The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) today revealed the 1,000 cities, towns and villages on the route of the Olympic Torch Relay.
The Olympic Flame will take a journey across the Isle of Wight and will pass top iconic landmarks including the Needles.
Following a visit to the Needles Park Chairlift at Alum Bay, torchbearers will carry the flame to Newport passing Carisbrooke Castle, on to the departure point passing Osborne House the former home of Queen Victoria at East Cowes. The flame will then cross the Solent to Southampton and have an overnight stop before being flown to the Channel Islands.
On the Island it will pass the landmarks of the Needles, Carisbrooke Castle and Osborne House (pictured).
An historic occasion
LOCOG Chair Seb Coe said: ‘I’m delighted that the Olympic Torch Relay will take the 2012 Games to almost every corner of the UK and that we have achieved our ambition to take the Flame to within an hour’s journey of 95% of the population.
‘Now everyone is invited to plan their welcome and find out where they can go to be part of this historic occasion. The Olympic Games are coming to you as the Olympic Flame gives our people and places their moment to shine.’
Between 18 May and 27 July, the Olympic Flame will come to within just 10 miles of 95% of the population of the UK.
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.
‘Great honour’
Councillor George Brown, from Isle of Wight Council, said: “It is a great honour to be part of the Olympic torch route.
“This could be a once-in-a-lifetime moment to view the torch on our own island and I know the local community will turn out in large numbers to welcome and cheer on the bearers next summer.”
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games has announced all the places the torch will visit www.london2012.com/olympic-torch-relay-map interactive map.
The 70-day Olympic Torch Relay, presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung, will start at Land’s End on 19 May 2012. The Flame will then travel an estimated 8,000 miles around the UK before it reaches London. It is planned that the Flame will travel down the River Thames on 27 July 2012 as it makes its way to the Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony.
The street-by-street detail of the route will be confirmed next year, with Torchbearer places confirmed from February 2012.
A Torch Relay for everyone
LOCOG has also launched two new public participation programmes to coincide with the announcement.
The Local Leaders initiative is an invitation to people across the UK who ‘get stuff done’ and are excited the Games. It encourages them to bring the Games into their community, creating celebrations for the Olympic Torch Relay and other key moments during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Sign up to be a Local Leader
Also launched today is the Get Set for the Olympic Torch Relay education resource, available to all schools registered with Get Set, London 2012’s official education programme. The resource provides schools with resources to aid learning around the history of Olympic Torch Relays and the design of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.
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