Ready, set… go! Olympic flame to pass through Tewkesbury Borough

Tewkesbury Borough Council is proud to announce that three areas within the borough have been selected as part of the Olympic Torch Relay Route – and residents are being invited to welcome the flame as it passes through.

The relay will pass through Brockworth and Shurdington on 23 May and through Maisemore on 24 May, and the borough council is now looking to work with local communities to develop ways to drum up support and encourage residents to join in the celebrations.

Brockworth, Shurdington and Maisemore are three of more than 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, Lloyds TSB and Samsung.

Tewkesbury Borough Council’s Lead Member for Safer, Stronger and Healthier Communities Cllr Claire Wright said: “We are thrilled that such a high profile and significant celebration will pass through Tewkesbury Borough. This is a unique opportunity and we hope to work closely with local community groups and schools to make the Torch Relay an event to remember.”

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: ‘We are thrilled to confirm that Brockworth, Shurdington and Maisemore will act as host locations for the Olympic Flame, extending an invitation to people in Tewkesbury Borough to welcome the Olympic Torch Relay during its journey around the UK. This is the UK’s moment to shine and I want to encourage people across Tewkesbury Borough to start planning how they can be part of this once in a lifetime opportunity and show their support for the inspirational Torchbearers chosen to carry the Olympic Flame as we count down to the start of the Olympic Games.

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.

If you know anymore about this event please email will.owen@thebestof.co.uk

Team Gloucester x