Petal Unveiled at Airport
By: , November 30, 2014The Key Point:
Photo: JIS
Minister with Responsibility for Sport, Hon. Natalie Neita Headley (third right), admires a cauldron petal from the 2012 London Paralympic Games, which was unveiled during a ceremony at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston on November 28. The petal, which was one of 164 comprising the cauldron, was presented to the country as a souvenir after it was dismantled following the Games. Also viewing the petal (from right) are: President, Jamaica Paralympic Association, Christopher Samuda; British High Commissioner to Jamaica, His Excellency, David Fitten; and Paralympian, Tanto Campbell.The Facts
- The petal was presented to the country as a souvenir after the cauldron was dismantled following the Games.
- Each copper petal sympolised the 164 competing nations. Jamaica is the first of the participating countries to receive its gift.
The Full Story
One of the 164 petals which comprised the cauldron, which was lit during the 2012 London Paralympic Games, was unveiled during a ceremony at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, on November 28.
The petal was presented to the country as a souvenir after the cauldron was dismantled following the Games.
Each copper petal sympolised the 164 competing nations. Jamaica is the first of the participating countries to receive its gift.
The petal has been mounted on a plaque in a glass case and will be on display at the airport.
Minister with Responsibility for Sport, Hon. Natalie Neita Headley, said the petal will “stand as a symbol of the Paralympic glory – the grit, determination, character, mettle and success of our athletes of whom we are proud.”
She thanked the Jamaica Paralympic Association for “sharing this treasure with us all and we hope that this exhibit will inspire all who view it as they traverse these halls.”
Mrs. Neita Headley said the Government and people of Jamaica salute the London 2012 Paralympic team, pointing to their admirable achievements over the years at international competitions.
“The fortitude and resilience which our Paralympians continue to demonstrate as they surmount challenges and beat the odds are laudable and exemplify that indomitable Jamaican spirit that the world has embraced,” she said.
British High Commissioner to Jamaica, His Excellency David Fitten, noted that the Paralympic petal from the cauldron is designed to be a symbol of the legacy of what the Paralympics has provided in terms of entertainment, enjoyment and competition in London in 2012.
“The hope is that by having the petal from the cauldron here at the airport, as you leave the airport, you will see it…and (it) will provide a lasting impression and I hope inspiration to our Paralympians,” he said.
The cauldron for the symbolic Olympic flame was used for both the Summer Olympics and Paralympics. For the Olympics, 204 petals were lit, while 164 were ignited for the Paralympics.