Downham Market residents are being urged to welcome the Olympic Torch when it makes its way through West Norfolk next summer – even though it is not being carried through the town. The Olympic Flame will make it’s way from Peterborough to Norwich via King’s Lynn, South Wootton and the Rudhams and orgainsers say it will give people from across the borough the chance to experience Olympic excitement first hand and support the achievements of some of the individuals who have been selected to be torchbearers. The West Norfolk locations were announced last week as part of an announcement by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) of more than 1,000 villages, towns and cities in the UK through which the Olympic Flame will be carried by some 8,000 torchbearers. Sebastian Coe, LOCOG chairman, has said: “We are thrilled to confirm that King’s Lynn, South Wootton and the Rudhams will act as host locations for the Olympic Flame, extending an invitation to people in West Norfolk 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 West Norfolk 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.” The 70-day Olympic Torch Relay, will start at Land’s End, Cornwall, on the morning of May 19, 2012.
On leaving Land’s End, the Olympic Flame will travel an estimated 8,000 miles around the UK giving thousands of communities and individuals their moment to shine as the Olympic Flame comes to a place near them. On the final day of the Olympic Torch Relay, it is LOCOG’s intention that the Olympic Flame will travel down the River Thames as it makes its way to 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. People are invited to view the interactive map at www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelaymap to find their nearest community through which the Olympic Flame will be carried.
