The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced Tuesday that it has cancelled the international route of the Beijing Paralympic torch relay and shortened the national routes. The flame will not be going through Vancouver and Whistler B.C., sites of the 2010 Winter Paralympic Games, or London, where the 2012 Summer Games will be held, and Sochi, site of the 2014 Winter Games. The relay is also cancelled for Hong Kong.
The decision was made following the earthquake that struck China in May.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said in a press release, “those changes have been made to afford the Chinese government to focus on rescue and relief work and show support for the people affected by the earthquake, especially persons with a disability”.
