Olympic torch relay to come to Basildon

BASILDON has today been announced as one of the host towns chosen to be part of next years 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.
Visiting South Essex on Friday 6 July 2012 the Torch Relay will see specially chosen torch bearers carry the Olympic torch through Basildon in the lead up to the Olympics Opening Ceremony.
Basildon is one of over 1000 villages, towns and cities announced by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) through which the Olympic Flame will be carried by Torchbearers during the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay which is presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung, and LOCOG have worked closely with representatives from a number of sectors in Essex to devise the route.
Councillor Tony Ball, Leader of Basildon Council said: “It is a great honour for Basildon to be part of the Olympic torch route. We are very pleased that residents of the borough will have the opportunity to see what will be a great spectacle and a wonderful chance for community celebration.
Through the Sporting Village, Basildon has become synonymous with sporting excellence. Not only do we have a number of potential Olympic athletes from the borough training at the facility, but we have also formed a strong link with the Japanese swimming team who will be using the facility as the training base ahead of the Games.

The torch relay will provide the countdown to what is sure to be a superb Olympics, and we are very proud to be a part of this.”

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: “We are thrilled to confirm that Basildon, Castle Point, Rochford and Southend will act as host locations for the Olympic Flame.
This is the UK’s moment to shine and I want to encourage people across south east Essex 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 19 May 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.

In announcing the villages, towns and cities LOCOG has realised the aspiration of taking the Olympic Flame to within an hour’s journey time of 95% of the population. In fact, over 95% of the population will be within just 10 miles of the Olympic Flame next summer. The street by street detail of the route will be confirmed next year.

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.