This is the first of what will probably be many Olympic blogs over the coming months! There probably isn’t a soul in Maidstone – if not Kent – who doesn’t know that the Olympic torch will be carried through Maidstone on Thursday 19th July 2012 en route to Leeds Castle. Once it arrives at the castle there will be a cauldron-lighting ceremony to celebrate the Olympic torch’s final stopover on its way from Greece to the Olympic stadium.
The torch flame will be lit in the ancient Greek town of Olympia by a reflection of sunlight in a parabolic mirror – which isn’t as high tech as it sounds since such items were in use by the ancient Greeks – so something else we have to thank them for! It has even been claimed that Archimedes used reflectors to set fire to the Roman Fleet in the third century BC. Amazing what you can do in a sunny country!
Anyway, the torch will be lit in a time-honoured ceremony in front of the Temple of Hera after which it will be taken on a tour of Greece before leaving its ancient home for Lands End. Unlike in previous years, in 2012 the Olympic torch will not be touring the world. Not sure why but maybe the organisers don’t want it to be burnt out and prone to tantrums – as many rock stars on a world tour are – by the time it reaches our shores! The torch will arrive at Lands End on 18th May 2012 from where it will be carried on an 8,000 mile journey around these islands – such a journey in itself is enough to ensure blazing rows among the entourage!
For each mile of the journey an “inspirational torchbearer” will be chosen from leading local lights to carry the Olympic Flame. A search has been launched to find 7,200 people, (the other 800 are presumably high profile athletes and celebs) half of whom will be aged between 12 and 24, and who are considered to have made a significant contribution to their town or village. If you know someone in the Maidstone area who you regard as inspirational you can nominate them to become a torchbearer by going to www.london2012.com/games/...the.../nominate-a-torchbearer.php
It will take 70 days for the Olympic Flame to reach Maidstone from Lands End – which is about right given state of the roads and especially the M25! But seriously it has a long, long trip ahead of its triumphant arrival in Maidstone taking in the whole of the United Kingdom on the way. It has been estimated by the London 2012 Organising Committee that 95% of the population live within a one hour journey of the Flame’s exhaustive trail. By going to any one of a number of websites – http://www.bbc.co.uk is just one – you can find out the first 74 locations that the Olympic Flame will visit with more to be announced soon.
With thousands of people expected to line the torch’s route preparations are already underway in 66 of the locations with shows and concerts being organised to welcome the torch to its overnight stops – so we could yet get some burnt-out superstar tantrums!
By the time the Olympic Flame reaches the Olympic Stadium the whole country – and especially Maidstone – should be burning with desire to make London 2012 the best Olympics ever!
That’s all on the Olympic Games for now but no doubt the flames have been fanned for more!
Enough puns! Until next time
India J