:00:24. > :00:27...ahead of the start of the Games The weather has affected
:00:27. > :00:32...but the cauldron is expected to be lit in Cardiff Bay tonight.
:00:32. > :00:38.And in Eirias Park, hundreds gather to welcome the flame.
:00:38. > :00:47.The Paralympic Games have given sport in North Wales a boost.
:00:47. > :00:51.Before the Paralympic Games get underway on Thursday...
:00:51. > :00:55...the flame has been visiting north and south Wales.
:00:55. > :00:59.In Colwyn Bay in the north and Cardiff in the south...
:00:59. > :01:04...the crowds gathered to welcome the flame, despite the bad weather.
:01:04. > :01:07.We can now go to Iwan Griffiths in Cardiff Bay.
:01:08. > :01:12.There's a feast of music and entertainment taking place...
:01:12. > :01:15...here in Cardiff Bay tonight.
:01:15. > :01:19.Over the next few hours, more than 200 volunteers will help...
:01:19. > :01:23...carry the flame to the stage behind me.
:01:23. > :01:31.That's where the cauldron will be lit.
:01:31. > :01:32.The
:01:32. > :01:32.The flame
:01:32. > :01:38.The flame itself
:01:38. > :01:44.The flame itself was lit at the summit of Snowdon and this morning
:01:44. > :01:48.it lit the Welsh Paralympic cauldron in the shadow of City Hall
:01:48. > :01:53.in Cardiff. Simon Richardson, a cyclist who won two gold medals and
:01:53. > :01:57.one silver in Beijing four years ago was given the honour of
:01:57. > :02:03.lighting the cauldron. The flame then travelled to a unit at
:02:03. > :02:08.Rookwood Hospital in Llandaff, which specialises in back and brain
:02:08. > :02:17.injuries. It is important to show the patients here that they can
:02:17. > :02:21.aspire to these sort of things. It really gives them a lift. The flame
:02:21. > :02:26.then visited the Cardiff City training facilities. The football
:02:26. > :02:33.club works in partnership with the city council to provide
:02:33. > :02:40.opportunities to young people. Around 200 disabled children are
:02:40. > :02:48.being offered football coaching today. They are also seeing the
:02:48. > :02:53.flame for the first time. We have got an every player counts
:02:53. > :03:02.initiative, which takes place on Saturdays. It gives them an
:03:02. > :03:07.opportunity to take part. The Celts wheelchair basketball team also had
:03:07. > :03:12.an opportunity to see the flame. There were a variety of events
:03:12. > :03:19.taking place in Cardiff before the climax of the activities in Cardiff
:03:19. > :03:28.Bay. Tredegar Brass Band, Only Men Aloud and Charlotte Church were
:03:28. > :03:34.among the performers. Hard Cor will offer something different.
:03:34. > :03:41.combine the traditional Welsh choir and focus -- and folk song with
:03:41. > :03:53.hip-hop. It is a new combination, but it works. The Paralympics will
:03:53. > :03:59.start on Thursday. I am joined by Jonathan Jones, who has helped
:03:59. > :04:07.organise this event. This is a real challenge for Wales. The weather
:04:07. > :04:12.has not helped, but people are enjoying themselves. Have Welsh
:04:12. > :04:20.businesses taken advantage of the opportunities provided by the
:04:20. > :04:22.Olympics? Those who have tried to embrace it have benefited. The
:04:23. > :04:26.tourist industry has faced problems following the recession and the bad
:04:26. > :04:33.weather we have seen, but the majority of businesses have done
:04:33. > :04:42.quite well this year. I am sure you're looking forward to the next
:04:42. > :04:47.two weeks? Anything that promotes Wales is very important. We have
:04:47. > :04:52.got 38 Welsh athletes in the Paralympic squad and that is going
:04:52. > :05:00.to benefit Wales as well. Laura McAllister, what are you expecting
:05:00. > :05:06.from the Welsh athletes this year? The last Games were very successful
:05:06. > :05:10.for Wales, with a quarter of the British gold medals coming from
:05:10. > :05:19.Welsh athletes. It will be difficult to surpass that, but we
:05:19. > :05:23.hope to do well again and pick up between 30-40 medals.
:05:23. > :05:34.We will have our fingers crossed. Thank you very much.
:05:34. > :05:39.As well as the celebrations in Cardiff today, there was also a
:05:39. > :05:47.Paralympic flame in North Wales. The flame arrived shortly after 2pm.
:05:47. > :05:55.It was carried by members of clubs of all ages around the stadium.
:05:55. > :06:02.are so proud today. My friend took part and it has been excellent.
:06:02. > :06:08.They are members of the local football club. It is an excellent
:06:08. > :06:13.day. I was very emotional. It brought tears to my eyes. It has
:06:13. > :06:19.been a real honour to carry the flame today. Hundreds have gathered
:06:19. > :06:25.to welcome the Olympic flame. The Paralympics has given sport in
:06:25. > :06:31.North Wales a boost, as well as the flame there were many activities
:06:31. > :06:35.taking on at Eirias Park today. People were playing basketball,
:06:36. > :06:45.baseball and swimming. It shows no matter what disability you have,
:06:45. > :06:52.you can take part in all kinds of sports. There are people with
:06:52. > :06:57.cerebral palsy, amputees and it shows how open wheelchair
:06:57. > :07:01.basketball can be. The Paralympic games have inspired more disabled
:07:01. > :07:06.people to take part in sports. have got a lot going on in the
:07:06. > :07:13.local area. We have established a new basketball team and that is one
:07:14. > :07:21.of four teams for wheelchair users across North Wales. The flame from
:07:21. > :07:33.North Wales will merge with the others from across Britain before
:07:33. > :07:43.The flame's journey precedes the I can assure you
:07:43. > :07:47.In Scotland, the search for a man ..in the sea off the coast of
:07:47. > :07:51.Two boys died after their canoe capsized yesterday afternoon.
:07:51. > :07:53.Another man and his eight-year-old daughter managed to swim to shore.
:07:53. > :07:58.The Labour Party says the British Government should wait...
:07:58. > :08:01...before signing a new contract which includes...
:08:01. > :08:04...a train service between London and North Wales.
:08:04. > :08:08.From December, First Group will be responsible for...
:08:08. > :08:11...Britain's busiest rail line after Virgin lost the contract.
:08:11. > :08:15.But Sir Richard Branson has offered to run the service for free...
:08:15. > :08:18...while a review is carried out.
:08:18. > :08:23.The bodies of 17 people who were executed...
:08:23. > :08:27.Syrian rebels who are fighting President Assad's forces...
:08:28. > :08:32...say they have shot down a helicopter in Damascus.
:08:32. > :08:36.Heavy rain has affected a variety of events this weekend...
:08:36. > :08:39...with the organisers of Tawe Fest in Swansea...
:08:39. > :08:43...being forced to postpone a classical concert tonight.
:08:43. > :08:47.There was a victory for Wrexham...
:08:47. > :08:50...in the Blue Square Conference this afternoon.
:08:50. > :08:54.An own goal by Tamworth's Duane Courtney...
:08:54. > :08:58...handed Wrexham the three points, which takes them to tenth.
:08:58. > :09:02.Over the last few days we've been finding out more...
:09:02. > :09:05...about the Welsh athletes in the GB Paralympic team.
:09:05. > :09:17.But what about those who are competing for the first time?
:09:17. > :09:18.Rhys
:09:18. > :09:20.Rhys Jones
:09:20. > :09:26.Rhys Jones was
:09:26. > :09:32.Rhys Jones was not expected to be in the squad. He was earmarked as
:09:32. > :09:36.someone who could win a medal in Rio in four years' time. Despite
:09:36. > :09:41.his experience, he's determined to do his best. I am just going to be
:09:41. > :09:48.the best I can be. Anything can happen on the day. If I get a medal,
:09:48. > :09:55.it is a bonus. Everything is going in the right way. He started
:09:55. > :10:00.running three years ago. He was spotted by the Welsh squad when he
:10:00. > :10:05.was 15. Before then he acknowledged he didn't take part in many sports.
:10:05. > :10:11.He picked up a virus at the age of two, which affected his eyesight.
:10:11. > :10:20.Now that he has started running, his family say there's no stopping
:10:20. > :10:31.him. If it wasn't for sport, he would still be sat on the sofa. Now
:10:31. > :10:41.he is very active. He has come on so well over the last three years.
:10:41. > :10:44.Jacob Thomas is also aiming for a medal. He plays a sport similar to
:10:44. > :10:49.bowls. His father will not be watching him from the crowd, he
:10:49. > :10:54.will be assisting him. There is a lot of pressure, but I am looking
:10:54. > :10:58.forewrd to the Games. -- forward to the Games. Once he's on court he'll
:10:58. > :11:10.be like any other athlete. I am sure we'll both be nervous because
:11:10. > :11:16.I will be competing with him. I don't get to see the game, I just