Whilst you may have heard this morning that the 2012 Olympic Torch will be visiting Dudley, won’t you probably won’t have heard is that the torch will also be coming to Wolverhampton!
Wolverhampton will play host to the Torch as it makes it’s way to London for the 2012 Olympic Games next summer.
Torch in Wolverhampton 30th June, 2012
The city has been chosen to be part of the Olympic Torch Relay route on the afternoon of Saturday June 30, 2012, giving Wolverhampton residents the opportunity to welcome the Olympic Flame to the region.
It is hoped that people will line the streets of the city and take part in a series of special events which will be held as the Torchbearers carry the Olympic flame through Wolverhampton.
Street-by-street detail of the route will be confirmed next year (here’s hoping Wednesfield will be on the route!), but it has been confirmed that the torch will visit the city on its way through the Black Country.
Wolverhampton is one of more than 1,000 villages, towns and cities announced today (Monday November 7, 2011) by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) through which the Olympic Flame will be carried by 8,000 Torchbearers.
Fitting tribute to sporty Wulfrunians
Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities, said: “Over the years Wolverhampton has produced many sportsmen and women who have represented the city on the national and international stage, and it is fitting tribute to them, and to Wolverhampton, that the Olympic Torch will be coming to the city next year.
“Although the 2012 Olympics is based in London, it will truly be a national event for everyone in the country to celebrate, and it’s great that Wolverhampton will be playing its part, not only on the sporting field but also by hosting a wide variety of events and activities during the Games and, of course, welcoming the Olympic Torch procession to the city.”
He added: “We hope as many people as possible will be able to join in the events which we will be staging around the city on June 30th.â€
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: ‘We are thrilled to confirm that Wolverhampton will act as a host location for the Olympic Flame and to extend an invitation to people in the area to welcome the Olympic Torch Relay during its journey around the UK.
“This is the UK’s moment to shine and I want to encourage people across Wolverhampton to start planning how they can be part of this once in a lifetime opportunity and show their support for the inspirational Torchbearers chosen to carry the Olympic Flame as we count down to the start of the Olympic Games.â€
David Moorcroft, West Midlands for 2012 Chair, added: “What fantastic news for the residents of Wolverhampton that they will have their opportunity to welcome the Olympic Flame on June 30.
“We encourage communities to start thinking now about how they will celebrate as the Olympic Torch Relay, a once in a lifetime experience for many of us, signals the approach of the London 2012 Olympic Games.”
The 70 day Olympic Torch Relay will start at Land’s End on May 19, 2012, and travel an estimated 8,000 miles around the UK before arriving at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012, for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony, signifying the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Check out an interactive map of the route at www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelaymap.
Source: Wolverhampton City Council