London 2012 Olympic torch relay route will pass through Wokingham Borough next July, it was announced today (November 7) by The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).
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. The street by street detail of the route will be confirmed next year.
Cllr UllaKarin Clark, executive member for internal services at Wokingham Borough Council, said: "We are delighted to learn that the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay will be passing through Wokingham Borough. This is a once in a lifetime event and we are very much looking forward to working with LOCOG to ensure Wokingham Borough residents can share and enjoy these celebrations. The London Olympics 2012 promises to be an exciting time for the whole country and is predicted to be one of the best yet."
LOCOG has worked closely with representatives from a number of sectors in the South East to devise the route that will see the Olympic Flame being carried through places such as East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, Bletchley Park and Winchester. The Olympic Flame is set to visit every county in the South East and the route achieves the optimum mix of proximity to people whilst taking in beautiful natural and urban landmarks to showcase the region around the world.
The 70 day Olympic Torch Relay, will start at Land’s End, Cornwall on the morning of May 19, 2012. On leaving Land’s End, the Olympic Flame will travel an estimated 8,000 miles. Not only does the route include villages, town and cities - the Olympic Torch Relay will also take in landmarks along the way and the Olympic Flame will be carried for sections of the route by a selection of modes of transport. In the South East these include the Flame travelling on the Needles chair lift on the Isle of Wight, riding aboard a rowing boat at Henley-on-Thames and a Torchbearer cycling with the Flame at Brands Hatch, the Paralympic Games Road Cycling venue. Torchbearers will also visit iconic sites such as Stoke Mandeville Stadium in Buckinghamshire, the Turner Contemporary in Margate, Battle Abbey in Hastings and will be running past Petworth House, West Sussex and along the Seven Sisters cliffs in East Sussex.
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 July 27, 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.
