A Paralympic celebration in County Durham is expected to attract more than 3,000 people, according to organisers.
The event, at Beamish Open Air Museum on Friday, will feature a splinter of the England Paralympic flame lit on Scafell Pike, Cumbria, on Wednesday.
Gateshead Thunder community rugby coach Lee Curry, 26, will collect the flame from London on Friday morning.
He was nominated for his enthusiasm developing rugby league with disability groups in and around Gateshead.
Mr Curry said: "I'm absolutely delighted to be given this once in a lifetime opportunity to represent the North East and to deliver the splinter English Flame to Beamish for the Flame Festival.
"I am already excited about the Paralympic Games, and overwhelmed that I will now be participating in some way myself.
"2012 is certainly going to be a year to remember for myself and my family."
The four flames, kindled at the top of the highest peaks of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, will come together in Stoke Mandeville on Tuesday to create the Paralympic flame.
Disability sport projects from every local authority in the North East will be on show as part of the event at Beamish.
Organisers said the 3,200 free tickets for the event had been allocated within two weeks.
It is expected that the lantern containing the flame will arrive at the main entrance to the museum about 17:30 BST.
FULL STORY HERE
Edited by THUNDERNEWS, 24 August 2012 - 08:22 PM.
