News from Harlow Council: Harlow chosen for London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Route
- By Niel Churchill
- Published 12/19/2011
- What's on in Harlow and surrounding area
Harlow is to form part of the Olympic Torch Relay Route with thousands expected to gather to watch the procession pass through the town.
The Torch relay will go through Harlow on Saturday July 7th, 2012 as part of its Essex journey, and Harlow Council will lead a day of celebration.
Councillor Tony Hall, Harlow Council's Portfolio Holder for the Environment and the Council's Olympic Champion, said: "This is fantastic news and will be an unforgettable occasion for Harlow residents to witness.
"It is a huge boost to Harlow in 2012, the year in which we celebrate our 65th birthday as a new town. Visitors and the media will get a chance to see a town which is undergoing major renewal, and it will be a tremendous opportunity to show off features like Leisurezone, our new outstanding community sports centre, together with our outdoor sculpture collection.
"We need as many people as possible to line the streets and cheer the torch bearers on. The Council will be leading a day of celebration in Harlow so it will be a truly historic moment for everyone to come together."
Harlow Council is already working on plans to ensure that the town looks its best and that local people will have plenty of vantage points to view the historic convoy. The town's day of Olympic celebration will include street entertainment, sports and arts displays and themed markets – with something for all the family.
Harlow is one of 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,which is presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung.
LOCOG has worked closely with Harlow Council to devise the route, details of which will be revealed closer to the event. The identities of local people chosen to help carry the torch will also be announced over the next few months.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: 'We are thrilled to confirm that Harlow will act as a host location for the Olympic Flame, and we are extending an invitation to people in Harlow 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 Harlow 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 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.
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 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.
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.
