London 2012 reveals North West communities on Olympic Torch Relay route

7th November 2011

90 communities in the North West announced on the Olympic Torch Relay route
The Olympic Flame will be in the North West from 29 May - 2 June and 20 - 24 June 2012 and will visit every county
People in the North West are invited to start planning their welcome
Over 95% of the UK population will be within 10 miles of the Olympic Flame

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) today confirmed all the communities in the North West through which the Olympic Flame will be carried by Torchbearers during the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay which is presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung.

LOCOG has worked closely with representatives from a number of sectors in the North West to devise the route that will see the Olympic Flame being carried through such diverse places such as Birkenhead, Blackburn, Bury, Warrington and Whitehaven. The Olympic Flame is set to visit every county in the North West and the route achieves the optimum mix of proximity to people whilst taking in beautiful natural and urban landmarks to showcase the North West around the world.

The announcement of 1,018 villages, towns and cities on the UK route means LOCOG has realised the aspiration of taking the Olympic Flame to within an hour's journey time of 95% of the population. In fact, over 95% of the population will be within just 10 miles of the Olympic Flame next summer. The street by street detail of the route will be confirmed next year.

Not only does the North West route include villages, town and cities, the Olympic Torch Relay will also take in landmarks along the way and the Olympic Flame will be carried for sections of the route by different modes of transport. In the North West these include the Flame travelling by Steamer across Lake Windermere from Waterhead to Bowness-on-Windermere, carried in the sidecar of a TT bike and transported via the Manx Electric Railway both whilst on the Isle of Man. 

The Olympic Flame will also be taken onto the Lovell Telescope at the Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire, and carried by Torchbearer along Crosby Beach, Sefton, where 100 cast iron figures are installed as part of sculptor Anthony Gormley's Another Place sculpture.  For logistical reasons, not all the landmarks and modes of transport will be accessible to large crowds but LOCOG will continue to work with the Local Authorities and operators to ensure public access information is given in advance.

With the Olympic Flame shining a light on these different communities the Olympic Torch Relay will be an opportunity for the people of the North West to connect with the Olympic Games, its values and its spirit. Many thousands of people are expected to welcome the Olympic Flame and celebrate the achievements of the Torchbearers along the route each day.

A full list of the host communities in the North West and other highlights announced today are available to download from here and Olympic Torch Relay images are available here An Olympic Torch Relay animation film that gives a taste of the journey the Olympic Flame will make is available on request.  People are invited to view the interactive map at www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelaymap  to find their nearest community through which the Olympic Flame will be carried. 

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: 'I'm delighted that the Olympic Torch Relay will take the 2012 Games to almost every corner of the North West and that we have achieved our ambition to take the Flame to within an hour's journey of 95% of the population. Now everyone is invited to plan their welcome and find out where they can go to be part of this historic occasion. The Olympic Games are coming to you as the Olympic Flame gives people across the North West their moment to shine.'

Andy Worthington, Chair of the Northwest Steering Group for the 2012 Games said: 'Today marks another exciting landmark for the North West as we try to bring the magic of London 2012 alive in communities across the region. We are delighted that the Olympic Torch Relay is going to pass through so many communities, urban and rural, as well as providing a fantastic opportunity for the region to showcase its diverse and world class culture, landmarks, and stunning scenery. We will be working hard with our partners to showcase the best of the Northwest and engage communities' right across the region.'

British Airways is a Supporter of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay and the Olympic Flame will arrive in the UK from Greece on 18 May 2012 on board one of its aircraft.

The 70 day Olympic Torch Relay, presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung, will start at Land's End, Cornwall on the morning of 19 May 2012. On leaving Land's End, the Olympic Flame will travel an estimated 8,000 miles around the UK giving thousands of communities and individuals their moment to shine as the Olympic Flame comes to a place near them.

On the final day of the Olympic Torch Relay, it is LOCOG's intention that the Olympic Flame will travel down the River Thames as it makes its way to the Olympic Stadium on 27 July 2012 for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony, signifying the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The Olympic Flame will be carried across the UK by 8,000 inspirational Torchbearers each of whom will have a story of personal achievement and/or contribution to the local community. In December this year, successful nominees will be contacted with a conditional offer and final Torchbearer places will start to be confirmed from February 2012 onwards.

Today LOCOG launches two new public participation programmes. The 'Local Leaders' initiative is an invitation to people across the North West to take the 2012 Games into their community and create their own celebrations next year, for the Olympic Torch Relay and other key moments during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. People are encouraged to sign up to the Local Leader programme at www.london2012.com/localleaders to receive further information on a range of themed celebration ideas focusing on the Opening Ceremony evening, gardening, quizzes and barbecues and be in the front row to receive free London 2012 event materials.

Also launched today at www.london2012.com/getset is the 'Get Set for the Olympic Torch Relay' education resource, available to all schools registered with Get Set, London 2012's official education programme. The aim of the resource is to provide schools with cross-curricular resources aimed at teachers working with 3 to 16 year olds to aid learning around history of Olympic Torch Relays, the design of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay and the Torch itself. A further resource will launch next year to encourage schools to plan a welcome for the Olympic Flame and show support for the Torchbearers.   Lloyds TSB, official Education Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, has launched their Flame Followers schools programme which complements the Get Set resources, and gives schools once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to be right at the heart of the excitement and celebrations of the Relay.

The three Presenting Partners of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay - Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung - will help bring the Olympic Flame to the people of the UK. Together they provide an optimum mix of previous Olympic Torch Relay expertise and community based programmes to support the staging of the Relay.

James Williams, Director, Olympic Torch Relay, Coca-Cola North West Europe and Nordics, said: 'London 2012 will see Coca-Cola presenting the Olympic Torch Relay for the eighth time, so we know just how powerful it is at uniting a whole country in support of the world's biggest festival of sport. In 2010, we saw far-flung communities right across Canada really come together to welcome the Olympic Flame, and now we can't wait to bring that magic to cities, towns and villages the length and breadth of the UK. We're very excited to be bringing music and celebration to the Relay, and to be shining a light on the best of British youth - our Coca-Cola Future Flames - throughout local communities around the UK.'
 
Sally Hancock, Director, 2012 Partnership and Group Sponsorship at Lloyds TSB, said: 'As the National Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, Lloyds TSB is helping to bring the Olympic Flame closer to communities across the UK. With branches on practically every High Street we're inviting everybody to celebrate the Relay with Lloyds TSB as it travels past their doorsteps next year.  Young people and schools can also get involved through our Flame Followers programme and National School Sport Week (www.lloydstsb.com/london2012) and we're looking forward to giving everyone the chance to share the excitement in each of these villages, towns and cities as the Flame passes through.'

Mr. Gyehyun Kwon, Vice President & Head of Worldwide Sports Marketing, Samsung Electronics, said: 'We are extremely proud to be a Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Games.  As a Worldwide Olympic Partner, Samsung will support each of the 1,000 villages, towns and cities as they celebrate their own Olympic Torch Relay moment, and help showcase the nation's cultural landmarks along the way.'