Buckinghamshire welcomes announcement of Olympic Torch Relay visit

 

The relay, involving 8,000 Torchbearers across the UK, visits Aylesbury, Buckingham, Stoke Mandeville, Waddesdon, Winslow and Whitchurch on July 9.

 

These are just some of more than 1,000 villages, towns and cities announced today (Monday November 7) by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) through which the Olympic flame will be carried by Torchbearers during the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. 

 

Civic leaders have expressed pride and delight in being able to welcome the Olympic Torch Relay to the county.

 

Mike Colston, Chairman of Buckinghamshire County Council - a host county for the London 2012 Games - is delighted the relay will visit Buckinghamshire. 'What a great opportunity for everyone to come together to celebrate and to be involved in this once-in-a-lifetime event - it’ll be our moment to shine!’ he said.

 

With the added impetus of the Torch relay, Mr Colston urged more schools to sign up to Get Set, London 2012’s official education programme. 'This is a golden opportunity for our young people to be involved, and for teachers to get their hands on some great resources to inspire them about the torch relay and the games.'

 

Derrick Isham, Chairman of Aylesbury Vale District Council, said: 'The district will be proud to receive the Olympic flame on its way to London. We look forward to being part of a very special event, which will be an unforgettable experience for us all, and especially for our young people.'

 

Adrian Moorhouse, 1988 Olympic gold medallist and Chairman of the Buckinghamshire 2012 Partnership said: 'I am delighted that so many Buckinghamshire residents will have the opportunity to see the Olympic Torch Relay as it passes through our county. I have seen how business, community and sporting organisations from across the county are working to prepare for the Games, and these visits will provide a great opportunity for many more people to connect with the Games and help build the excitement for the main events to follow.' 

 

The 70-day Olympic Torch Relay, starting at Land’s End on May 19, will travel around 8,000 miles around the UK. The relay will pass through Buckinghamshire from its overnight stop in Luton on July 8 to Oxford on July 9.

 

While the street by street detail of the route will be confirmed next year, an interactive map at  www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelaymap will enable people to find their nearest community through which the Olympic flame will be carried.

A short animated film has also been released to go alongside the interactive map www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelayanimation.