The ParalympicsGB Carnival is a new event created with a Brazilian theme, which aims to excite and engage the British public with the ParalympicsGB team and disability sport.

The event will be in the city on September 2 2016.

Attendees can meet retired Paralympic athletes and medallists, try out different sports and test themselves in challenges, as well as enjoy some Brazilian-themed entertainment.

Terry Follows, Stoke-on-Trent City Council Cabinet member for greener city, development and leisure, said: "This is a tremendous honour for the city and we are thrilled to be a part of the Carnival.

"It is continuing our long association with sports at the highest level, having been a key city for the torch relay at London 2012 and being home to a number of Olympic and Paralympic champions.

"We are celebrating being the UK’s European City of Sport this year, engaging thousands of residents of all ages and abilities in sporting and healthy activities. 

"On behalf of the entire city, we’d like to wish every success to the ParalympicsGB team in Rio.”

Starting at Stoke Mandeville, the historic birthplace of the Paralympic Movement, on the day of the Heritage Flame Lighting Ceremony, the event will then move to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and during the Games it will visit Cardiff, Nottingham and Edinburgh, as well as Stoke-on-Trent.

The flame will be created as part of a ceremony at Stoke Mandeville Stadium just five days before the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

The flame will then be ‘sent’ virtually to Brazil, where it will merge with the Brazilian Regional Flames to create the Paralympic Flame that will run the relay and light the cauldron in the Olympic stadium during the Opening Ceremony.

The Carnival events will build on the successful formula of the National Paralympic Day events held in 2013, 2014 and 2015, which attracted more than 15,000 people.

The Carnival events are funded by Spirit of 2012, a trust established by the Big Lottery Fund to recreate the spirit that radiated from the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. 

Spirit is committed to funding partners who help challenge perceptions of disability.

"I’m pleased to confirm the sixth city that will host a Carnival event during the build-up to and during the Paralympic Games," said Tim Hollingsworth, chief executive of the BPA.

"Stoke-on-Trent has a strong tradition of supporting sport and the city is proud to be the European City of Sport 2016. 

"The Carnival will form a part of their celebrations and I wish them all the best with their planning."