Paralympic lantern to be carried on York 800 flotilla (From York Press)

Paralympic lantern to be carried on York 800 flotilla

10:59am Thursday 23rd August 2012 in News

THE York 800 Flotilla will launch on the River Ouse on Sunday with York’s Paralympic Lantern taking pride of place.

Postponed from July due to terrible weather, the event will feature more than 200 boats of various shapes and sizes cruising the Ouse from 12.30pm until 4pm.

York’s Paralympic Lantern, which arrives in the city on Friday, will be carried by one of York’s disabled sports people on one of the hundreds of boats creating the flotilla.

Among it will be crews of disabled sailors from Sunderland and York who will help raise the profile of disabled sporting achievements and opportunities in the city.

Members of York’s Canoe Club and City Rowing Club will lead the flotilla, including Olympic medal winner Tom Ransley.

People will be able to watch both the flotilla and the lantern from any safe vantage point along the riverbanks between Naburn Marina and Clifton Ings.

Coun Sonja Crisp , City of York Council Cabinet member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism said: “Having the Paralympic Lantern on board the York 800 flotilla helps shed more light on the achievement of York’s disabled athletes and sportspeople and the opportunities open to them in the city.”

There will also be family entertainment in Tower Gardens and on the Eye of York including a barrel organ, demonstrations and rides from 11am.