Paralympic Petal To Go On Display In Hamilton
Following a presentation on May 4th the Paralympic Petal — a souvenir given by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games – will go on public display at City Hall as a symbol of inspiration and motivation for future athletes.
A statement from the City said, “The Corporation of Hamilton and Bermuda Paralympic Association [BPARAS] invites you to the presentation of the Paralympic Petal to the City of Hamilton in the Mayor’s parlour on 4th May 2015 at 2:30 pm.
“The petal is a souvenir given by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Ltd. [LOCOG] to the Bermuda Paralympic Association [BPARAS]
Bermuda’s Paralympic team enter the stadium in 2012 in London
“This copper petal is from the cauldron that bore the Paralympic flame and was part of a 164 piece installation that was dismantled and sent to all participating countries with a request to display the item in a suitable setting.
“The wood for the base is Mahogany and Ebony, donated by the Corporation of Hamilton from city trees felled by storms. The plinth was made by the Carpentry Programme, Bermuda Government’s Department of Corrections.
“The petal will be transferred to the safe keeping of The Corporation of Hamilton and will remain on public display at City Hall as a symbol of inspiration and motivation for future athletes of all abilities.”
The Paralympic website says, “All 164 nations that participated in the London 2012 Games will received a handmade copper petal from the Paralympic cauldron.
“During the Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony, the 164 petals representing each nation were pre-set before the parade of nations and prior to the spectacular cauldron lighting sequence.
“Over the last three months, the company Stage One, which manufactured the cauldron, has cleaned up the petals under the guidance of Heatherwick Studio.”
Bermuda was represented at the 2012 London Paralympics by sprinter Jessica Lewis, who continues to train with the aim to qualify for second Paralympic Games, with the next iteration of the Games to be held in 2016 in Rio.
