London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Route comes to Stafford

Stafford Borough was celebrating today after it was announced the Olympic Torch would be coming through the area in the build up to the 2012 games.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) revealed today (Monday 7 November) that the flame will come through Stafford and the nearby villages of Gnosall and Haughton.

It follows months of discussions by the council and organisers of the London games and now preparations are being made to accommodate the torch when it arrives in the town on Wednesday 30 May next year.

Councillor Mike Smith, deputy leader of the borough council and the cabinet member responsible for leisure, said it was brilliant news for the whole borough. He said: “This isn’t about an individual town or villages – this is about the chance for our whole community to get a once in the life time opportunity to see one of the iconic symbols of the Olympics on our doorstep and we want everyone to share in those celebrations.”

Councillor Smith visited youngsters at the Castlechurch school in Stafford today (Monday 7 November) to tell them the torch was coming to the town and to hand over an official invite for them to come along and see it.

The Olympic organisers confirmed the 1,000 villages, towns and cities the torchbearers will visit during its 70-day tour of the UK. Details of the route will not be released until next year. The ‘Flame’ will be carried across the UK by 8,000 nominated torchbearers. Successful nominees will be contacted with a conditional offer next month and final places will start to be confirmed from February 2012.

The ‘Torch Relay,’ which is presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung, will mean the Flame comes within 10 miles of more than 95% of the UK population as it covers over 100 miles a day. People can view the interactive map at www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelaymap to find their nearest community through which the Olympic Flame will be carried.

LOCOG are also using the relay to encourage local people to get involved in organising events for day and around the time of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the ‘Local Leaders’ initiative which people can sign up to at www.london2012.com/localleaders. Schools and colleges have their chance to get involved at www.london2012.com/getset.

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: ‘We are thrilled to confirm that Stafford, Gnosall and Haughton will act as host locations for the Olympic Flame, extending an invitation to people in the 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 Stafford 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.”

Olympian and former 5,000 metre world record holder, David Moorcroft, West Midlands for 2012 Chair said: “What fantastic news for the residents of Stafford Borough that they will have their opportunity to welcome the Olympic Flame on 30 May. We encourage communities to start thinking now about how they will celebrate as the Olympic Torch Relay, a once in a lifetime experience for many of us, signals the approach of the London 2012 Olympic Games.”

Councillor Smith added: “We have worked very hard behind the scenes, along with the county council, to get the borough on this route and I really hope today’s news will inspire others to organise, or get involved with, activities, throughout 2012 and demonstrate what a great community we have in Stafford, Stone and all the other villages that make up our beautiful borough.”

Are you planning any Olympic themed events in 2012, or activities for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee? If so let us know at 2012@staffordbc.gov.uk.

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