The torch relay for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games will begin in Canada’s capital city of Ottawa, next March.
The 10-day relay will then travel across the country before ending in Vancouver for the state of the Paralympic Games on March 12.
The relay, supported by the Government of Canada, will involve an estimated 600 torchbearers and visit several celebration sites which Vancouver 2010 is actively working on and will announce at a later date.
The Canadian Press reports organizers say full details about the route and how people can be torchbearers will be unveiled this fall.
The relay is much smaller than the Olympic relay, which will run for more than 100 days beginning this October.
Although the Olympic relay must begin in Greece, the Paralympic relay can begin anywhere the organizing committee wants.
The torch has been unveiled and has the same design as the one for the Olympics, but it is steel blue in colour and bears the Paralympic motto.
The Paralympic relay will also have its own emblem with the motto “spark becomes flame”.
The Paralympic Torchbearer uniform, which seamlessly blends in with the torch design, is steel blue in colour and accented with bright bursts of blue and green on the jacket’s left arm. The uniform consists of a jacket, pullover pants, toque and knitted red mittens. It will be a commemorative keepsake for the torchbearers.
The uniform also features the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay emblem on the chest and the IPC symbol, known as agitos, on the back. Silver reflective elements, including “Vancouver 2010” on the right jacket sleeve and right back panel leg, have been added for prominence and visibility.
Tickets for all Paralympic events are on sale now at www.vancouver2010.com.
