Knowsley is to host the Paralympic Flame on its way to the London 2012 Games.

The Paralympic flame will visit just four areas in the North West - Knowsley, Manchester, Preston, and Ellesmere Port

It will arrive at Kirkby Sports College over the August Back Holiday weekend.

There will be a welcoming ceremony and a community event to celebrate the local people, athletes and groups who are involved in Paralympic sport.

Knowsley is providing training camps for Paralympians from Romania and Namibia at Kirkby Sports College in the lead up to the Games.

Several GB Paralympians already train in the borough and Knowsley will also be hosting the Disability Grand Prix in May, in partnership with UK Athletics.

This is a key international event and one of the last chances for athletes to qualify for the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

In the run up to the arrival of the Torch, Knowsley will also be:

  Recruiting and training up more coaches for those with disabilities and to help people “have a go” at new sports.
  Supporting more sports clubs to offer activities that could be done by people with disabilities.
  Help sports clubs get the accreditation they need to include people with disabilities.
  Hosting an event at Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park on the 100th day countdown to the Paralympics to identify swimmers with disabilities across Merseyside who could be directed onto training for top level swimming

Cllr Eddie Connor, Knowsley’s cabinet member for leisure, community and culture, said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming the Paralympic torch.

“The flame symbolises inclusion and excellence and we’ve done a lot in Knowsley to make sure people of all abilities can enjoy sport.

“We’ve invested millions of pounds to create accessible sports facilities and laid on taster sessions in activities that can be done by everyone.”

The Paralympic torch that is carried through England will be united with three flames that have been carried through the rest of the UK , at Stoke Mandeville.

Stoke Mandeville is the spiritual home of the Paralympic Movement and there will be a ceremony to unite the torches into one flame that will be carried to London.