The Olympic Flame is coming to Craigavon next year and the Mayor of Craigavon, Councillor Alan Carson wants all of Craigavon to welcome the Flame as it travels through.
“We are proud to confirm that on Tuesday 5th June next year the Olympic Flame will reach Craigavon. Torchbearers will carry the Olympic Flame through the main streets of Portadown, but I’m urging the entire Borough young and old to come out and support this fantastic accolade for Craigavon”, comments the Mayor of Craigavon Councillor Alan Carson.
“Further details of the Relay will be announced closer to the time and I know it will receive a great welcome from the area. The Olympic Torch relay will shine a spotlight on the people and places of Craigavon and demonstrate that the Olympic Spirit is alive and well”.
Theresa Donaldson Chief Executive says, “Undoubtedly the reason that Craigavon was chosen is because of its proud sporting history and range of sports offered across the Borough. I know that the whole community will turn out in strong support of the Olympic Flame. This is a great day for Craigavon”.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said, “We are thrilled to confirm that Portadown will act as a host location for the Olympic Flame, extending an invitation to people throughout Craigavon 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 Craigavon 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 Olympics”.
The 70- day Olympic Torch Relay will start at Land’s End, Cornwall on the 19th May 2012. It will then 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 tome of 95% of the population. In fact, 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.
The Olympic Flame will be carried by 8,000 inspirational torchbearers each of whom has a story of personal achievement or contribution to the local community. In December this year, successful nominees will be contacted with a conditional offer with the final torchbearers places confirmed from February 2012 onwards.
Today LOCOG launches two new public participation programmes. Local Leaders 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. You can sign up to the Local Leaders programme at www.london2012.com/localleaders to receive further information on a range of themed celebration ideas focusing on the Open Ceremony evening, gardening, quizzes and barbecues and to be in 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. This will provide schools with cross-curricular resources for teachers working with 3-16 year olds to help learn the history of the Olympic Torch relays, the design of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay and the Torch itself. Another 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 partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, have launched their Flame Followers schools programme complimenting the Get Set resources giving schools a once in a lifetime opportunity to be right at the heart of the excitement and celebrations of the Relay.
