The Paralympic Torch is coming to a Sainsbury’s near you

• Sainsbury’s customers across the country will get the chance to see the Paralympic Torch between Monday 13 and Wednesday 23 August  
• Customers will be able to take photos of the Torch
• The Torch is going on a special 10-day tour across 61 Sainsbury’s stores in the UK 

• Download high res photography (Zip, 11MB)

The London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay is only a few weeks away and Sainsbury's customers have the opportunity of seeing the Torch up-close. Between Monday 13 and Wednesday 23 August, customers will get the chance to see the Paralympic Torch as it goes on a special tour across the UK.

The Paralympic Torch Experience will see three torches travel to 61 Sainsbury's stores across the country in just 10 days. The torches will travel to stores including Kenton in Harrow, Buchanan Galleries in Scotland and Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland.

The Torches will be three of 620 Torches which will be used in the 24 hour Relay which takes place from Stoke Mandeville in Aylesbury, the home of the Paralympic Movement, to the Olympic Park in Stratford, London on Tuesday 28 to Wednesday 29 August.

Sainsbury's is the first ever sole sponsor of the Paralympic Games, which take place from 29 August to 9 September, and the only retailer giving people across the UK the chance to see the Torch before the Paralympic Torch Relay begins.

Sainsbury's Sponsorship Manager Jat Sahota said: "We've really enjoyed playing our part in raising awareness of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. The Paralympic Torch Experience gives our customers a once in a lifetime chance to hold the Torch and feel the buzz of the Paralympic Games, which is now just a few days away."

Notes to editors

Schedule for the Paralympic Torch Experience (times and dates subject to change)

Sainsbury's 1m Kids Challenge

• In April 2011 Sainsbury's launched 'The 1 million kids challenge'. This aims to get 1 million kids to try a Paralympic sport and to make Paralympic sports more accessible, by supplying free sports equipment to schools so children can give Paralympic sports a try for the first time
• It is only open to schools (primary and secondary) that are registered with Sainsbury's Active Kids and have received a Paralympic kit
• To date Sainsbury's has distributed 5,726 packs of equipment to participating schools
• Participating schools will be eligible to win the opportunity to become involved in the Paralympic Torch Relay

Active Kids

• David Beckham and Ellie Simmonds are ambassador to Sainsbury's Active Kids campaign
• Sainsbury's Active Kids was launched in February 2005, in response to growing concerns around children's activity and obesity levels.
• Active Kids has donated over £115 million worth of equipment and experiences to nurseries, schools, Scout and Guide groups, and Clubmark accredited sports clubs (or acceptable equivalent), can exchange for a variety of sports and activity equipment and experiences.