Dumfries and Galloway chosen to welcome London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Route
Written by admin on November 10, 2011
Stranraer, Cairnryan, Dumfries, Annan, Eastriggs and Gretna have been chosen as some of the areas that the Olympic Torch will be passing through as part of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. The Relay will see communities across Dumfries and Galloway welcoming the Olympic Flame as it passes through the region.
Stranraer, Cairnryan, Dumfries, Annan, Eastriggs and Gretna are six 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, Bank of Scotland and Samsung. LOCOG has worked closely with representatives from a number of sectors in Dumfries and Galloway to devise the route.
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.
