The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has begun making conditional offers to inspiring people in the West Midlands to carry the Olympic Flame next summer during the 70 day Olympic Torch Relay
Hundreds of inspiring people in the West Midlands are one step closer to becoming a London 2012 Olympic Torchbearer and having their moment to shine next summer. The offers made on 8 December include the day of the Relay the Torchbearer is invited to carry the Olympic Flame.
90% of the total 8,000 Torchbearer places across the UK have been made available to people nominated for a personal best through a number of channels, including the four public nomination campaigns run by LOCOG and the three Presenting Partners of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay: Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung. The remaining 10% of places are offered by invitation.
Of the 6,800 individuals with an offer, over 5,600 inspirational people were selected through these four nomination programmes run earlier in the year. Each of the four campaigns focused on recognising and rewarding people with a story of personal achievement and/or contribution to the local community with the once in a lifetime opportunity of carrying the Olympic Flame.
Next steps for people with an offer of a place include accepting the date they have been offered to take part in the Torch Relay, providing a copy of the specified documents, confirming their uniform size and any access requirements by 25 January 2012. Every offer of a Torchbearer place is subject to passing the required background checks and final confirmation of becoming a Torchbearer will be communicated by LOCOG by March 2012. Next year’s confirmation of Torchbearer places will include the name of the town, village, city, or London Borough through which the Torchbearer is invited to carry the Olympic Flame. A further communication much closer to the time of the Torch Relay will confirm the details of the exact 300m (on average) stretch of the route along which the Torchbearer will carry the Olympic Flame.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: ‘Thank you to everyone in the West Midlands who took the time to nominate a friend, a colleague or a family member through one of the four campaigns. Today we are one step closer to giving hundreds of inspiring people across the West Midlands their moment to shine during the Olympic Torch Relay next summer. The sum of the individual stories of our Torchbearers will show the world that the Olympic spirit is alive and well right across the West Midlands.’
An average of 115 people a day will take centre stage next summer by carrying the Olympic Flame on its 8,000 mile journey around the UK before it arrives at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July 2012 for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony, signifying the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Among the first people to be offered a place include Sarah Thomas, 17 from Shrewsbury in Shropshire, nominated through Lloyds TSB’s public nomination campaign who from a young age has been a young carer for both her parents but primarily for her Mum who has Multiple Sclerosis. And Moira Starkey, 84 from Storridge in Herefordshire, nominated through LOCOG’s public nomination campaign who at the age of 83 completed her first marathon and has raised over £10,000 for a local charity through a variety of fundraising events.
Sarah Thomas said: ‘I’m delighted to have been offered one of the first places as an Olympic Torchbearer through the Lloyds TSB nomination process. It will be so exciting to carry the Flame, it’s a once in a lifetime experience and such an honour to have the opportunity to represent and celebrate all of the hard work of young carers across the country.”
Moira Starkey commented: ‘It was such a wonderful surprise to learn that I had received an offer to be a Torchbearer. I didn’t expect it for one moment and still can’t quite believe it. It is remarkable to think that my fundraising efforts have been recognised in this way and it will be such an honour to carry the Olympic Flame next year.’
Detailed case studies and photos of these individuals can be downloaded by clicking here.
David Moorcroft, Chair West Midlands for 2012, said: ‘The quality and range of Torchbearer nominations in the West Midlands has been fantastic, demonstrating the many inspirational people right here in our region who day in and day out make a real difference in our communities. I am delighted that we will be able to celebrate so many of these amazing stories through the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, what better way to recognise these successes than through carrying the Olympic Flame, a once in a lifetime experience, that will see us shine a light on the people and stories of our region.’
Over 60,000 nominations were received across the UK across four nomination campaigns. Each campaign incorporated a rigorous selection process and the nominations were read and evaluated by independent selection panels. Those who have not been successful with a nomination are invited to join the journey to the London 2012 Games by becoming a Local Leader.
James Quincey, President, Coca-Cola Northwest Europe and Nordics, said: ‘We have been overwhelmed by the thousands of outstanding nominations that we have received as part of our Coca-Cola Future Flames campaign this year. It's been truly inspiring to learn about the many different ways young people are spreading happiness in their local communities, and we're very excited to now be offering some of these people the once in a lifetime chance to carry the Olympic Flame next summer.’
Sally Hancock, 2012 Partnership and Group Sponsorship Director, Lloyds Banking Group, said: ‘Following the success of the Lloyds TSB London 2012 Olympic Torchbearer nomination campaign, we were overwhelmed by the many thousands of inspiring stories of good deeds, selfless acts and contributions to communities across the UK and the level of excitement about the ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to become an Olympic Torchbearer. The Olympic Torch Relay provides a wonderful opportunity for communities the length and breadth of the U.K to get involved with the Games and celebrate people in their local area who have made a difference. We are inviting everyone to cheer on the Olympic Torch Relay with Lloyds TSB as it travels past their doorsteps next year.’
Mr. Gyehyun Kwon, Vice President & Head of Worldwide Sports Marketing, Samsung Electronics, said: ‘We believe, as a Presenting Partner of the Olympic Torch Relay, that it is our duty to ensure that the Olympic Flame reaches the world. Our Olympic Torch Relay campaign is designed to invite, include and involve the greatest number of people possible in the world's most exciting festival. The response to our Olympic Torchbearer nomination campaign has been astonishing and we are exceptionally proud of the tens of thousands of local heroes that we have discovered and that have now been recognised by their friends, colleagues and families. While only a few can be selected for this unique opportunity to carry the flame, we acknowledge every nominee as an inspiration to their communities. The fortunate few that will run next year are a tribute to all those who go the extra mile for others. Samsung applauds them all.’
The additional conditional offers made today are to people who also have a story of personal achievement or contribution to the local community. 135 offers have been made to local heroes put forward by the 66 Local Authorities hosting an evening celebration event or an Island visit requiring extra logistics on the Olympic Torch Relay; 70 offers go to people who assist with delivering grassroots sport in the UK who have been selected by Sport England, Sport Northern Ireland, sportscotland and Sport Wales; 205 people have an offer of a place through the BOA; 71 people through the IOC and 678 people through the other London 2012 Games commercial partners.
A further 1,200 conditional offers will be made by LOCOG and the three Presenting Partners in January 2012. For example LOCOG will find 212 young people from across the UK who will be 12 at the time of the Torch Relay through Get Set Networked schools that are part of the London 2012 education programme, 30 young people through the International Inspiration Programme, 115 high profile Torchbearers and community role models. The Presenting Partners’ remaining allocations make provision for direct invitations to high profile Torchbearers