2012 Summer Olympics torch relay
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The 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay is in progress, running from 19 May – 27 July 2012, prior to the 2012 Summer Olympics. The torch bearer selection process was announced on 18 May 2011.[1]
As well as touring the United Kingdom the schedule includes the three crown dependencies - Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man - and the Republic of Ireland.
Organisation
The traditional lighting ceremony took place on 10 May 2012 at the Temple of Hera, Olympia, home of the Ancient Olympic Games.[2] The torch relay travelled around Greece, and arriving at the Panathinaiko Stadium, in Athens on 17 May for the handover ceremony.
The torch relay will last 70 days, with 66 evening celebrations, six island visits with about 8,000 people carrying the torch a total distance of about 8,000 miles (12,800 km), starting from Land's End in Cornwall.[3] The torch had one day outside of the United Kingdom when it visited Dublin on 6 June.[4] The relay will focus on national heritage sites, locations with sporting significance, key sporting events, schools registered with the Get Set School Network, green spaces and biodiversity, Live Sites (city locations with large screens), festivals and other events.[5]
The torch relay will bring the Olympics to within 1 hour of 95% of the UK population. It is intended to help the London 2012 Olympic Legacy by getting school children, local celebrities and local people involved.[6]
Following a three month tour by LOCOG, local authorities submitted ideas to regional government and LOCOG by May 2010, such as Oxfordshire.[7] However some counties such as Somerset declined to enter ideas on grounds of costs such as road closures, citing costs of up to £300,000.[8]
On 26 May 2010 the start date of the Torch Relay was announced, along with three presenting partners – Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung. The torchbearer public nomination campaign, announced on 18 May 2011, called 'Moment to Shine', gave people across the UK the chance to be involved in the countdown to the start of the London 2012 Games.[9]
Journey to the UK
Mayor of London Boris Johnson, Lord Coe, David Beckham were among 80 guests also including a group of teenagers: rugby player Dennis Coles from East Ayrshire representing Scotland, hockey player Chloe Brown from Bangor representing Northern Ireland, athlete Sean White from Swansea representing Wales, hockey player Georgia Higgs from Cornwall and Sakinah Muhammad from Hackney representing London.[10][11]
On 16 May 2012 a British Airways Airbus A319, with a custom gold livery and named "The Firefly" flew from Heathrow to Athens to collect the flame.[12] On 18 May 2012 the aircraft flew as flight number BA2012 from Athens to RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall carrying the Olympic Flame. The flame was not extinguished during the flight, having been classified as a 'ceremonial flame' by the Civil Aviation Authority who gave permission to transport it whilst still alight. The torch was kept in four Davy lamps secured in a cradle which was firmly fixed to the seats in Row 1. They had enough smoke-free fuel to last 30 hours.[13][14][15]
After an overnight stay at RNAS Culdrose, members of 771 Naval Air Squadron took the Olympic Flame to Land's End from RNAS Culdrose by Sea King helicopter where the Olympic Torch was lit. Olympic sailing star Ben Ainslie ran the first leg of the Torch Relay.[16]
Relay elements
The Olympic Torches are made of aluminium alloy skin, perforated by 8,000 circles representing the 8,000 torchbearers who will carry the flame, The circles also help ensure heat is quickly dissipated, without being conducted down the handle, and providing extra grip. The triangular-shaped torches represent:
- The three Olympic values - respect, excellence and friendship,
- The Olympic motto - faster, higher, stronger,
- the Olympic Games hosted by United Kingdom (1908, 1948 and 2012)
- The vision of the 2012 Summer Olympics - sport, education and culture.
The colour of the torch is gold; this represents the qualities of the Olympic Flame – the brightness and the warmth of the light that it shines. The torch was designed by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby. It stands 80 centimetres (31 in) high and weighs 800 grams (1.8 lb),[17] and tested to withstand all likely weather conditions. Production of the torches started at the end of 2011.
Torch Security
The torch is escorted through the towns and communities by a team of specially trained officers from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) known as the Torch Security Team (TST). These were chosen from the initial 644 applications and following an eight month selection process. Their primary role is to protect the Olympic and Paralympic Flames as well as the safety of the torchbearer carrying the flame. However these "runners" form one part of the wider torch security team which consists of motorcyclists, pedal cyclists, senior officers and operational planners.
Incidents
On the torch's journey through Land's End, one man broke past the pace car but was swiftly tackled to the ground by the Torch Security Team runners as he was thought[who?] to be attempting to reach the torchbearer.[18]
When the torch was travelling through Derry scuffles broke out between police and republican protesters as they blocked the torch's planned route near the Guildhall. Consequently it was forced to go a different way in order to reach the Peace Bridge.[19]
During the torch's journey through Bishop Auckland (County Durham), it was carried by Kieran Maxwell, a 13 year old from Newton Aycliffe. He was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma in 2010 and lost part of his left leg. Whilst carrying the torch in his left hand and crutch in his right he fell, but was quickly helped to his feet by the Torch Security Team.[20]
As the torch was leaving Headingley towards Leeds, a man with a bucket of water was seen in the crowd. The man was swiftly tackled by the torch security team before he could empty the contents.[21]
On 25 June, UK Uncut staged protests as the torch travelled past the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, campaigning against the changes to the National Health Service.[22]
A male streaker was arrested on 10 July after running in front of the torch convoy as it passed through Henley-on-Thames[23] with 'Free Tibet' written on his back.[24]
A 17 year old male was arrested on 20 July in Gravesend, Kent after unsuccessfully attempting to grab the torch, there were no injuries and the torch continued on its way. [25]
Other modes of transport
This article needs to be updated.(June 2012) |
As well as road runners, the torch will be conveyed on other modes of transport as part of the relay, often in four Davy lamps.
On water, the torch rode in a power boat in Bristol Harbour[26][27] and in an RNLI lifeboat along the Menai Strait.[28] Slower journeys will occur by ferry on the Mersey Ferry[29] and by the steamboat MV Tern across Windermere.[30][31] In unpowered watercraft, it will be punted along the River Cam in Cambridge,[32] and rowed along the River Medway in Maidstone.[33]
On rails the torch will be hauled by steam locomotives over track of various gauges. The LMS Royal Scot Class locomotive No. 6115 Scots Guardsman will convey the torch on the mainline railway along the East Coast Main Line.[34] Trips will also be taken on standard gauge heritage railways at the Great Central Railway,[35] the North Yorkshire Moors Railway[36] and the Severn Valley Railway[37] On smaller gauges, the torch will visit the narrow gauge Ffestiniog Railway[28] and a miniature railway in the form of the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway.[38] It will be taken up gradients by funicular railways on the Aberystwyth Cliff Railway,[28] the Hastings East Hill Cliff Railway,[39] and Great Orme Tramway,[30] as well as the narrow gauge rack railway of the Snowdon Mountain Railway.[28] Electric trams will carry the torch on the Blackpool tramway[40] and Manx Electric Railway.[41]
Using road vehicles, the torch will complete eighty percent of its tour of Britain in a security van.[42] A road train will be used in the Mumbles in Swansea[28] and it will ride on an open top bus through the Cumbrian countryside.[43] The torch will be transported on three wheels by a TT motorcycle sidecar on the Isle of Man,[41] by a Paralympic road cycle around the Brands Hatch motor racing circuit[44] and by mountain bike at the Hadleigh Farm course in Essex.[45]
Horses featured when the torch was carried on the back of racehorses at the Cheltenham[46] and Chester[30] racecourses. It was carried on a Cob horse in Aberaeron[28] and hauled by horse drawn tram on the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway.[30]
Aerial journeys were taken when the torch travelled by zip wire from the top of the Tyne Bridge to the Gateshead riverside[needs update],[47] and when it is conveyed by cable car up the Heights of Abraham in Derbyshire.[48] It was also suspended over water as it was transported by the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge over the River Tees.[49]
A planned handing over ceremony on the Tamar Bridge was cancelled in favour of the torch being driven over the border in the security van. Martin Gee, the Mayor of Saltash, said "It seems sad that it is not being made a really, really big event - this is the end of Cornwall and we should be celebrating the torch going off to England."[50] The crossing was made by a runner instead.[51]
Route in Greece before leaving for the UK
10 May (day 1)
11 May (day 2)
- Chania (Crete), Rethymno (Crete), Agios Nikolaos (Chania) (Crete), Heraklion (Crete), Kastelorizo
12 May (day 3)
13 May (day 4)
14 May (day 5)
- Kavala, Komotini, Kipoi, Evros, border crossing between Greece and Turkey, Alexandroupoli, Xanthi, Drama
15 May (day 6)
16 May (day 7)
17 May (day 8)
Route
Date | Map |
---|---|
19 May (day 1): Land's End |
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3 June (day 16): Portrush |
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8 June (day 21): Glasgow |
|
14 June (day 27): Alnwick |
|
5 July (day 48): Ipswich |
|
14 July (day 57): Southampton |
|
16 July (day 59): Portsmouth |
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21 July (day 64): Waltham Forest |
See also
References
- ^ Magnay, Jacquelin (17 May 2011). "London 2012 torch relay should focus on youth". Telegraph. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- ^ "London 2012 Olympic Flame is lit in Greece". LOCOG. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
- ^ "London 2012 Olympic torch relay route revealed". BBC News. 18 May 2011. Archived from the original on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Dublin to host Olympic Torch'". Irish Times. 8 December 2011.
- ^ "London Culture and 2012 Open Meeting" (PDF). london.gov.uk. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
- ^ "Olympic Torch relay route". LOCOG. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
- ^ "Oxfordshire's Torch Relay for London 2012". Retrieved 18 May 2011.
- ^ "Somerset says no to Olympic torch". The Daily Telegraph. London. 5 April 2010.
- ^ "Search begins for 8,000 inspirational people to carry the Olympic Flame". 18 May 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
- ^ David Beckham to collect Olympic flame, BBC News, 16 May 2012.
- ^ Clapton collects Olympic Flame
- ^ Athens Airport Aviation News 16 May 2012.
- ^ RNAS Culdrose to welcome Olympic Flame into UK, MoD Press Release, 1 February 2012.
- ^ "Olympic Flame for the London 2012 Games is lit in Ancient Olympia". LOCOG. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
- ^ "The Olympic Torch Relay". LOCOG. 18 May 2011. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Naval fliers to get the Olympic flame going on its epic journey (Navy News)
- ^ Olympic Torch Relay ... The Torch
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18128245
- ^ Olympic torch trouble in Londonderry
- ^ "Boy continues after fall with torch". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
- ^ "Olympic torch in Leeds: Owzat for a welcome on the sunshine streets". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
- ^ "UK Uncut stage torch protests in Sheffield". UK Uncut. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- ^ "Olympic torch: Man charged after 'Free Tibet' streak". BBC News. BBC. 10 July 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ^ "Streaker Flies the Flag for Free Tibet". Free Tibet Campaign. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
- ^ "Teen arrested after Olympic torch grab attempt in Gravesend". 20 July 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
- ^ "Bristol Sailability". Aiming High. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ "The Olympic Torch Relay in Bristol". Visit Bristol. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f Hutchinson, Claire (19 March 2012). "Olympic torch's street-by-street route through Wales revealed". Wales Online. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ "London 2012: Liverpool's Olympic torch route revealed". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Highlight moments". london2012.com. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ "London 2012: Olympic torch set for Windermere steamer ride". BBC News. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ "London 2012: Cambridgeshire Olympic torch route revealed". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ "Kent's street-by-street Olympic Torch relay route". Kent News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ "London 2012: Flying Scotsman out of Olympic torch relay". BBC News. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ Ache, Isaac (19 March 2012). "Charnwood's Olympic Torch Relay route revealed". Loughborough Echo. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ "London 2012: North Yorkshire torch relay route revealed". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ Tomaney, William (19 March 2012). "Olympic Torch relay route announced". The Shuttle. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ "London 2012: Humber Olympic torch relay route revealed". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ "London 2012: Sussex Olympic torch relay route announced". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ "Fylde coast Olympic torch route revealed". The Gazette. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ a b "London 2012: Olympic torch to be carried in TT sidecar". BBC News. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ Robinson, Martin; Eccles, Louise (19 March 2012). "Unveiled...the 2012 pyjama torchbearers: And by the way, 80% of Olympic flame's tour will be by security van". Daily Mail.
- ^ "London 2012: Cumbria Olympic torch relay route revealed". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ "Olympic torch to lap Brands Hatch this summer!". BrandsHatch. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ "London 2012: Essex Olympic torch relay route details revealed". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ Sale, Charles (16 March 2012). "Charles Sale: Cheltenham security rein in Leicester's St Ledger". Mail Online. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ "London 2012: Olympic flame to zip-wire from Tyne Bridge in Newcastle". BBC News. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ "London 2012: Olympic torch to ride Derbyshire cable car during relay". BBC News. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ "London 2012: Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge hosts torch relay". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ "London 2012: Cornwall Olympic torch Tamar Bridge dismay". BBC News. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ^ "Olympic torch: Relay runner to cross Tamar Bridge". BBC News. Retrieved 19 May 2012.