Search continues for people to carry Olympic Flame
(Date of issue: Thursday, 23 June 2011)
With less than one year to go until the Olympic Flame comes
through the North West during its journey along the UK wide Olympic
Torch Relay, Carlisle City Council is calling on people from across
the district to nominate inspirational members of their community
to carry the Flame during its 70 day journey.
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic
Games (LOCOG) recently confirmed that the Olympic Flame will be
carried across the UK by 8,000 inspirational Torchbearers during
the Relay, with 90% of the places being made available to the
public.
The LOCOG ‘Moment to Shine’ campaign, which runs until
Wednesday, 29 June 2011, is calling on people from across the North
West to help find inspirational members of the public who have gone
beyond their personal best for consideration as Torchbearers.
The nomination portal at www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay asks
nominators for up to 150 words on why their nominee should carry
the Olympic Flame. Judging panels will be set up in each Nation and
Region of the UK to select the Torchbearers for their area.
Leader of Carlisle City Council, Cllr Mike Mitchelson, said:
“Giving the people of Carlisle the chance to help shape the
Olympic Torch Relay and play a key role in marking the start of the
Olympic Games is an incredible opportunity. I know that there are
many people here who deserve recognition for their contribution to
the local area. I urge people to think about who might deserve this
opportunity and nominate them to be a Torchbearer. This is an
opportunity to be part of a once in a lifetime event.”
Seb Coe, LOCOG Chairman said:
“Carrying the Olympic Flame is an incredible honour and is an
opportunity of for the people of [Insert Local Authority Area] to
reward someone inspirational or who has made a difference to the
local community by nominating them to be part of this historic
event.”
Young people in particular from across the North West are
encouraged to get involved, with half of the total number of
Torchbearer places expected to go to people aged between 12 and 24
years of age who are considered leading lights in their local
communities.
The first Olympic Torch Relay route announcement in May 2011
revealed the locations of the Olympic Torch Relay’s evening
celebrations in the North West. Carlisle has been chosen as one of
the host cities for the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Route. An
evening celebration will be held on Wednesday, 20 June 2012 to mark
the Olympic Flame stopping off in the city as part of its journey
around the UK.
A second, more detailed route announcement will be made later
this year, providing information on the other cities, towns,
villages and places of outstanding natural beauty, sports venues
and community hubs the Olympic Flame will visit on each day of the
Torch Relay in the North West.
It is LOCOG’s aim that 95% of the population will be within a
one hour journey time of Relay and that Torchbearers will carry the
Olympic Flame as close to home as possible.
The Olympic Flame will travel for approximately 12 hours each
day, concluding on 66 of the 70 days with an exciting early evening
celebration event that will enable thousands of people each evening
to enjoy a variety of entertainment and shows staged by LOCOG and
the three Presenting Partners with the support of the host Local
Authority.
Nominations through the LOCOG campaign are open until 11.59pm on
29 June 2011 at www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay