2002 Winter Paralympics torch relay

{{Location map+|USA Utah|caption=Map showing the locations of lighting ceremonies.|alt=Map of Utah showing the locations of lighting ceremonies.|float=left|width=420|places=

{{Location map~|USA Utah|label=Amer. Fork|position=bottom|link=American Fork, Utah|lat_deg=40.3769|lon_deg=-111.7958}}

{{Location map~|USA Utah|label=Brigham City|position=top|link=Brigham City, Utah|lat_deg=41.5102|lon_deg=-112.0155}}

{{Location map~|USA Utah|label=Cedar City|position=|link=Cedar City, Utah|lat_deg=37.6775|lon_deg=-113.0619}}

{{Location map~|USA Utah|label=Heber City|position=right|link=Heber City, Utah|lat_deg=40.5003|lon_deg=-111.4135}}

{{Location map~|USA Utah|label=Layton|position=top|link=Layton, Utah|lat_deg=41.0602|lon_deg=-111.9711}}

{{Location map~|USA Utah|label=Moab|position=bottom|link=Moab, Utah|lat_deg=38.5733|lon_deg=-109.5498}}

{{Location map~|USA Utah|label=Park City|position=|link=Park City, Utah|lat_deg=40.6461|lon_deg=-111.4980}}

{{Location map~|USA Utah|label=Salt Lake City|position=right|marksize=12|link=Salt Lake City, Utah|lat_deg=40.7608|lon_deg=-111.8910}}

{{Location map~|USA Utah|label=Sandy|position=bottom|link=Sandy, Utah|lat_deg=40.5650|lon_deg=-111.8390}}

{{Location map~|USA Utah|label=St. George|position=|link=St. George, Utah|lat_deg=37.0965|lon_deg=-113.5684}}

{{Location map~|USA Utah|label=West Valley City|position=left|link=West Valley City, Utah|lat_deg=40.6916|lon_deg=-112.0011}}

{{Location map~|USA Utah|label=Centerville|position=left|link=Centerville, Utah|lat_deg=40.9295|lon_deg=-111.8896}}

{{Location map~|USA Utah|label=Kaysville|position=right|link=Kaysville, Utah|lat_deg=41.0352|lon_deg=-111.9385}}

{{Location map~|USA Utah|label=
Murray|position=left|link=Murray, Utah|lat_deg=40.6669|lon_deg=-111.8880}}

{{Location map~|USA Utah|label=Woods Cross|position=|link=Woods Cross, Utah|lat_deg=40.8716|lon_deg=-111.8922}}

{{Location map~|USA Utah|label=Springville|position=bottom|link=Springville, Utah|lat_deg=40.1628|lon_deg=-111.6042}}

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The concept for the Paralympic torch relay was announced on December 12, 2001. Initially, 16 Utah communities were selected to host local celebrations to light their own flames. However, only 15 actually carried out their celebrations since North Ogden ended up withdrawing.[https://web.archive.org/web/20020212035153fw_/http://www.paralympics2002.com/press/press_121201.html "Journey of Fire to Fuel the Spirit of the Paralympic Winter Games Across Utah"], Salt Lake 2002 Paralympics, December 12, 2001. Archived at the WayBack Machine on February 12, 2002.

Thus, 15 individual flames were lit in these communities in a separated form,respecting a diversity and uniqueness of rituals.As it did not exist until 2012, the idea of an ancestral site for the Paralympic Games.There was no standard procedure on the part of the torch relay.The SLOC president Mitt Romney encouraged the various communities to ignite their fires in their own unique way and methods.Buttars, Lori. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/144169228/ "Paralympic Torch Run Will Be a 'Journey of Fire'"], Salt Lake Tribune, December 13, 2001, pages C-1 and [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/144169479/ C-2]. For example, the flame in Springville was lit by a "mountain man" capable of igniting a fire with his bare hands in six seconds.White, Elizabeth, Jerry Johnston, and Sharon Haddock. [https://www.deseret.com/2002/3/2/19640860/flame-is-alight-for-the-paralympics/ "Flame is alight for the Paralympics"], Deseret News, March 2, 2002, Web. Retrieved March 26, 2024. At the Salt Lake County Ice Center in Murray, Canadian sledge hockey captain Todd Nicholson activated the flame by scoring a goal.

Between March 1 to March 6,the 15 flames were lit around Utah.The first flame we lit on Friday, March 1 in Woods Cross, with additional lighting ceremonies taking place later the same evening in Brigham City, American Fork, and Moab. Four more flames were ignited on March 2, in Heber City, Kaysville, Cedar City, and Sandy. On March 4, another four flames were lit in Park City, St. George, Layton, and West Valley City. The final three flames were lit on March 5 in Murray, Centerville, and Springville.Walch, Tad. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/144167828/ "Separate flames will create Paralympic fire"], Provo Daily Herald, March 1, 2002, front page and [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/144167899/ page A4].

On the evening of March 6, the 15 community flames were merged into a single cauldron in front of the Salt Lake City and County Building thus beginning your final journey to the Rice–Eccles Olympic Stadium,starting the morning of the next day

.Wharton, Tom. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/144170232/ "Paralympic Torch Run Will Be a 'Journey of Fire'"], Salt Lake Tribune, March 7, 2002, front page. In the early hours of the following morning,the last legs of the relay were held on the front of the Delta Center and the Utah State Capitol, through Liberty Park, and to Shriners Hospital on its way to the opening ceremony at Rice–Eccles Stadium.[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/144170505/ "Today's Journey of Fire Route"], Salt Lake Tribune, March 7, 2002, page O4. At the list of the 100 last torchbearers who ran across the city included Utah savant Kim Peek, who inspired the film Rain Man.Gorrell, Mike. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/144170716/ "Spirit to Unite in One Flame"], Salt Lake Tribune, March 6, 2002, pages C1 and [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/144170568/ C8]. The flame was brought into the stadium by Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind person to climb Mount Everest, and his guide dog. Weihenmayer passed the torch to skiers Muffy Davis and Chris Waddell, who lit the cauldron.Henetz, Patty. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/144171220/ "Paralympics begin: Athletes from 36 countries"], Associated Press, via Lancaster New Era, March 8, 2002, page C20.

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{{Olympic torch relays}}

Torch relay

Category:Winter Paralympics torch relays