Paralympic symbols The Paralympic flag has a white background, with the Paralympic symbol in the centre. The current Paralympic flag was first flown during the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver Paralympic Games in 2010. Until the 2010 Winter Paralympics, the host country chose the site and the method through which the Paralympic Torch was lit. Since the 2012 Summer Paralympics, the concept of the Paralympic Torch Relay has changed and the Official Paralympic Flame is always created in the Games host city by uniting different regional flames. For London 2012 four regional flames from the national capitals of London, Belfast, Edinburgh and
Summer Paralympic Games France, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United States. The United States have been the top-ranking nation for eight of the Paralympic Summer Games: 1964, 1968, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996. China have been the top-ranking nation for the four most recent Games, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016. Italy (1960), West Germany (1972) and Australia (2000) have been the top-ranking nation one time each. Qualification rules for each of the Paralympic sports are set by the International Federation (IF) that governs that sport's international competition. The first official Paralympic Games, was held in Rome, Italy, in 1960.