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2012 torch relay flickers into life

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Roger Mosey | 08:34 UK time, Tuesday, 17 May 2011

For towns and cities all over the UK, the arrival of the Olympic Torch will be one of the big moments of 2012.

And today we know where the torch will be making overnight stops on its 70-day journey, so stand by for evening celebrations in Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow and Westminster - and also in Aberystwyth, Cleethorpes, Newry and Inverness.

As for what happens there, here's how Locog's media release describes it: " ... an exciting early evening celebration event ... will enable thousands of people each evening to enjoy a variety of entertainment and shows staged by Locog and the three Presenting Partners with the support of the host Local Authority.

"Each celebration event will differ with locally programmed content on the stage which will add to the celebratory atmosphere. Many thousands more people are expected to celebrate along the route each day."

This morning's announcement reflects a huge enterprise involving the Olympic organisers at Locog, who have the responsibility for the Torch route, and national and local governments across the UK.

We've been monitoring it, and indeed involved in some of that work, over the past couple of years.


The Queen in Dublin

The Queen is making a historic visit to Dublin and although the politics are complex, the torch could go there next year


There have been ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ representatives on some of the regional planning groups and there will be an even closer partnership as we sharpen our broadcasting and online coverage plans.

You can see some of the first efforts on our Olympic torch relay site today but expect ambitious plans for the time of the relay being unveiled in the coming months.

Today, though, the question is whether this plan from Locog feels right. As a Bradfordian, I can understand the disappointment of places that aren't yet on the map; and Bradford often reckons it misses out to Leeds.

I know Sunderland feels the same way about Newcastle, and there'll be plenty of similar examples. But, apart from proving you can't please everybody, the overnight stops are only part of the story.

There are lunchtime stops still to be unveiled, and the actual route won't be disclosed until much nearer the time.

So to take another part of the country I know well, the journey from Cleethorpes to Lincoln could go through any number of places - and we won't know which for quite a while.

What we can spot is that Locog have made sure they cover a lot of the islands, which will pose interesting logistical challenges for them and for us.

The first three weeks include the Isle of Man, Orkney, Shetland and the Isle of Lewis, with Jersey and Guernsey towards the end of the tour. Even more significant is the reference to a possible visit to Dublin, which would mark the biggest departure from the original idea that apart from the lighting ceremonies in Greece this would be a UK-only relay.

The politics here are complex - not just involving the UK and Irish governnments but the executive in Belfast too.

So, as ever, we'd welcome your views. Are you pleased or disappointed by the itinerary as we know it so far? And what more should be done to make the torch journey as involving as possible for people around the UK?

You can even tell us if you're going to hide in the garden shed until it's gone past the end of your road.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 2.

    Although not living on the Isle of Wight, I'm surprised that they haven't been included for the torch relay. With Cowes being at the forefront of yachting surely they could have whizzed it across the water with a quick relay around Cowes and then back to Southampton.

  • Comment number 3.

    No amount of window dressing will change the fact that these are the London Olympics.

    Those involved with Locog (and maybe, Roger, at the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ) are in a little bubble of excitement about the games.

    The sponsors and those with a commercial interest in flogging tickets are doing their best to hype it as some kind of 'national celebration' but frankly outside the capital (and certainly on the streets of Bradford, which you know well) I've yet to find anyone who could care less if the torch comes through on a token, flying, visit or not.

  • Comment number 4.

    For many towns and cities in the UK, the arrival of the olympic torch will bring joy, happiness, new hope and a real sense of optimism through these dark and trying times. LOL! It's a torch! Don't make the mistake of thinking the majority of people outside London care less about the olympics, let alone some pointless relay race/ parade.

  • Comment number 5.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 6.

    Interesting that the torch visits Land's End but not seemingly John O'Groats...

  • Comment number 7.

    It will be great to see the torch in the north of England. Inspired by this we will have an Olympic BBQ on the day; any chance the torch could pass by and light it up?

  • Comment number 8.

    @ Number 4 - don't make the mistake of thinking the majority of people in London care much about the olympics either. Its an expensive waste of time that will only cause conjestion and misery for us that live here.

    Well at least we'll get to see it right? Nope, i've applied for plenty of tickets without success thus far and will probably end up watching the entire event on TV much like every other Olympics that i can remember.

  • Comment number 9.

    @Islington & @JimSprout
    why are you so miserable??? this a fantastic oppurtunity to celebrate the top athletes in the world and it is a once (for most people) in a life time opportunity for people to watch the olympics taking place in your own country. and i think you will find the majority of people are looking forward watching it.

  • Comment number 10.

    @bestchelseasteven

    But thats exactly the point i made, i won't be able to watch the olympics take place since tickets have proved impossible for me to get hold of thus far.

    But by all means i hope you enjoy the party i'm helping to fund but have not been invited to.

  • Comment number 11.

    The torch relay is the biggest load of baloney of all the semi-mystical rites to do with the olympics and it should be remembered, was specifically introduced by the Nazis (not the IOC) in 1936.

    Why the Olympics still has the flame, the flag raising and the oath is beyond me. Hitler and co will have loved all that quasi-religious, vestal virgin, Triumph of the Will rubbish and I can understand that in 1948 there wasn't much else to put on at the opening ceremony. However the reliance on Ancient Greek symbolism to entertain the first day crowd should have died in 1984 in LA when the man with the Jet Pack appeared.

  • Comment number 12.

    I find all the negative comments on here annoying. Firstly why apply for tickets if you are only going to get all uppity when you don't get them. Secondly this is as we keep saying a once in a lifetime event for many of us. So just to be able to see a small part of it is special to many people and remember the route will be free so all you need to do is get there and watch.

    Yes the relay has it roots with the Nazi party but let's think not all that we stand for is great and how many times have we imposed our traditions and beliefs on others which wasn't always right. Look at the reasons behind it the Olympics originate from Greece so we should remember that every 4 years when a games is on.
    Lets stop the moaning and show the world that we can put on a good games and maybe prove to FIFA that the UK could/would be a good host venue for a World Cup.

  • Comment number 13.

    Just picking up a couple of points:

    Pandregal in #2 - the word seems to be that the Isle of Wight will be announced at a later stage

    Islington in #8 - don't forget there are plenty of free events. The marathons in Games time, obviously; but also road cycling, the time trials, triathlon... And, as beatty2528 points out, all the big Torch moments around the UK are free - as will be some of the Festival 2012 events.

  • Comment number 14.

    Can we have David Tennant rerpising the lighting of the Olympic Flame as he did in "Fear Her"? then i might bother to be interested

  • Comment number 15.

    I thought the olympic relay was intended to take the games throughout the U.K. Why so many centres in the south of England where people will have a choice of places to go including London. It should be based on distance to travel NOT density of population. There is a huge blank are between Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Carlisle and we are not all near a motorway! At least the journey back from Ireland should be via Stranraer.
    Patjag

  • Comment number 16.

    I shall not be taking part even though the torch is passing through as the whole idea has been hijacked by Cameron et al to ferment the idea of the Big Society, the latter being worse than manure

  • Comment number 17.

    @Islington. You say: "tickets have proved impossible for me to get hold of thus far". How do you know? They haven't even started taking money from accounts, so you don't know. (Nor do I) Cheer up!
    Also don't know why Roger is encouraging people to be happy or disappointed with the route so far. It's an incomplete route and the gaps will be filled in later this year. That was made v clear on the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ site and on LOCOG's. Anyone complaining about the absence of their town is doing this on the basis of partial information and should wait.

  • Comment number 18.

    As Aldershot staged some of the 1948 olympic games,will the organisers take this into consideration when they plan the route from Kent to Surrey (Guilford)by passing through Aldershot

  • Comment number 19.

    All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

  • Comment number 20.

    All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

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