London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Route
Carlisle chosen as host city
(Date of issue: Wednesday, 18 May 2011)
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.
Carlisle is one of 66 Evening Celebration locations across the
UK confirmed today (Wednesday, 18 May) by the London 2012
Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).
The evening events will offer thousands of people the opportunity
to come together and get involved in celebrations and share in the
Olympic spirit. As part of the events LOCOG and the Presenting
Partners, Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung, will stage exciting
entertainment shows where a cauldron will be lit from the Olympic
Flame, marking the end of the day’s proceedings.
The Olympic Flame will arrive in the UK from Greece on Friday 18
May 2012 and the 70 day Torch Relay will start at Land’s End,
Cornwall on the morning of the 19 May 2012. On leaving Land’s End,
the Olympic Flame is expected to travel an estimated 8,000 miles
across the UK, giving thousands of communities and individuals
their moment to shine as the Olympic Flame comes to their doorstep.
The Olympic Flame will arrive at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July
2012 for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony,
signifying the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Leader of Carlisle City Council, Cllr Mike Mitchelson, said:
“We’re delighted that our bid to be part of the London 2012
Olympic Torch Relay Route has been successful and that we’ll be
welcoming the Olympic Flame to Carlisle. It’s a chance for our
communities to get involved in the build up the Olympics and take
part in a local evening celebration. It will also provide another
boost to our local economy, as well as promoting the city and its
key attractions to a global audience.”
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: ‘We are thrilled that
Carlisle City Council has agreed to host the Olympic Flame on its
journey right across the UK. The Olympic Flame will shine a light
right across Carlisle, celebrating the culture and heritage of the
area and showcasing the very best of the city. We have no doubt
that the welcome Carlisle City Council will demonstrate how the
spirit of the Olympic Games is reaching out across the UK and
excitement builds as the start of the 2012 Games draws closer.’
The Olympic Flame will be carried across the UK by 8,000
inspirational Torchbearers and once the detailed daily route is
confirmed later this year, it is our aim that 95% population will
be within a one hour journey time, of the London 2012 Olympic Torch
Relay.
The London 2012 Olympic Torchbearer nomination programme
launches today at 11am. Together with the three Presenting Partners
– Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung, LOCOG is seeking 8,000 of the
most inspirational people to have their moment to shine next summer
by carrying the Olympic Flame. Full details of the LOCOG
Torchbearer programme and how to nominate potential Torchbearers
will be released from 11am today.
The LOCOG Torchbearer programme to find 2,012 inspirational
people who have gone beyond their personal best will run for six
weeks from today. The nomination portal at
www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay asks nominators for up to 150
words on why their nominee should carry the Olympic Flame. The
deadline for nominating through the LOCOG campaign is 11.59pm on
Wednesday 29 June 2011. Judging panels will be set up in each
Nation and Region of the UK to select the Torchbearers for their
area.
90% of the 8,000 Torchbearer places will be made available to
the public through a number of channels including the four public
nomination campaigns to be run by LOCOG, Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and
Samsung. Each of the 8,000 Torchbearers will have a story of
achievement and or contribution to their local community.
In addition to the locations confirmed on the route today, many
other cities, towns, villages and places of outstanding natural
beauty, sports venues and community hubs will be announced in a
second, more detailed route announcement later this year that will
confirm the many other places the Olympic Flame will visit on each
day of the Relay.