For towns and cities all over the UK, the arrival of the Olympic Torch will be one of the big moments of 2012.
And today we know where the torch will be making overnight stops on its 70-day journey, so stand by for evening celebrations in Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow and Westminster - and also in Aberystwyth, Cleethorpes, Newry and Inverness.
As for what happens there, here's how Locog's media release describes it: " ... an exciting early evening celebration event ... will enable thousands of people each evening to enjoy a variety of entertainment and shows staged by Locog and the three Presenting Partners with the support of the host Local Authority.
"Each celebration event will differ with locally programmed content on the stage which will add to the celebratory atmosphere. Many thousands more people are expected to celebrate along the route each day."
This morning's announcement reflects a huge enterprise involving the Olympic organisers at Locog, who have the responsibility for the Torch route, and national and local governments across the UK.
We've been monitoring it, and indeed involved in some of that work, over the past couple of years.
The Queen is making a historic visit to Dublin and although the politics are complex, the torch could go there next year
There have been BBC representatives on some of the regional planning groups and there will be an even closer partnership as we sharpen our broadcasting and online coverage plans.
You can see some of the first efforts on our Olympic torch relay site today but expect ambitious plans for the time of the relay being unveiled in the coming months.
Today, though, the question is whether this plan from Locog feels right. As a Bradfordian, I can understand the disappointment of places that aren't yet on the map; and Bradford often reckons it misses out to Leeds.
I know Sunderland feels the same way about Newcastle, and there'll be plenty of similar examples. But, apart from proving you can't please everybody, the overnight stops are only part of the story.
There are lunchtime stops still to be unveiled, and the actual route won't be disclosed until much nearer the time.
So to take another part of the country I know well, the journey from Cleethorpes to Lincoln could go through any number of places - and we won't know which for quite a while.
What we can spot is that Locog have made sure they cover a lot of the islands, which will pose interesting logistical challenges for them and for us.
The first three weeks include the Isle of Man, Orkney, Shetland and the Isle of Lewis, with Jersey and Guernsey towards the end of the tour. Even more significant is the reference to a possible visit to Dublin, which would mark the biggest departure from the original idea that apart from the lighting ceremonies in Greece this would be a UK-only relay.
The politics here are complex - not just involving the UK and Irish governnments but the executive in Belfast too.
So, as ever, we'd welcome your views. Are you pleased or disappointed by the itinerary as we know it so far? And what more should be done to make the torch journey as involving as possible for people around the UK?
You can even tell us if you're going to hide in the garden shed until it's gone past the end of your road.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/rogermosey/2011/05/torch_blog.html
facts about the olympics the next olympics 2012 2012 olympic schedule olympics logo 2012 2012 olympic locations
No comments:
Post a Comment