Five communities in North Somerset have been chosen to
join others across the country as host locations on the Olympic
torch relay route.
On Wednesday, 23 May 2012, Flax Bourton, Backwell, Nailsea,
Failand and Leigh Woods will all be part of the torch relay route
as it travels through North Somerset, giving local people the
chance to line the streets, welcome the Olympic Flame, and
celebrate the achievements of the torchbearers.
The North Somerset communities on the route are among over 1,000
villages, towns and cities announced by the London Organising
Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) through which
the Olympic Flame will be carried by torchbearers during the London
2012 Olympic torch relay. LOCOG has worked closely with
representatives from a number of sectors in the South West to
devise the route.
Cllr Felicity Baker, Executive Member for Leisure and Tourism
said: "This is going to be a tremendous opportunity for residents
and members of the surrounding communities in North Somerset to see
the Olympic flame and witness the spectacle of the Olympic torch
relay.
"It gives our communities the chance to join in the Olympic
spirit during the countdown to the start of the Games and celebrate
the achievements of members of the community who have been chosen
to run the with Olympic flame."
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: ‘We are thrilled to confirm
that Flax Bourton, Backwell, Nailsea, Failand and Leigh Woods will
all act as host locations for the Olympic Flame, extending an
invitation to people across North Somerset 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 North Somerset 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% of the population. In fact, over 95% 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 July 27 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.
Today LOCOG launches 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 more 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.
Also launched today is the ‘Get Set for the Olympic Torch Relay’
education resource, 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 3 to 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.
