• On 18 July the Relay will travel 57.44 miles
• 94 Torchbearers will carry the Flame
• Evening celebration to take place on Dover seafront
• Images from today can be downloaded here
The Relay will travel through the following communities: Hastings, Rye, Hamstreet, Ashford, Hythe, Sandgate, Folkestone, Samphire Hoe and Dover.
Highlights for today include:
07.45 - Visit to Battle Abbey. A Torchbearer will carry the Flame in a lantern to Battle Abbey.
08.50 – Funicular Railway, Hastings. A Torchbearer will carry the Flame on the funicular railway.
15.20 – Heather Hale will carry the Flame at the entrance of the Channel Tunnel. Heather, 33, from Ashford, motivates and inspires young people through the Explorer Group, which takes young people overseas. She is a volunteer and kayak coach for Seapoint Centre where she teaches young people and adults with learning disabilities. Her devotion and inspiration to young people is fantastic.
17.27 – A Torchbearer will carry the Flame on a Tall Ship into Dover.
The evening celebration will take place on Dover seafront.
The evening celebration will feature a variety of entertainment staged by LOCOG and the three Presenting Partners of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay - Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung.
Coca-Cola will bring to the stage music from Rizzle Kicks. There will also be a performance of a unique fusion of street performance, theatre and sport and a routine from dance duo Twist and Pulse.
Local performances on the night include children from local songs singing ‘Pass the Passion’; the Snowdown Colliery Male Choir; and local cheerleaders the Vista Twisters and CJ Dance Cheer Squad
Towards the end of the two-hour show, the last Torchbearer of the day – Graeme Faber - will light a celebration cauldron on stage at the event which will enable the Olympic Flame to be seen by the audience. Graeme, 76, from Canterbury, was present at the 1948 opening ceremony in London as a small boy. He has climbed mountains, cycled hundreds of miles across Mongolia, trekked in Nepal, run marathons and triathlons and raised funds for Water Aid and MacMillan Cancer along the way. He has also beaten his own bowel and kidney cancers with the same quiet determination, and continues at the age of 75 to run every day.
Torchbearer highlights:
Luke Quilter, 28, who is from Hythe and is carrying the Flame in Hythe, was selected through the Coca-Cola Future Flames programme, Luke Quilter is currently Kent's young entrepreneur of the year works hard to help other business grow and get other young people in work and active.
Nathan Bailey, is from Bournemouth and is carrying the Flame in Boscombe. Nathan, 18, is a Lloyds TSB Local Hero and trampolinist from Bournemouth, selected by Lloyds TSB because of his commitment and dedication to his sport and inspiring his peers by working with local children in his community during off season.
Douglas Evans, 54 was nominated through the LOCOG campaign. Doug, who is from Romney and carrying the Flame in Rye, took up karate and kendo at 17, progressing to studying Iaido (Japanese traditional swordsmanship) at 25, over 30 years ago. Doug’s success has reflected his commitment: he has run Minato Dojo (school) since 1989 where he is Senior Sensei, and became European Iaido Champion in 1999. Doug will take wayward, aggressive individuals and help them channel their uncontrolled energy to give their lives balance, focussing on their family or martial art, improving our community by doing so.
Robbie Herbert, 15, from Deal and carrying the Flame in Dover. Robbie’s future in sport was assured before being diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome, a life-threatening genetic defect. Refusing to be crushed he has diversified. Robbie chose darts three years ago and plays regularly in the league; his dedication demonstrated recently in the World Championship in London. He sustains his love of football by playing alternately as goalkeeper and centre back for Castle Community College and Dover Rangers. Robbie, who was nominated through Dover District Council, encourages less-gifted students and believes that all players and officials should be treated with the utmost respect. A sporting ambassador, he is aware that life is too short to waste and is committed to inclusive participation. Disarmingly modest, Robbie speaks of past experiences representing Great Britain at the 2008 Youth World Cup in Sweden, but only when asked! Robbie lives for sport, exemplifying its very best values.
James Williams, Director, Olympic Torch Relay, Coca-Cola Northwest Europe & Nordics, said: “Today, with just nine days to go, more Coca-Cola Future Flames will help us celebrate the sixty-first day of our amazing journey, including Luke Quilter and Ben James who carry the Olympic Flame in Hythe and Folkestone. We will also get everyone to Move to the Beat tonight as we bring Rizzle Kicks to the stage in Dover.”
Sally Hancock, Director, London 2012 Partnership at Lloyds TSB said: “With only nine more days to go, the Olympic Torch Relay continues its journey through the South East of England. Lloyds TSB is proud to bring the excitement of London 2012 to Kent and is creating as many opportunities as possible for people to get involved as the Flame passes their door. We are calling on communities throughout the region to cheer their local Lloyds TSB Torchbearers – extraordinary people like Tom Smith and Jon Green, carrying the Flame in Hastings and Folkestone. Our Lloyds TSB Flame Followers continue to dazzle and entertain, lighting the route ahead of the Flame before their performance in the Flame Followers Spectacular in Dover tonight.”
Sunny Hwang, Vice President & Head of Global Sports Marketing, Samsung Electronics, said: “Samsung is delighted to be a Presenting Partner of the Olympic Torch Relay as it has given us the perfect opportunity to encourage everyone from all around the world to be involved in the Olympic Games.”
-Ends-
For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 100 or visit the website at www.london2012.com. Find out the latest from London 2012 HQ on our blog http://blog.london2012.com or follow us on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/london2012
Notes to editors:
Each day two short packages of broadcast footage will be made available. The packages will be available via the Footage library – accessible from the Media Centre on london2012.com and direct from this link http://footagelibrary.london2012.com. Media will need to register for access in advance. Registration is free.
The broadcast of the Olympic Torch Relay is provided for Editorial Use Only. There can be no commercial association, no third party association and no commercial/ad superimposition on the video footage, unless the prior written consent of the IOC is acquired.
In the South East 2234 people have signed up as Local Leaders, like Clare Smith and Joanna Jones from Dover. Clare and Joanna are part of Dover Arts Development (DAD) who have organised the Bunting Forever Project. People of all ages from the community were encouraged to join in and knit, crochet or felt bunting which has now been hung in place to welcome the Torch as it passes through the centre of Brighton at 6:20pm. The bunting makes a fantastic and novel backdrop for the Torch. After one of the workshops there was also a cupcake baking for everyone to make cupcakes together, reflect on all the hard work and look forward to the Torch Relay. For more information on Local Leaders, getting tools to help you bring together your family, friends or community celebrate moments such as the Opening Ceremony, Super Saturday, the Paralympic Torch Relay and the Last Night of the Games, visit www.london2012.com/localleaders. info@dadonline.eu. 01304 207073
About the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Presenting Partners:
As the longest standing Presenting Partner of the Olympic Torch Relay, Coca-Cola will be using its heritage and experience to spread excitement across the UK ahead of London 2012. Coca-Cola's national nomination campaign - Future Flames – has focused on finding inspirational young people from across the country to have the once in a lifetime opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame. This summer Coca-Cola will celebrate these Future Flames: young people who use their passions in areas like sport and physical activity, music and dance, and community and the environment; to spread happiness in their local communities. Find out more at: www.coca-cola.co.uk/olympic-games
As the only National Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, Lloyds TSB will be taking the inspiration and excitement of the Olympic Flame right to the heart of communities across the UK. As part of Lloyds Banking Group, Bank of Scotland will be the National Presenting Partner in Scotland. We are creating as many opportunities as possible for communities the length and breadth of the UK to get involved as the Flame travels past their front doors.
Lloyds Banking Group is Britain’s biggest corporate investor in UK communities and in 2011 invested £85 million and as part of the Group’s Community Investment Programme, we’ve launched the Lloyds Banking Group Community Fund to give back to the communities in which we operate and pass through on our journey with the Olympic Flame. We’re inviting everyone to visit the Lloyds TSB stand at each Evening Celebration to vote for a community project in their area that inspires and supports young people. By voting at the Evening Celebration members of the public will automatically enter a draw to win four tickets to London 2012. The two projects that receive the most votes at each locality will each win a £5,000 grant from Lloyds Banking Group. At the Lloyds TSB site members of the public will also have the opportunity to have their photo taken with the Olympic Torch, meet Lloyds TSB Local Heroes – the future stars of Team GB and ParalympicsGB – and get up close to our Flame Followers. To find out how you can join in the celebrations with Lloyds TSB (in your community please visit www.lloydstsb.com/london2012
As a Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, Samsung aims to encourage everyone to be part of the greatest show on Earth to make London 2012 ‘Everyone’s Olympic Games.’ We aspire to offer new and memorable experiences for everyone around the world through our own innovative and smart wireless technology. Samsung is providing 1,360 Torchbearers, who have “gone the extra mile” by contributing to the local communities, through its worldwide public nomination campaign. In total over 25,000 nominations were received. Samsung will support towns and cities to celebrate the exciting moment of the Torch Relay and help showcase Great Britain’s cultural landmarks to provide a more enjoyable experience to everyone. The evening celebrations that will be staged by Samsung in 66 towns and cities throughout the Olympic Flame’s journey across the UK, will allow Samsung to entertain the community they are visiting. The Samsung caravan, complete with LED screen on the side showcasing runners and goodwill messages, will follow the Torchbearers around the UK cheering up everyone to celebrate the Torch Relay with music and interaction with local communities. It is Samsung’s ambition that London 2012 will be an event that reaches and involves more people than on any other Olympic Games occasion. To learn more about Samsung’s London 2012 Olympic programme, please visit www.samsung.com/london2012
The Supporters of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay are:
Worldwide Olympic Partners Procter and Gamble and Visa, Tier One Partners adidas, BMW, BP, British Airways, BT and EDF, Tier Three Providers Aggreko, Holiday Inn and NATURE VALLEY.
The BBC will be providing extensive coverage of the Torch Relay on television, radio and online. This will include special Breakfast shows on every BBC local radio station, and extended live coverage of an evening celebration event in every Nation and English Region. Full details of the coverage will be at bbc.co.uk/2012.
London 2012 Games partners:
The Worldwide Olympic Partners who support the London 2012 Olympic Games and the National Olympic Committees around the world are Coca-Cola, Acer, Atos, Dow Chemical Company, GE, McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Procter and Gamble, Samsung and Visa.
LOCOG has seven domestic Tier One Partners - adidas, BMW, BP, British Airways, BT, EDF and Lloyds TSB. There are seven domestic Tier Two Supporters – Adecco, ArcelorMittal, Cadbury, Cisco, Deloitte, Thomas Cook and UPS.
There are now twenty-eight domestic Tier Three Suppliers and Providers – Aggreko, Airwave, Atkins, Boston Consulting Group, CBS Outdoor, Crystal CG, Eurostar, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, G4S, GSK, Gymnova, Heathrow Airport, Heineken UK, Holiday Inn, John Lewis, McCann Worldgroup, Mondo, NATURE VALLEY, Next, Nielsen, Populous, Rapiscan Systems, Rio Tinto, Technogym, Thames Water, Ticketmaster, Trebor and Westfield
