to be at the heart of a once in a lifetime experience.’

Sainsbury’s, the first ever Paralympic Games only sponsor, will be hosting the opportunity for all those going to the Flame Festival to have their photo taken with the Paralympic Torch, as well as activities for children including face painting, balloon modelling and more. Sainsbury’s has also organised for former X Factor and Pop Star to Opera Star winner Joe McElderry to perform.

Jat Sahota, Head of Sponsorship, Sainsbury’s commented: ‘As proud partners of the Paralympic Torch Relay and the Flame Festivals, we have already taken the Torch into Sainsbury’s stores right across the UK. We now look forward to sharing this once in a lifetime experience with our Sainsbury’s customers, colleagues and Torchbearers as the National Flames begin their journey to the Olympic Stadium.’

Talented local acts Luminous Soul and the Open Arts Choir will also perform, Disability Sports NI will co-ordinate sporting activities and displays and the Paralympic Agitos on City Hall will be showcased.

Tickets for the City Hall event are available from the Belfast Welcome Centre, Donegall Place on a first come, first served basis. Tickets are limited to four per person.

For ticket information please contact the Welcome Centre on 028 9024 6609.

The eight Torchbearers at the evening Belfast Flame Festival are:

Dr. Janet Gray MBE, Northern Ireland’s World Disabled Water Skiing Champion has been invited by LOCOG to carry the Flame as part of the Belfast Flame Festival in recognition of her work as President of Disability Sports NI.

Hugh Russell, the former Irish boxer who won a Flyweight bronze medal at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow was invited by LOCOG to carry the Flame as part of the Belfast Flame Festival. Russell also won a bronze medal at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, representing Northern Ireland.

Michelle Mccusker from Belfast, Gary Moore from Belfast, Ashley Thompson from Londonderry and John Carabine, from Craigavon who all run the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition which is the largest event of its kind in Europe. Together they lead and motivate a team of over 120 BT employees who give up their time every year to be on site to support 1,600 students, 40,000 members of the public, exhibitors and VIPs. They encourage young people to follow their dreams and innovate and solve real life problems.

Tracie Cullin from Belfast and Natalina Grant from Bangor who were nominated through the Sainsbury’s campaign for their first aid efforts. Tracie is a delivery driver and came across a car accident and bravely comforted a young girl who was very badly injured and Natalina who gave CPR to colleague who had fallen from a stool in the store.

Once the day’s festivities have concluded, the Northern Ireland Flame will be taken to Stoke Mandeville, the spiritual home of the Paralympic Movement for special ceremony on the evening of Tuesday 28 August  to unite the four national flames ahead of the 24hr Relay into London.

At 8pm on Tuesday 28 August the Paralympic Flame will start its 92 mile journey from Stoke Mandeville to the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. It will be carried by 580 inspirational Torchbearers from around the UK, including Northern Ireland, who will work in teams of five, over a 24 hour period to travel through several communities in Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire, before visiting all six host boroughs and a number of London landmarks.  For full details of the route, please go to: http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/torch-relay/route/