An injured cyclist whose London 2012 dream was ruined by a drink-driver has got the last of four Paralympic Torch relays under way in Cardiff.
Simon Richardson, who won two golds and one silver medal at the Beijing Paralympics in 2008, lit a ceremonial cauldron outside the city hall before the torch set off on its journey to Wednesday's opening ceremony.
"I would have preferred to have been competing but this is the next best thing," the 45-year-old, who was knocked off his bike while training last summer, said.
"It was such a shock to get the phone call asking me to do this."
Welsh Government Sports Minister Huw Lewis said: "Simon Richardson perfectly embodies the courage and determination of the Paralympic spirit."
The flame will be taken to Stoke Mandeville, before it is joined with others created around the UK and carried in a 24-hour relay to London.
Its first stop after the city hall was the Rookwood Hospital in Llandaff, Cardiff, which has specialist spinal and neurological rehabilitation wards.
Twelve-year-old schoolboy Ethan Roberts of Treuddyn, near Mold, got the honour of entering the neurological ward with the flame - before passing it around to patients.
Geoff Thomas Vennard, who was in a coma for more than five months after a freak accident at his home in Barry, said: "I've been in hospital now for around nine months and am looking forward to getting home.
"So getting to see the flame and the excitement surrounding it has been a real boost."
