Two of Great Britain’s Olympic stars are giving their support to Bath’s World Record attempt to celebrate the Torch Relay on 22nd May.
Bath’s Jason Gardener, Gold medal-winning relay sprinter in the Athens 2004 Games, and Sophie Williams, competing for a place in Team GB’s fencing squad at London 2012, are backing the Council’s bid to get 5,000 people forming the Olympic rings in Royal Victoria Park.
Gardener, who has also been announced as a Torchbearer is planning to cheer on everyone taking part in the record attempt before he takes to the streets of Bath – Olympic Flame in hand.
Jason Gardener is one of the UK’s all-time great sprinters. He achieved one of his ultimate ambitions at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games by winning Gold in the mens 4x100m relay. Earlier that year he became World Indoor Champion over 60m.
Winner of four European Indoor championship titles over 60 metres and a Commonwealth Games Champion for the 4x100m relay, he is a member of the very select sub 10 second club for 100m with a personal best of 9.98 seconds.
Jason said: “I am really looking forward to carrying the Olympic Torch in my home city of Bath for this once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Bath & North East Somerset Council is aiming to attract 5,000 people to form the five Olympic rings in Bath’s Royal Victoria Park, overlooked by the Royal Crescent, from 11am on Tuesday 22 May. The World Record attempt is expected to be completed by 1pm to allow people to go and spread themselves along the route to welcome the Torch Relay.
Sophie Williams, Great Britain’s Olympic hopeful fencer is taking a short break from her training schedule to support, and take part in, the World Record attempt.
Sophie, of Winsley, near Bradford-on-Avon, is currently placed third in the GB senior women’s ranking for Sabre and is in contention for one of the two spots for London 2012.
Councillor David Dixon (Lib-Dem, Oldfield), Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for people to welcome the Olympic Torch Relay to Bath and make their way into the record books. Bath & North East Somerset Council has applied to the official Guinness World Records and is encouraging anyone interested to register to take part and make history on 22 May.”
Anyone interested in being part of the record bid should register at http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/torch2012 or email their contact details to [email protected] – titling their email “WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT”. You can also follow the Council’s Twitter feed @bathnes and use the hash tag #Bath5000.
