London Set to Welcome Olympic Flame
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) confirmed arrangements for the Olympic Flame’s final journey down the River Thames on Friday 27 July and a selection of highlights for its seven-day journey around the capital.
(PRWEB) July 21, 2012
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) confirmed arrangements for the Olympic Flame’s final journey down the River Thames on Friday 27 July and a selection of highlights for its seven-day journey around the capital.
- 982 Torchbearers will carry the Flame around the capital during its seven day tour
- 18 Torchbearers on final day, seven of whom will travel down the Thames on Gloriana, The Queen’s Rowbarge
- Londoners advised to stay local and plan ahead at GetAheadoftheGames.com
- Click here for daily highlights sheets and summary maps
Having visited over 1,000 communities around the UK and celebrated the achievements of over 7,000 Torchbearers to date, the Olympic Torch Relay – presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung will see the Flame carried by 982 Torchbearers around 200 miles of the capital’s streets, taking in landmarks, community spaces and places to showcase London and Londoners to the world.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: ‘Thank you to everyone who has cheered on the Torchbearers right around the UK and helped to build the excitement towards the start of the Games. With eleven days to go until the Olympic Flame the lights the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony it is great to see London ready to welcome the Flame and set to celebrate inspiring people and amazing places in each and every Borough.’
Given the huge and enthusiastic crowds that have followed the Olympic Torch Relay on its journey around the UK – as estimated 9 million people have cheered on the Torchbearers to date - LOCOG and Transport for London (TfL) advise that the week when the Olympic Torch Relay is in London is expected to be exceptionally busy. Very large crowds are expected to line the London route and, alongside a number of road closures as the Olympic Flame visits all 33 London Boroughs from Saturday 21 to Friday 27 July, this will have an impact on traffic and transport networks in local areas.
As a result, at certain times and in certain places, London’s roads and public transport networks are expected to be much busier than usual. LOCOG and TfL advise Londoners that, if possible, it would be best to stay local and try to view the Flame when it passes through the area nearest to home or place of work. People will also be able to watch the arrival of the Flame live on the BBC.
On Thursday 26 and Friday 27 July in particular, roads in central London will be exceptionally busy and there will be a large number of road closures necessary along the route. On 27 Friday July, those without a ticket for the Opening Ceremony or another event in the Stratford area are advised to avoid the area from 3.00pm.
TfL has already issued advice to motorists that, from this week, they should avoid driving in central London, around the Olympic Route Network and Games venues.
For anyone travelling in London the advice is to check out the Torch Relay route and plan ahead. If travelling to an area where the Torch is passing through, the advice is to leave plenty of time for journeys and take public transport where possible.
On Friday 27 July, the final day of the London 2012 Torch Relay will gather momentum at Hampton Court Palace where Torchbearers will carry the Flame around the grounds of the Palace and through the world’s oldest hedge maze.
At about 7.30am the Flame will be carried on board Gloriana, The Queen’s Rowbarge which was presented to and named by Her Majesty The Queen in a ceremony that took place earlier this year and will provide a lasting legacy to mark Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee. The Flame will light a ceremonial cauldron on board Gloriana and over the course of the morning seven Torchbearers will light a Torch from the cauldron and carry the Flame for about eight minutes each at selected areas that are viewable from the banks of the River. The Torchbearers for the last day of the Relay – all members of the public with personal best stories - will be confirmed shortly.
Gloriana will be rowed by 16 oarsmen and women who will be drawn from a squad of 28 rowers on-board on the day. The squad is made up of former British Olympic crews dating back to the 1948 Games and ‘Olympians of the future’ from London Youth Rowing. Gloriana will be accompanied by a small number of craft designed to showcase London’s waterborne heritage as the Flame makes its way towards the Olympic Stadium.
The finale to the public participation in the Torch Relay will see the last Torchbearer on the River Thames carry the Flame to Tower Bridge for a final photo opportunity in front the Olympic Rings at approximately 12.45pm. The Flame will then remain out of public view at City Hall until it appears at the Opening Ceremony.
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: ‘The arrival of the Olympic Flame is a huge moment for the capital and an incredible opportunity for Londoners to experience, right on their doorsteps, the growing excitement as the countdown to the start of the 2012 Olympic Games moves ever nearer. From Redbridge to Bexley, Richmond to Haringey an incredible array of events and celebrations are planned so I'd encourage everyone to find out what's happening in their local area and get involved in this summer like no other.’
Sport and Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson said: ‘The Torch Relay has received a rousing reception from the British public over the last two months, with millions of people lining the streets to support the local hero Torchbearers as they passed by some of Britain’s most iconic landmarks and landscapes.
‘Now the Flame is on the home straight. Its arrival in London and journey through the capital marks the final countdown to what will be a great Games.’
A selection of highlights for the week-long tour of the capital include:
Friday 20 July
8.00pm (approx) – HM Tower of London: the Olympic Flame will arrive at Tower Wharf in front of the Tower of London. In a brief moment - best viewed on television as the view will be obscured on the ground - a Royal Marine Commando, carrying the Flame in a lantern, will undertake a 180ft abseil from a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter. Two Torchbearers will then carry the Flame around the Tower of London to be welcomed by Mayor of London Boris Johnson and the Lutfur Rahman, Mayor of Tower Hamlets and invited guests. At the Jewel House the Flame will be handed to the General the Lord Dannatt, Constable of the Tower of London, where it will remain overnight.
8.00pm (approx) – HM Tower of London: the Olympic Flame will arrive at Tower Wharf in front of the Tower of London. In a brief moment - best viewed on television as the view will be obscured on the ground - a Royal Marine Commando, carrying the Flame in a lantern, will undertake a 180ft abseil from a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter. Two Torchbearers will then carry the Flame around the Tower of London to be welcomed by Mayor of London Boris Johnson and the Lutfur Rahman, Mayor of Tower Hamlets and invited guests. At the Jewel House the Flame will be handed to the General the Lord Dannatt, Constable of the Tower of London, where it will remain overnight.
Saturday 21 July
7.21am – Greenwich Park: The London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay starts with Natasha Sinha, 15, from Greenwich who was nominated through the LOCOG campaign for her dedication to swimming and cross country running will carry the Flame from the Royal Observatory, Greenwich and the Meridian Time Line, through Greenwich Park to the London 2012 Equestrian Arena. There Natasha will hand the Flame to Ella Statham, 15, also from Greenwich who was nominated through the LOCOG programme for her volunteering work with the London Football Association.
7.21am – Greenwich Park: The London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay starts with Natasha Sinha, 15, from Greenwich who was nominated through the LOCOG campaign for her dedication to swimming and cross country running will carry the Flame from the Royal Observatory, Greenwich and the Meridian Time Line, through Greenwich Park to the London 2012 Equestrian Arena. There Natasha will hand the Flame to Ella Statham, 15, also from Greenwich who was nominated through the LOCOG programme for her volunteering work with the London Football Association.
7.43am – Cutty Sark: Sir Robin Knox-Johnson will carry the Flame for a lap around the restored Cutty Sark ship. Sir Robin was the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world, founded the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race in 1995 and has been a Cutty Sark Trustee since 2011.
Sunday 22 July
Time to be confirmed – EDF Energy London Eye: Amelia Hempleman-Adams, 17, from Surrey, who at the age of 16 became the youngest person to ski to the South Pole will hold the Flame on top of a capsule on the London Eye.
Time to be confirmed – EDF Energy London Eye: Amelia Hempleman-Adams, 17, from Surrey, who at the age of 16 became the youngest person to ski to the South Pole will hold the Flame on top of a capsule on the London Eye.
Monday 23 July
7.46am – Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust Centre: Doreen Lawrence, 59, from Catford will carry the Flame into the forecourt of the centre set up in memory of her son as base for community learning and development.
7.46am – Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust Centre: Doreen Lawrence, 59, from Catford will carry the Flame into the forecourt of the centre set up in memory of her son as base for community learning and development.
5.18pm – Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club: a Torchbearer will carry the Flame onto Centre Court.
Tuesday 24 July
8.22am – Hook Community Centre: The first Torchbearer of the day James Cracknell, 40, will start the Torch Relay at the Hook Community Centre in Kingston. Since retiring from international rowing in 2004 he is perhaps best known for his physical endeavours since this time. Many of the challenges that James undertakes result in him raising huge amounts of money for charity. Currently, James is campaigning to promote the use of cycle helmets using his own inspirational journey of recovery to illustrate their importance since his near fatal collision whilst riding his bike in 2010.
8.22am – Hook Community Centre: The first Torchbearer of the day James Cracknell, 40, will start the Torch Relay at the Hook Community Centre in Kingston. Since retiring from international rowing in 2004 he is perhaps best known for his physical endeavours since this time. Many of the challenges that James undertakes result in him raising huge amounts of money for charity. Currently, James is campaigning to promote the use of cycle helmets using his own inspirational journey of recovery to illustrate their importance since his near fatal collision whilst riding his bike in 2010.
Wednesday 25 July
6.50pm – Alexandra Palace: Daley Thompson will be the last Torchbearer of the day and will light the celebration cauldron at the Haringey evening celebration event. Daley holds more decathlon honours than anybody before or after him. He was the first person ever to hold the World, Olympic, Commonwealth and European titles at the same time, as well as the World Record. He was unbeaten in competition for 9 years. He trained at nearby HaringeyAthletics Club.
6.50pm – Alexandra Palace: Daley Thompson will be the last Torchbearer of the day and will light the celebration cauldron at the Haringey evening celebration event. Daley holds more decathlon honours than anybody before or after him. He was the first person ever to hold the World, Olympic, Commonwealth and European titles at the same time, as well as the World Record. He was unbeaten in competition for 9 years. He trained at nearby HaringeyAthletics Club.
Thursday 26 July
3.33pm – BBC White City: Two Torchbearers will exchange the Flame at the site of the finishing line in the stadium of the 1908 Olympic Games. One of the two Torchbearers is Antoine de Navacelle. Antoine is the great grand-nephew of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the father of the modern Olympic Games. Antoine is closely involved in the Olympic movement and has promoted the Coubertin Award student essay competition ahead of the London 2012 Games to promote wider understanding of the Olympic ideals. As a board member of the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee, Antoine acts as an advocate for the values of respect, excellence and friendship remaining embedded in the modern Olympic Games
3.33pm – BBC White City: Two Torchbearers will exchange the Flame at the site of the finishing line in the stadium of the 1908 Olympic Games. One of the two Torchbearers is Antoine de Navacelle. Antoine is the great grand-nephew of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the father of the modern Olympic Games. Antoine is closely involved in the Olympic movement and has promoted the Coubertin Award student essay competition ahead of the London 2012 Games to promote wider understanding of the Olympic ideals. As a board member of the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee, Antoine acts as an advocate for the values of respect, excellence and friendship remaining embedded in the modern Olympic Games
5.59pm – Downing Street: A Torchbearer will be given a special welcome to Downing Street.
Each day’s celebrations will conclude with an evening celebration that features a variety of entertainment staged by the three Presenting Partners of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay - Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung and the host boroughs of Waltham Forest (Saturday 21 July), Bexley (Sunday 22 July), Wandsworth (Monday 23 July), Ealing (Tuesday 24 July) and Haringey (Wednesday 25 July). On the evening of Thursday 26 July, Coca-Cola is presenting the final evening celebration of the Torch Relay with an extended show at Hyde Park, Westminster. Please see daily highlights sheets for event information.
For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office.
Notes to editors:
About Gloriana
The Queen has asked that Gloriana be retained by Lord Sterling and the Maritime Heritage Trust with assistance from Thames Alive. The Queen has approved the principle that Gloriana will be used to promote better use of the Thames. This can be achieved through providing opportunities for Royal-supported, and other charities, to play their part in occasions and celebrations upon the Thames, with a particular emphasis on events involving young people.
The Queen has asked that Gloriana be retained by Lord Sterling and the Maritime Heritage Trust with assistance from Thames Alive. The Queen has approved the principle that Gloriana will be used to promote better use of the Thames. This can be achieved through providing opportunities for Royal-supported, and other charities, to play their part in occasions and celebrations upon the Thames, with a particular emphasis on events involving young people.
Following Gloriana’s involvement with the London Olympic Games she will return to her current home in St Katherine’s Dock.
For further information and images of Gloriana please contact Ben Fry or Will Carnwath, Brunswick Group on 020 7404 5959 or email Gloriana(at)brunswickgroup(dot)com
Each day two short packages of broadcast footage will be made available. The packages will be available via the Footage library – accessible from the Media Centre on london2012.com and direct from this linkhttp://footagelibrary.london2012.com. Media will need to register for access in advance. Registration is free.
The broadcast of the Olympic Torch Relay is provided for Editorial Use Only. There can be no commercial association, no third party association and no commercial/ad superimposition on the video footage, unless the prior written consent of the IOC is acquired.
About the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Presenting Partners:
As the longest standing Presenting Partner of the Olympic Torch Relay, Coca-Cola will be using its heritage and experience to spread excitement across the UK ahead of London 2012. Coca-Cola's national nomination campaign - Future Flames – has focused on finding inspirational young people from across the country to have the once in a lifetime opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame. This summer Coca-Cola will celebrate these Future Flames: young people who use their passions in areas like sport and physical activity, music and dance, and community and the environment; to spread happiness in their local communities.
As the longest standing Presenting Partner of the Olympic Torch Relay, Coca-Cola will be using its heritage and experience to spread excitement across the UK ahead of London 2012. Coca-Cola's national nomination campaign - Future Flames – has focused on finding inspirational young people from across the country to have the once in a lifetime opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame. This summer Coca-Cola will celebrate these Future Flames: young people who use their passions in areas like sport and physical activity, music and dance, and community and the environment; to spread happiness in their local communities.
As the only National Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, Lloyds TSB will be taking the inspiration and excitement of the Olympic Flame right to the heart of communities across the UK. As part of Lloyds Banking Group, Bank of Scotland will be the National Presenting Partner in Scotland. We are creating as many opportunities as possible for communities the length and breadth of the UK to get involved as the Flame travels past their front doors.
Lloyds Banking Group is Britain’s biggest corporate investor in UK communities and in 2011 invested £85 million and as part of the Group’s Community Investment Programme, we’ve launched the Lloyds Banking Group Community Fund to give back to the communities in which we operate and pass through on our journey with the Olympic Flame. We’re inviting everyone to visit the Lloyds TSB stand at each Evening Celebration to vote for a community project in their area that inspires and supports young people. By voting at the Evening Celebration members of the public will automatically enter a draw to win four tickets to London 2012. The two projects that receive the most votes at each locality will each win a £5,000 grant from Lloyds Banking Group. At the Lloyds TSB site members of the public will also have the opportunity to have their photo taken with the Olympic Torch, meet Lloyds TSB Local Heroes – the future stars of Team GB and ParalympicsGB – and get up close to our Flame Followers.
As a Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, Samsung aims to encourage everyone to be part of the greatest show on Earth to make London 2012 ‘Everyone’s Olympic Games.’ We aspire to offer new and memorable experiences for everyone around the world through our own innovative and smart wireless technology. Samsung is providing 1,360 Torchbearers, who have “gone the extra mile” by contributing to the local communities, through its worldwide public nomination campaign. In total over 25,000 nominations were received. Samsung will support towns and cities to celebrate the exciting moment of the Torch Relay and help showcase Great Britain’s cultural landmarks to provide a more enjoyable experience to everyone. The evening celebrations that will be staged by Samsung in 66 towns and cities throughout the Olympic Flame’s journey across the UK, will allow Samsung to entertain the community they are visiting. The Samsung caravan, complete with LED screen on the side showcasing runners and goodwill messages, will follow the Torchbearers around the UK cheering up everyone to celebrate the Torch Relay with music and interaction with local communities. It is Samsung’s ambition that London 2012 will be an event that reaches and involves more people than on any other Olympic Games occasion.
The BBC will be providing extensive coverage of the Torch Relay on television, radio and online. This will include special Breakfast shows on every BBC local radio station, and extended live coverage of an evening celebration event in every Nation and English Region. Full details of the coverage will be at bbc.co.uk/2012.
The Supporters of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay are:
Worldwide Olympic Partners Procter and Gamble and Visa, Tier One Partners adidas, BMW, BP, British Airways, BT and EDF, Tier Three Providers Aggreko, Holiday Inn and NATURE VALLEY.
Worldwide Olympic Partners Procter and Gamble and Visa, Tier One Partners adidas, BMW, BP, British Airways, BT and EDF, Tier Three Providers Aggreko, Holiday Inn and NATURE VALLEY.
London 2012 Games partners:
The Worldwide Olympic Partners who support the London 2012 Olympic Games and the National Olympic Committees around the world are Coca-Cola, Acer, Atos, Dow Chemical Company, GE, McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Procter and Gamble, Samsung and Visa.
The Worldwide Olympic Partners who support the London 2012 Olympic Games and the National Olympic Committees around the world are Coca-Cola, Acer, Atos, Dow Chemical Company, GE, McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Procter and Gamble, Samsung and Visa.
LOCOG has seven domestic Tier One Partners - adidas, BMW, BP, British Airways, BT, EDF and Lloyds TSB. There are seven domestic Tier Two Supporters – Adecco, ArcelorMittal, Cadbury, Cisco, Deloitte, Thomas Cook and UPS.
There are now twenty-eight domestic Tier Three Suppliers and Providers – Aggreko, Airwave, Atkins, Boston Consulting Group, CBS Outdoor, Crystal CG, Eurostar, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, G4S, GSK, Gymnova, Heathrow Airport, Heineken UK, Holiday Inn, John Lewis, McCann Worldgroup, Mondo, NATURE VALLEY, Next, Nielsen, Populous, Rapiscan Systems, Rio Tinto, Technogym, Thames Water, Ticketmaster, Trebor and Westfield.
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