Torch bearers Aileen Neilson (R) and Angie Malone, wheelchair curlers, hold their torches during the Paralympic Heritage Flame Lighting Ceremony for the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games in Stoke Mandeville, Britain, Feb. 28, 2022. Photo: Xinhua

A total of 565 torchbearers will carry the flame during the torch relay in Beijing before the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games begin, among which the disabled will account for 21 percent of the total number, after first flame was lit in London. 

The Heritage Flame for the Paralympic Games was lit at Stoke Mandeville, a small village about 80 kilometers northwest of London which is also the birthplace of the Paralympic movement, on Monday. 

The Heritage Flame Lighting Ceremony saw the attendance of British Paralympians Angie Malone and Aileen Neilson, who brought the Paralympic torches on their wheelchairs. Malone lit the cauldron with hundreds of guests attending in the rainy evening, and later said in an interview that he was "so proud: for being here."

"It's an absolute privilege to be here in Stoke Mandeville. The last time I was here was 40 years ago when I was 16 years old and the wheelchair sport here opened my eyes," Malone said.

According to Central China Television, in addition to Mandeville, another eight flames will be collected at eight locations in the three competition zones in Beijing town center, Yanqing District, and Zhangjiakou, North China's Hebei Province on March 2.

The locations cover schools and libraries, historical and cultural landmarks, and the 2008 Beijing Summer Paralympic Games flame collection site, and will be united as one cluster of flame at the Temple of Heaven to become the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games flame on Wednesday.

"We will make every effort to provide a sound competition environment for Paralympic athletes, and present to the world a streamlined, safe and splendid Paralympic event," said Zheng Zeguang, China's ambassador to the UK, at the lighting ceremony on Monday in London.

Based on the press conference for the Winter Paralympic Torch Relay on Tuesday, various guarantee measures will also be provided during the torch relay for the disabled torchbearers.

One to one service personnel will be placed for any disabled torchbearers that need assistance during the relay. Road surfaces will be as level as possible for the safety of wheelchair users and the visually impaired.

Hotels with barrier-free facilities will be provided to accommodate the torchbearers and sign language interpreters, professional personnel and spare wheelchairs will also be provided.

The Beijing Winter Paralympics torch relay will be held from March 2 to 4, 2022.