FROME will take its place in sporting history after it was confirmed that the Olympic Torch Relay will pass through the town next year.
On Monday it was announced that communities across Mendip will host the Olympic Torch Relay, which will pass through the heart of Frome on 22nd May 2012.
Deputy Mayor of Frome, cllr Pippa Goldfinger said, “This is very exciting news for Frome, it’s great to be included in the Olympics. What we will work on now is putting on a great event.”
Fantastic opportunity
Frome town councillor Mel Usher commented that the event is a fantastic opportunity for the town, with the potential to hold an event similar to when the elite cycle race came through the town in 2009, attracting up to 20,000 spectators.
“I’m very pleased that the Olympic Torch will pass through Frome,” he said. “It’s still very early on, we only received the news at the start of this week, but, I would hope that we can hold a similar event to when the Tour of Britain passed through the town. It’s an event that the whole community can rally behind.”
The torch will make its way through Street, Glastonbury, Coxley, Wells, Crosscombe, Shepton Mallet and Frome, and other communities through Mendip.
Chance to celebrate
Cllr Harvey Siggs, leader of Mendip District Council said, “We are extremely pleased to be able to announce that the Olympic Flame will be coming through Mendip.
“Hosting the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay as it makes it way across our district will offer the whole community a chance to celebrate and share in the Olympic countdown to the start of the Games.
“I look forward to seeing the streets across our district lined with people cheering on those who have been chosen to run with the Olympic flame across the Mendip district.”
Towns and villages across Mendip are just some of the 1,000 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.
The 70-day Olympic Torch Relay will start at Land’s End, Cornwall on the morning of 19th May. On leaving Lands 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.
Frome puts on running shoes for the Olympics
