Olympic torch coming to Medway
Medway is set for Olympic glory as it will be a host area
for the 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Route.
Torchbearers will take to the streets of Medway on Friday,
20 July next year as the relay nears the end of its 70-day journey
around the UK.
And people will be able to line the route to welcome the Olympic
flame, ahead of the Games starting in London a week later on
Friday, 27 July.
Medway will be among more than 1,000 villages, towns and
cities across the country that will see the Olympic Flame
carried through them by torchbearers during the London 2012 Olympic
Torch Relay - presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and
Samsung.
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) has
worked closely with representatives from a number of sectors
in Medway to devise the route and further details will be given
closer to the date.
Cllr
Rodney Chambers, Leader of Medway Council, said: “It is great news
that the Olympic Torch Relay will pass through Medway and that
local people will be able to line the streets to cheer on this once
in a lifetime spectacle.
“Without a doubt, the Torch Relay will be a fun and inspiring
moment for Medway as people will be able to come along and support
torchbearers and help showcase our area to those watching on
television.
“The Olympic Games truly is a once in a lifetime experience and
I would urge people to come along and witness this historic
event.”
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: "We are thrilled to
confirm that Medway will all act as a host location for the Olympic
Flame, extending an invitation to people in Medway to welcome the
Olympic Torch Relay during its journey around the UK.
"This is the UK’s moment to shine and I want to encourage people
across Medway to start planning how they can be part of this once
in a lifetime opportunity and show their support for the
inspirational Torchbearers chosen to carry the Olympic Flame as we
count down to the start of the Olympic Games.”
The 70-day Olympic Torch Relay will start at Land’s End,
Cornwall on the morning of 19 May 2012. On leaving Land’s End, the
Olympic Flame will travel an estimated 8,000 miles around the UK
giving thousands of communities and individuals their moment to
shine as the Olympic Flame comes to a place near them.
In announcing the villages, towns and cities LOCOG has realised
the aspiration of taking the Olympic Flame to within an hour’s
journey time of 95 per cent of the population. In fact, more
than 95 per cent of the population will be within just 10
miles of the Olympic Flame next summer. The street-by-street detail
of the route will be confirmed next year.
People are invited to view the interactive map at
www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelaymap
to find their nearest community through which the Olympic Flame
will be carried.
On the final day of the Olympic Torch Relay, it is LOCOG’s
intention that the Olympic Flame will travel down the River Thames
as it makes its way to the Olympic Stadium on 27 July 2012 for the
lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony, signifying the
official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The Olympic Flame will be carried across the UK by 8,000
inspirational Torchbearers each of whom will have a story of
personal achievement and/or contribution to the local community. In
December this year, successful nominees will be contacted with a
conditional offer and final Torchbearer places will start to be
confirmed from February 2012 onwards.
LOCOG has also launched two new public participation
programmes. The Local Leaders initiative is an invitation to people
to take the 2012 Games into their community and create their own
celebrations next year, for the Olympic Torch Relay and other key
moments during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
People are encouraged to sign up to the Local Leader programme
at www.london2012.com/localleaders
to receive further information on a range of themed celebration
ideas focusing on the Opening Ceremony evening, gardening, quizzes
and barbecues and be in the front row to receive free London 2012
event materials to support events.
The Get Set for the Olympic Torch Relay education resource, is
available to all schools registered with Get Set, London 2012’s
official education programme. The aim of the resource is to provide
schools with cross-curricular resources aimed at teachers working
with three-16 year olds to aid learning around history of Olympic
Torch Relays, the design of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay and
the Torch itself.
A further education resource will launch next year to encourage
schools to plan a welcome for the Olympic Flame and show support
for the Torchbearers. Lloyds TSB, official Education Partner
of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, have launched their Flame
Followers schools programme which compliments the Get Set
resources, and gives schools once-in-a-lifetime opportunities be
right at the heart of the excitement and celebrations of the
Relay.
Back to November 2011 news
