With just twelve days to go until the start of the Paralympic Games, a giant Agitos has been launched today outside Cardiff City Hall in Wales. This is the first of five Agitos that will be located throughout the UK. The Agitos is the symbol for the Paralympic Games.
The eight metre high Agitos will provide a stunning backdrop for Cardiff’s celebrations on 22 August, when the Paralympic Torch Relay passes through the city.
Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, said:
“The first set of Agitos being raised in Cardiff symbolises the start of the whole of the UK welcoming paralympic athletes from all over the world and expressing our excitement at hosting this incredible sporting event. We look forward to hosting the very best Paralympic Games ever, raising the bar for future host cities.”
Secretary of State for Wales Cheryl Gillan said:
“I am so proud that Cardiff is the first place that the Agitos can be seen as Wales has a fantastic Paralympian history. For London 2012 Wales is sending 38 athletes, as part of ParalmypicsGB, to compete in the games and I have been privileged to meet some of them. Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to see some of the first Paralympics medals, and indeed strike a bronze medal, with Nathan Stephens when we visited the Royal Mint and know that he and all the athletes taking part in London 2012 will be striving to get one of those precious medals.”
As part of the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay, a group of young disabled and non-disabled Scouts from local communities will ascend the summit of Snowdon / Yr Wyddfa and use a ferrocerium rod to create the sparks that will light the flame for Wales. The Flame will then be placed in a miner’s lantern and transferred to Cardiff, where it will be the focus for a day of Paralympic celebrations.
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