Paralympic flame arrives in Rio de Janeiro

The Paralympic flame arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday setting the stage for the 2016 Paralympic Games.

The flame which has traversed each region of Brazil with 360 torch-bearers made its final stop at the at the Maracana Stadium.

The flame will stay lit through the duration of the Games.

“As we gather today for the creation of the Rio 2016 Paralympic flame, we can’t forget the internal flame burning within all our athletes’ hearts that will be shining brighter than ever at these Games. It isn’t only four years of training and hard work that will be on display at these Games, it’s a lifetime of incredible perseverance, grit, and overcoming hurdles that are part of every Paralympians DNA,” the president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Philip Craven said during the event.

The president of the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee said the arrival of the flame marked the start of the Paralympics.

The Rio Paralympic Games will run from September 7 and will conclude on September 18.

Reuters