Council confirms the streets the Olympic Flame will be carried along
The streets the Olympic Flame will travel down in 11 Shropshire communities and the names of the inspirational Torchbearers who will run in these communities have been announced today (Monday 19 March 2012).
Shropshire Council is encouraging people and schools to line the route and welcome the Flame, celebrate the achievements of the inspirational Torchbearers carrying the Flame in their community, and share in the excitement of the once in a lifetime opportunity which is the Olympic Torch Relay.
As previously confirmed, the Flame will travel through the communities of Ludlow, Clee Hill and Cleobury Mortimer on Thursday 24 May 2012 and Oswestry, Pant, Llanymynech, Shrewsbury, Cressage, Much Wenlock, Benthall and Broseley on Wednesday 30 May 2012.
The streets along the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, which can be viewed in full at www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay, gives street-by-street details and proposed start times for when the Olympic Flame will travel through the county’s communities. Residents living in and around these communities can find out when it will be travelling along their nearest high street, through their town square or past their local village shop.
The Torchbearers confirmed to carry the Flame in Shropshire today include those that were successful through the public nomination processes run by London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and the Presenting Partners, Coca Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung. LOCOG has endeavoured to slot all community Torchbearers within an hour of their nomination address so family and friends can cheer them on. Each Torchbearer will wear a white and gold uniform which been designed by adidas.
Councillor Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for active and healthy lifestyles, said:
“This is an amazing opportunity for residents, schoolpupils and members of the surrounding communities within Shropshire to see the Olympic Flame and witness the spectacle of the Olympic Torch Relay. This announcement really brings the route to life and will hopefully encourage people to get involved by lining the streets.
“We are also looking forward to welcoming the inspirational torchbearers to our communities.”
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, added:
“Today we bring the Olympic Torch Relay to life. The Flame symbolises the Olympic spirit and its journey around the UK will bring the excitement of the Games to our streets. Now the people know the route the Olympic Flame will be carried along and the Torchbearers for their community, they can start planning how they might celebrate and make it Shropshire’s moment to shine.”
An average of 115 Torchbearers a day will carry the Olympic Flame during its 8,000 mile journey around the UK before it arrives at 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.
LOCOG has worked closely with representatives from a number of sectors in each Nation and Region of the UK to devise the route and is taking the Olympic Flame to within ten miles of over 95% of the population.
Schools across the UK can now access free learning resources linked to the Olympic Torch Relay through Get Set (london2012.com/getset), the official London 2012 education programme. The activities are designed to help schools and colleges make the most of the Relay by lining the route, and cheering on their local Torchbearers. Resources include ideas for making Flame hats and shakers to welcome the Flame, an assembly presentation to get the school behind a Torchbearer and a film showing one Get Set network school’s preparations for the Relay.
Over 55 Shropshire schools have booked their place on the roadside to wave the Olympic Flame through. The council is urging all headteachers to respond to book their places by Friday 30 March so that plans can be made to help them have fun and stay safe. This will be a very busy day in all of the 11 communities and prior knowledge of schools attendance is vital to the successful operation.
Schools are asked to call the council on 0345 678 9000 to book their places. People can also visit shropshire.gov.uk/london2012 for information about the route and what is happening in Shropshire to welcome the Olympic Flame.
Further information
As the longest standing Presenting Partner of the Olympic Torch Relay, Coca-Cola will be using its heritage and experience to spread excitement across the UK ahead of London 2012. Coca-Cola’s national nomination campaign – Future Flames – has focused on finding inspirational young people from across the country to have the once in a lifetime opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame. This summer Coca-Cola will celebrate these Future Flames: young people who use their passions in areas like sport and physical activity, music and dance, and community and the environment; to spread happiness in their local communities. Find out more at: www.coca-cola.co.uk/olympic-games
As the only National Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, Lloyds TSB will be taking the spirit and inspiration of the Olympic Flame right to the heart of communities across the UK. As part of Lloyds Banking Group, Bank of Scotland will be the National Presenting Partner in Scotland. Schools can be right at the heart of the celebrations through our Flame Followers programme, giving them access to free resources to get their pupils inspired and excited about the Olympic Torch Relay (schools can register at www.lloydstsb.com/flamefollowers). Customers can be the first to hear how they can follow the Olympic Flame, through our customer-exclusive programme Trackside. Find out more at www.lloydstsb.com/london2012
As a Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, Samsung aims to encourage everyone to be part of the London 2012 Torch Relay to make London 2012 ‘Everyone’s Olympic Games.’ We aspire to offer new and memorable experiences for everyone around the world. Samsung is providing 1,360 Torchbearers, who have ‘gone the extra mile’ by contributing to the local communities, through its worldwide public nomination campaign. Samsung will support towns and cities to celebrate the exciting moment of the Torch Relay and help showcase Great Britain’s cultural landmarks to provide a more enjoyable experience to everyone.
The evening celebrations that will be staged in 66 towns and cities throughout the Olympic Flame’s journey across the UK, will allow Samsung to entertain the community they are visiting. The Samsung caravan, complete with LED screen on the side showcasing runners and goodwill messages, will travel with Torchbearers around the UK cheering up everyone to celebrate the Torch Relay with music and interaction with local communities. It is Samsung’s ambition that London 2012 will be an event that reaches and involves more people than on any other Olympic Games occasion. To learn more about Samsung’s London 2012 Olympic programme, please visit www.samsung.com/london2012.
