Residents and visitors are being invited by Bath & North East Somerset Council to welcome the Olympic Flame as Bath has been chosen as one of the ‘Communities on Route’ when the Torch travels through the South West on 22 May 2012.
Bath is one of more than 1,000 villages, towns and cities announced today by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) through which the Olympic Flame will be carried by Torchbearers during the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.
It sets in motion a series of events taking place throughout Bath and North East Somerset to celebrate the London 2012 Olympics.
Councillor David Dixon (Lib-Dem, Oldfield), Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “This is fantastic news for everyone in Bath and North East Somerset and a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to show Bath at its best to an international media audience. We’re delighted that the city’s breath-taking Royal Crescent is one of the few landmarks to be announced on the route so far.
“Bath & North East Somerset Council is keen to work together with schools, families, community groups, local businesses and visitors to help us celebrate this truly magnificent event. It’s a chance for our communities to share in the Olympic spirit, mark the countdown to the start of the Games and continue the festivities right through 2012.
“We hope that people from all over the district will come to Bath to welcome the Olympic Flame; share in the excitement the Torch Relay will bring and celebrate the achievements of the Torchbearers.”
The Torch visiting Bath and North East Somerset is the highlight of a packed year of celebrations – with the Council planning both sporting and cultural events district-wide to suit every taste, along with challenges to inspire all during 2012.
Gold Challenge
Under the strap line of “What will you be inspired to do for London 2012”, Bath & North East Somerset Council is asking individuals, families and teams from right across the district to sign up to take on their own Olympic encounter through the Gold Challenge.
Gold Challenge is part of the official mass participation legacy programme for London 2012 – Places People Play. It aims to inspire people of all ages and physical ability to play sport and to raise substantial sums of money for charity.
There are four simple packages to inspire people to get involved:
1. Olympic/Paralympic Sport Challenge – learn five or more sports
2. Gold Challenge Time Trial – five events against the clock (over-16s only)
3. Family Activity Challenge – learn one sport, take part in two others
4. 2012km Challenge – cover a distance of 2012km through any combination of running, swimming, walking, sailing, canoeing, rowing, horse-riding or cycling.
For more information and to sign up for your challenge visit http://www.goldchallenge.org/bathnes.
Join the Quest for 2012 – “My Bath and North East Somerset”
To mark this special year, young and old are invited to join in a unique community project to celebrate life throughout the district. The Olympic torch is a symbol of endeavour, and villages and towns across Bath and North East Somerset are encouraged to show how we can all strive to “be the best that we can be”.
Cllr Dixon added: “The Quest for 2012 project invites all residents to ‘make a local difference for 2012’. Whether you’re in Chew Valley or Somer Valley, Keynsham or Bath; wherever you are in the district, you can set your own Quest challenge such as start up a local project, activity or event. Make this a year to remember and share your films, photos and stories in our 2012 People’s Archive via our website – ‘My Bath and North East Somerset’ – which will be launching in January to bring all our communities together.”
Event highlights during 2012 – which also features the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations – include ‘Picnic in the Park’, on Tuesday 5 June and a Sport and Music Festival in July, plus the range of annual festivals and events across Bath and North East Somerset. Further details will be published nearer to the time.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: ‘We are thrilled to confirm that Bath will act as host location for the Olympic Flame, extending an invitation to people in Bath and North East Somerset 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 Bath and North East Somerset 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.“