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2012 Summer Olympics torch relay

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Countries visitedUnited Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man
Distance12,800 km (8,000 miles)
Torch bearers8,000
Start date10 May 2012
End date27 July 2012
Torch designerEdward Barber and Jay Osgerby
Olympic rings
Part of a series on
2012 Summer Olympics
Simplified 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay route map. The curve does not follow the actual route but merely shows the progress of the torch through the places labelled as follows:

The 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay was run from 19 May until 27 July, prior to the London 2012 Summer Olympics. The torch bearer selection process was announced on 18 May 2011.[1]

As well as touring the United Kingdom the schedule included the three crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, and also the Republic of Ireland.

Organisation

The traditional lighting ceremony took place on 10 May at the Temple of Hera, Olympia, home of the Ancient Olympic Games.[2] The torch travelled around Greece, arriving at the Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens on 17 May for the handover ceremony.

The UK torch relay lasted 70 days, with 66 evening celebrations. About 8,000 people carried the torch a total distance of about 8,000 miles (12,800 km), starting from Land's End in Cornwall. A wide range of people carried the torch around the country, mostly sports men and women, military figures and other local heroes from towns and cities across the UK. A number of celebrities also held the flame on its journey, including Doctor Who star Matt Smith, British/Irish boy band The Wanted, dance troupe/Britain's Got Talent winners Diversity and long time TV presenter, dancer, singer and comedian Bruce Forsyth.[3] The torch had a day outside of the United Kingdom in Dublin on 6 June[4] (as well as visits to the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man). The relay focused on national heritage sites, locations with sporting significance, key sporting events, schools registered with the Get Set School Network, green spaces, biodiversity, 'Live Sites' (locations with large screens), local festivals, and other events.[5]

Following a three-month tour by LOCOG, local authorities submitted ideas to regional government and LOCOG by May 2010.[6] However some counties such as Somerset declined to put forward ideas citing potential costs of up to £300,000.[7]

The start date for the Relay was announced on 26 May 2010, as were the three presenting partners: Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung. The nomination campaign for torchbearers was announced on 18 May 2011 and called 'Moment to Shine'.[8]

Journey to the UK

The specially painted British Airways Airbus A319 carried the flame from Greece to the United Kingdom

On 16 May a British Airways Airbus A319, with custom gold livery and named "The Firefly", flew from Heathrow to Athens to collect the flame.[9] On 18 May the aircraft flew as flight BA2012 from Athens to RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall. The flame was not extinguished during flight, having been classified as a 'ceremonial flame' by the Civil Aviation Authority, but was kept in four Davy lamps secured in a cradle firmly fixed to seats in Row 1. There was enough smokeless fuel to last 30 hours.[10][11][12]

HRH The Princess Royal, Mayor of London Boris Johnson, Lord Coe, and David Beckham were among 80 invited guests, along with 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.[13][14]

After an overnight stay at RNAS Culdrose, members of 771 Naval Air Squadron took the Flame to Land's End by Sea King helicopter. There the Olympic Cauldron was lit. Olympic sailing star Ben Ainslie ran the first leg of the relay.[15]

The Torches

Main article: London 2012 Olympic Torch
2012 Summer Olympics torch
The Olympic torch on display in Cardiff, Wales

In the summer of 2010, the Design Council were commissioned to prepare the design brief and begin the search for a design for the Torch and related relay artifacts. With more than 800 designers interested in the project, a short list of 22 was presented to Locog. 6 were selected to present designs the selection being made a few months later. The winning design came from Barber Osgerby, led by Edward Barder and Jay Osgerby.

Their design of the 2012 Olympic Torches was made of two aluminium alloy skin, perforated by 8,000 holes to represent the 8,000 torchbearers who would carry the flame. Technically the holes also helped to dissipate heat without it being conducted down the handle, and provided extra grip.

The triangular shape of torches represented:

The gold of the torches represented the qualities of the Olympic Flame – brightness and warmth. The torch stands 80 centimetres (31 in) high, weighing 800 grams (1.8 lb).[16] To realise this award winning design, TECOSIM (an engineering company) was responsible for the research, engineering and technical development of the torch and associated relay items including the celebration cauldrons. Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) was used to simulate various scenarios that the torch might encounter during the relay, from environmental conditions to physical damage. Torch bearer safety was of prime importance at all times, so TECOSIM completed rigorous physical testing to validate the design. It was tested to withstand all likely weather conditions, from high winds to rain and snow at altitude utilizing the BMW Climatic Windtunnel in Munich as well as in field-testing. Production of the torches started towards the end of 2011.

Fuel

LOCOG, together with sustainability partner and sponsor EDF Energy, committed in 2009 to provide a "low-carbon fuel solution for the flames of the Olympic torch and the cauldron".[17] When the torch was unveiled on 8 June 2011, London 2012's chairman Sebastian Coe admitted the failure of the initiative, as "In simple terms, we didn't quite get there ... We just ran [out] of time and we tried very hard to do it". The final design of the torch used a "tried and tested formula" of butane and propane.[18]

Security

The torch relay crossing Monnow Bridge, Monmouth, Wales, the Torch Security Team are seen jogging either side the torch bearer.

The torch was escorted by a team of trained officers from the Metropolitan Police Service known as the Torch Security Team. These were chosen from 644 initial applications through an eight-month selection process. Their primary role was to protect the Olympic and Paralympic Flames as well as ensuring the safety of the torchbearer. These "runners" formed part of a wider torch security team which consisted of motorcyclists, pedal cyclists, senior officers and operational planners.

Incidents

Near Land's End, one man broke past the pace car but was swiftly tackled to the ground by the Torch Security Team, as he was thought to be trying to reach the torchbearer.[19]

In Derry scuffles broke out between police and republican protesters, as they blocked the planned route near the Guildhall. Consequently, the relay was forced to divert in order to reach the Peace Bridge.[20]

At Bishop Auckland (County Durham) the torchbearer was Kieran Maxwell, a 13-year-old from Newton Aycliffe. He had been diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma in 2010 and lost part of his left leg. He fell whilst carrying the torch but was quickly helped to his feet by the Torch Security Team.[21]

As the torch was leaving Headingley towards Leeds, a man with a bucket of water was seen in the crowd. He was swiftly tackled by the security team before he could empty the contents.[22]

On 25 June UK Uncut staged protests against changes to the National Health Service as the torch travelled past the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield.[23]

A male streaker with 'Free Tibet' written on his back was arrested on 10 July, after running in front of the torch as it passed through Henley-on-Thames.[24][25]

A 17-year-old was arrested on 20 July in Gravesend, Kent after unsuccessfully attempting to grab the torch while screaming 'Allahu Akbar'.[26]

Modes of transport

As well as road runners, the Flame was conveyed on other modes of transport, sometimes kept in Davy lamps.

The Olympic torch being punted down the River Cam during the Cambridge leg of the 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay.

On water, the torch rode in a power boat in Bristol Harbour,[27][28] in an RNLI lifeboat along the Menai Strait,[29] by ferry on the Mersey Ferry,[30] and by the steamboat MV Tern across Windermere.[31][32] In unpowered watercraft, it was punted along the River Cam in Cambridge,[33] and rowed along the River Medway in Maidstone.[34] Its final journey to the Olympic Stadium on 27 July was by speedboat, piloted by footballer David Beckham along the River Thames.[35]

Over rail the torch was hauled by steam locomotives of various gauges. The LMS Royal Scot Class locomotive No. 6115 Scots Guardsman conveyed it on the East Coast Main Line between York and Thirsk.[36] Scots Guardsman was used as a substitute for No. 4472 Flying Scotsman. It was discovered soon after returning from a long overhaul that Flying Scotsman had lots of unnoticed cracks on it that needed repairing urgently and as a result, the iconic and famous 'Scotsman' was unable to return to service in time to haul the Olympic Torch.[37] Trips were also taken on standard gauge heritage railways at the Great Central Railway,[38] North Yorkshire Moors Railway[39] and Severn Valley Railway[40] On smaller gauges the torch visited the Ffestiniog Railway[29] and a miniature railway Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway.[41] It was taken up funicular railways the Aberystwyth Cliff Railway,[29] Hastings East Hill Cliff Railway,[42] and Great Orme Tramway,[31] as well as the narrow gauge rack railway the Snowdon Mountain Railway.[29] Electric trams carried the torch on the Blackpool tramway[43] and Manx Electric Railway.[44] After it arrived in London the torch took a trip on the London Underground between Wimbledon and Wimbledon Park.[45]

By road vehicle the torch would complete 80% of its tour, in a security van.[46] A road train was used in the Mumbles[29] and it rode on an open top bus through the Cumbrian countryside.[47] The torch was transported on three wheels by a TT motorcycle sidecar on the Isle of Man,[44] by a Paralympic road cycle around Brands Hatch motor racing circuit[48] and by mountain bike at the Hadleigh Farm course in Essex.[49]

Horses were used when it was carried at the Cheltenham[50] and Chester[31] racecourses. It was carried on a Cob horse in Aberaeron[29] and hauled by horse-drawn tram on the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway.[31]

Journeys by air were taken when the torch travelled by zip wire from the top of the Tyne Bridge to the Gateshead riverside[needs update],[51] and when conveyed by cable car up the Heights of Abraham.[52] It was also suspended over water as it was transported by the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge over the River Tees.[53]

Route in Greece

Olympic Torch Relay in Greece

10 May (day 1)

11 May (day 2)

12 May (day 3)

13 May (day 4)

Day 3 Patra Ceremony

14 May (day 5)

15 May (day 6)

16 May (day 7)

17 May (day 8)

Route in the UK & Ireland

Day 3: Olympic Torch Relay reaches the County Ground in Taunton.
Day 14: The flame passing between two torches in Burscough, Lancashire.
Day 15: The torch being carried through Onchan, Isle of Man.
Day 19: The torch in Dublin, Ireland.
Day 37: Torch relay handover in Oldham, Greater Manchester.
Day 46: A warning sign for traffic in Stamford, Lincolnshire ahead of the flame passing though the town
Day 50: The Olympic flame being transferred into a lantern in Cambridge for safe-keeping overnight.
Day 54: Torchbearer Damien Davis from Team Wayne carries the Olympic Flame through Ludgershall in Wiltshire.
Day 66: Lucy Caslon founder and director of the charity Msizi Africa waits to receive the Olympic Flame in Sutton, South London (Photo: helejo).
Day 68: Gold medalist Beckie Scott being handed the torch in Brent, North West London.
In the week preceding the Olympics, the National Theatre in London set up a 'Fire Garden' to celebrate the torch relay.
Date Map

19 May (day 1): Land's End
19 May (day 1): Plymouth
20 May (day 2): Exeter
21 May (day 3): Taunton
22 May (day 4): Bristol and Bath
23 May (day 5): Cheltenham
24 May (day 6): Hereford
24 May (day 6): Worcester
25 May (day 7): Malvern
25 May (day 7): Torch enters Wales via Monmouthshire
25 May (day 7): Cardiff
26 May (day 8): Swansea
27 May (day 9): Aberystwyth
28 May (day 10): Bangor
29 May (day 11): Chester
30 May (day 12): Stoke-on-Trent
31 May (day 13): Bolton
1 June (day 14): Liverpool
2 June (day 15): Isle of Man

3 June (day 16): Portrush
4 June (day 17): Derry
5 June (day 18): Newry
6 June (day 19): Dublin
6 June (day 19): Belfast
7 June (day 20): Torch crosses North Channel into Scotland

8 June (day 21): Glasgow
9 June (day 22): Inverness
10 June (day 23): Orkney; Shetland
11 June (day 24): Isle of Lewis; Aberdeen
12 June (day 25): Dundee
13 June (day 26): Edinburgh

14 June (day 27): Alnwick
15 June (day 28): Newcastle
16 June (day 29): Durham
17 June (day 30): Middlesbrough
18 June (day 31): Hull
19 June (day 32): York
20 June (day 33): Carlisle
21 June (day 34): Bowness-on-Windermere
22 June (day 35): Kendal / Lancaster / Blackpool
23 June (day 36): Manchester
24 June (day 37): Leeds
25 June (day 38): Sheffield
26 June (day 39): Cleethorpes
27 June (day 40): Lincoln
28 June (day 41): Nottingham
29 June (day 42): Derby
30 June (day 43): Birmingham
1 July (day 44): Coventry
2 July (day 45): Rugby / Northampton
2 July (day 45): Leicester
3 July (day 46): Peterborough
4 July (day 47): Norwich

5 July (day 48): Ipswich
6 July (day 49): Chelmsford
7 July (day 50): Cambridge
8 July (day 51): Luton
9 July (day 52): Oxford
10 July (day 53): Reading
11 July (day 54): Basingstoke
11 July (day 54): Winchester
11 July (day 54): Salisbury
12 July (day 55): Weymouth and Portland
13 July (day 56): Bournemouth

14 July (day 57): Isle of Wight / Southampton
15 July (day 58): Guernsey; Jersey; Portsmouth

16 July (day 59): Portsmouth
16 July (day 59): Brighton and Hove
17 July (day 60): Hastings
18 July (day 61): Dover
19 July (day 62): Maidstone
20 July (day 63): Guildford

21 July (day 64): Waltham Forest
22 July (day 65): Bexley
23 July (day 66): Wandsworth
24 July (day 67): Ealing
25 July (day 68): Haringey
26 July (day 69): Westminster
27 July (day 70): Olympic Stadium

End of relay

The end of the relay took place in the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.

The torch arrived aboard a speedboat piloted by David Beckham, via the Limehouse Cut. Steve Redgrave received the flame from young footballer Jade Bailey,[54][55] the torchbearer on the boat, and carried it into the Olympic Stadium.[35] Then Redgrave handed the torch to the seven young athletes, each one nominated by an athlete. The athletes then each applied their torch to one of the 204 petals, which then lit and converged to create the cauldron, which was designed by Thomas Heatherwick.

See also

References

  1. ^ Magnay, Jacquelin (17 May 2011). "London 2012 torch relay should focus on youth". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  2. ^ "London 2012 Olympic Flame is lit in Greece". LOCOG. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  3. ^ "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)
  4. ^ "Dublin to host Olympic Torch'". Irish Times. 8 December 2011.
  5. ^ "London Culture and 2012 Open Meeting" (PDF). london.gov.uk. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  6. ^ "Oxfordshire's Torch Relay for London 2012". Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  7. ^ "Somerset says no to Olympic torch". The Daily Telegraph. London. 5 April 2010.
  8. ^ "Search begins for 8,000 inspirational people to carry the Olympic Flame". 18 May 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  9. ^ Athens Airport Aviation News 16 May 2012.
  10. ^ RNAS Culdrose to welcome Olympic Flame into UK, MoD Press Release, 1 February 2012.
  11. ^ "Olympic Flame for the London 2012 Games is lit in Ancient Olympia". LOCOG. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  12. ^ "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)
  13. ^ David Beckham to collect Olympic flame, BBC News, 16 May 2012.
  14. ^ Clapton collects Olympic Flame
  15. ^ Naval fliers to get the Olympic flame going on its epic journey (Navy News)
  16. ^ Olympic Torch Relay ... The Torch
  17. ^ "London 2012 Sustainability Plan 2nd Edition, December 2009" (PDF). London 2012. 2 December 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  18. ^ Gibson, Owen (8 June 2011). "2012 Olympic torch ignites row over Games' green credentials". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  19. ^ "BBC News - Olympic torch tackle man near Land's End". Bbc.co.uk. 2012-05-19. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
  20. ^ Olympic torch trouble in Londonderry
  21. ^ "Boy continues after fall with torch". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  22. ^ "Olympic torch in Leeds: Owzat for a welcome on the sunshine streets". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  23. ^ "UK Uncut stage torch protests in Sheffield". UK Uncut. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  24. ^ "Olympic torch: Man charged after 'Free Tibet' streak". BBC News. BBC. 10 July 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  25. ^ "Streaker Flies the Flag for Free Tibet". Free Tibet Campaign. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  26. ^ "Teen arrested after Olympic torch grab attempt in Gravesend". 20 July 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  27. ^ "Bristol Sailability". Aiming High. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  28. ^ "The Olympic Torch Relay in Bristol". Visit Bristol. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  29. ^ 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.
  30. ^ "London 2012: Liverpool's Olympic torch route revealed". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  31. ^ a b c d "Highlight moments". london2012.com. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  32. ^ "London 2012: Olympic torch set for Windermere steamer ride". BBC News. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  33. ^ "London 2012: Cambridgeshire Olympic torch route revealed". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  34. ^ "Kent's street-by-street Olympic Torch relay route". Kent News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  35. ^ a b Dillman, Lisa (27 July 2012). "London Olympics: Message is unity as youngsters light the torch". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  36. ^ "Olympic Torch: Flame boards steam train for York to Carlisle leg". BBC News. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  37. ^ "London 2012: Flying Scotsman out of Olympic torch relay". BBC News. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  38. ^ Ache, Isaac (19 March 2012). "Charnwood's Olympic Torch Relay route revealed". Loughborough Echo. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  39. ^ "London 2012: North Yorkshire torch relay route revealed". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  40. ^ Tomaney, William (19 March 2012). "Olympic Torch relay route announced". The Shuttle. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  41. ^ "London 2012: Humber Olympic torch relay route revealed". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  42. ^ "London 2012: Sussex Olympic torch relay route announced". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  43. ^ "Fylde coast Olympic torch route revealed". The Gazette. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  44. ^ a b "London 2012: Olympic torch to be carried in TT sidecar". BBC News. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  45. ^ "Olympic torch: Flame rides on London Underground train". BBC News. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  46. ^ Robinson, Martin; Eccles, Louise (19 March 2012). "Unveiled...the 2012 pyjama torchbearers: And by the way, 80% of Olympic flame's tour would be by security van". Daily Mail.
  47. ^ "London 2012: Cumbria Olympic torch relay route revealed". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  48. ^ "Olympic torch to lap Brands Hatch this summer!". BrandsHatch. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  49. ^ "London 2012: Essex Olympic torch relay route details revealed". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  50. ^ Sale, Charles (16 March 2012). "Charles Sale: Cheltenham security rein in Leicester's St Ledger". Mail Online. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  51. ^ "London 2012: Olympic flame to zip-wire from Tyne Bridge in Newcastle". BBC News. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  52. ^ "London 2012: Olympic torch to ride Derbyshire cable car during relay". BBC News. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  53. ^ "London 2012: Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge hosts torch relay". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  54. ^ "Footballer Jade Bailey, who travelled with the Olympic Torch in a speedboat driven by David Beckham, was among dozens of Waltham Forest residents who starred in the opening ceremony". Waltham Forest Guardian. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  55. ^ "David Beckham did drive the speed boat during ceremony". BBC. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
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