Olympic Torch bearers needed for Sutton leg of route (From Sutton Guardian)

Olympic Torch bearers needed for Sutton leg of route

7:30am Saturday 21st May 2011 in News

The Olympic Torch is heading for Sutton – and residents are being encouraged to nominate “inspirational” people they believe should carry it through the borough.

In exactly one year from now the Olympic Flame will arrive from Greece and the Torch Relay to precede the start of the 2012 Games will kick off in Land’s End and continue for 70 days until the opening ceremony on July 27.

This week organisers confirmed that the 8,000-mile route will visit Sutton in the final week of the Torch’s journey towards the Olympic Stadium.

The exact details of its journey through the borough will be released at a later date but the Flame will travel for approximately 12 hours each day, with an average of 110 people a day carrying the Torch. Each Torchbearer will carry it for an average of 300 metres (0.2 miles).

Councillor Graham Tope, Chair of the Sutton Olympic and Paralympic Forum, said: "We are delighted that the Olympic Torch is coming to Sutton and we’re sure many thousands of our residents will take to the streets and cheer it on its way.

"It's a wonderful showcase for the borough and a chance to mark the achievements of inspirational people in our community."

Young people in particular are encouraged to get involved, with half of the total number of Torchbearer places expected to go to people aged between 12 and 24 years of age who are considered leading lights in their local communities.

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: “The Olympic Flame will shine a light right across the host city in the final week of the Olympic Torch Relay and I hope people right across London start to think about rewarding someone truly inspirational and give someone they know who has gone beyond their personal best, their moment to shine by nominating them to carry the Olympic Flame.”

For more information visit london2012.com/olympictorchrelay to make your nomination.

The deadline for making nominations is 11.59pm on Wednesday 29 June 2011.

TORCH RELAY FACTS AND FIGURES - The Olympic Flame will go to within an hour’s travel of 95 per cent of the population.

- Six islands will be visited: the Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey, Shetland, Orkney and the Isle of Lewis.

- 8,000 torchbearers will carry the flame for 300 metres.

- The relay will start at Land’s End in Cornwall on May 19, 2012, and will take 70 days to complete.

- The arrival of the Olympic Flame at the opening ceremony in London on July 27, 2012 will signify the start of the Games.