8 Maidstone Borough Council Maidstone chosen for 2012 Olympic Torch Relay
Maidstone has been chosen to host an Evening Celebration as part of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.
The Olympic Flame will be visiting the borough on its journey around the UK with a cauldron lighting celebration showcasing the County Town’s culture and heritage at Leeds Castle, Maidstone at the end of the day on Thursday, July 19, 2012.
Maidstone will be one of 66 Evening Celebration locations across the UK, which the London 2012 Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) say will offer thousands of people the opportunity to come together and get involved in celebrations and share in the Olympic spirit. As part of the events LOCOG and the Presenting Partners, Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung, will stage exciting entertainment shows where a cauldron will be lit from the Olympic Flame, marking the end of the day’s proceedings.
doorstep. The Olympic Flame will arrive at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony, signifying the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Torchbearers needed!
The Olympic Flame will arrive in the UK from Greece on Friday, May 18, 2012 and the 70-day Torch Relay will start at Land’s End, Cornwall on the morning of the May 19, 2012. On leaving Land’s End, the Olympic Flame is expected to travel an estimated 8,000 miles across the UK, giving thousands of communities and individuals their moment to shine as the Olympic Flame comes to their
Signed, sealed and delivered
The Olympic Flame will be carried across the UK by inspirational Torchbearers. Together with the three Presenting Partners – Coca- Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung, LOCOG is seeking 8,000 of the most inspirational people to have their moment to shine next summer by carrying the Olympic Flame. The LOCOG Torchbearer programme to find 2,012 inspirational people who have gone beyond their personal best will run until June 29. The nomination portal at
www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay asks nominators for up to 150 words on why their nominee should carry the Olympic Flame. Judging panels will be set up in each region of the UK to select the Torchbearers for their area. 90% of the 8,000 Torchbearer places will be made available to the public through the four nomination campaigns being run by LOCOG, Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung. The Presenting Partner campaigns will run across a variety of channels including online, advertising, retail and customer programmes.
Maidstone Borough Council supports its local athletes through its Maidstone Dream initiative. Leader of the Council, Chris Garland is looking forward to welcoming the Olympic Flame to Maidstone. “This is great news for the borough and well deserved. The Olympic Games are all about taking part and this is a chance for us to celebrate and be part of the
Olympics. I am hoping that some of our Maidstone’s Dream athletes will not only take part but maybe bring home a medal to Maidstone. Maidstone people will give the Flame a tremendous welcome;” he said.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: “We are thrilled that Maidstone Borough Council has agreed to host the Olympic Flame on its journey right across the UK. The Olympic Flame will shine a light right across Maidstone, celebrating the culture and heritage of the area and showcasing the very best of this town.”
Leeds Castle Chief Executive, Victoria Wallace, said: “The Leeds Castle Foundation are delighted that the Olympic torch is coming to the loveliest
castle in the world, continuing our proud support for young athletes working with Maidstone's Dream. We will make it an event for the whole community to remember."
Once the detailed daily route is confirmed later this year, the aim is for 95% of the UK population to be within a one hour journey time, of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.
Contracts are due to be signed this month for Maidstone’s High Street Regeneration Project. Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Transport, Cllr Malcolm Greer, said: “Eurovia, formerly Ringway, were the contractors for the first phase of the work. This second phase, costing £2.2m, will refurbish King Street and the High Street as far as Pudding Lane and Bank Street.”
Work is set to start in the autumn. When it does start there will be a Eurovia public liaison officer on site to answer questions from businesses and shoppers. Cllr Greer added: “I cannot wait for the first sod to be dug. Our town is going to see such a transformation but disruption will be kept to an absolute minimum for both shoppers and retailers.” For further details visit
http://highstreet.maidstone.gov.uk
Tel: 01622 602000 email:
customercare@maidstone.gov.uk www.maidstone.gov.uk
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