The ceremony to light the Paralympic flame has taken place in the British village of Stoke Mandeville, which is known as the birthplace of the Paralympic movement.

The event took place on Saturday, ahead of the opening of the Paris Paralympics on Wednesday.

Games for disabled athletes were first held in 1948 in Stoke Mandeville, where a hospital treated soldiers wounded during World War Two.

The activities were held as part of rehabilitation efforts and later became the Paralympic games.

International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons said at the ceremony that "The Paralympic Games is now a spectacular showcase of sport, an event that attracts billions of global TV viewers, and the only worldwide event of impact which puts persons with disabilities front and center."

Two British Paralympic medalists lit the flame and Parsons was the first torchbearer to begin the relay.

On Sunday, after the torch is carried through the Channel Tunnel, it will be divided into 12 flames upon entering France.

Torchbearers will carry the 12 divided flames to 50 cities across France and the flames will become one in Paris, on the opening day of the Games.

The Paralympic Games will last 12 days, ending on September 8.

The organizing committee says that more than 1.75 million tickets have been sold, mainly in France, and that tickets to many events are almost sold out.

The popularity of the Paris Olympics may have enhanced interest in the Paralympics.