14 Southend Extra, Summer 2012
Torchcomes to town T
ENS of thousands of people lined the streets of Southend to glimpse apiece of Olympic history as the TorchRelay
travelled through town. The iconic symbol was carried by 29
torchbearers through the town, including former Olympic swimmer,Mark Foster,and 16-year-old Sophie Riches, who arrived at City Beach as ahuge choir -made up of people from the age of eight to 80 -burst into song with ‘Anthem: Let Your Light Shine’, which had been specially commis- sioned for the occasion. As well as the performance of ‘Anthem’,
created by internationally renowned com- poser Tolga Kashif, therewas awhole pro- gramme of dance displays, artistic perform- ances and Olympic themed entertainment throughout the town during the event on Friday,July 6. Sophie, an ex FitzwimarcSchool pupil from Rayleigh who had been chosen by the
abit worried at the beginning Imight drop the flame but that soon left my mind once I started running. "I don’tthink Iwill ever forget this experi-
ence it has been great. "Toget up on the platform when the choir
British Olympic Association to carry the torch for her previous running achievements in competitions, said she would never forget the experience of holding the torch in front of thousands of people. She said: "It was absolutely amazing Iwas
weresinging was brilliant. They sounded so amazing, it was agreat honour to run and for them to sing on my entry." An average of 115 torchbearers aday car-
ried the Olympic Flame during its 8,000 mile, 70-day journey around the UK beforeit arrived at the Olympic Stadium on July 27 for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony -signifying the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
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