Olympic Torch Coming To Dover

Superb news is celebrated in Dover today - with the major announcement that the Olympic Torch is coming to Dover as part of its journey around the UK, and the town is set to shine as one of the specially selected sites for an exciting Evening Celebration.

As part of the Olympic Torch Relay, an Evening Celebration event will be held in Dover on Wednesday 18 July 2012. The event is being hosted by Dover District Council following a successful campaign run in partnership with Kent County Council and community partners, including local schools with the excellent Pass the Passion torch campaign. The event is aimed at thanking the community, and showcasing the many historic and cultural attractions of the area.

Dover is one of 66 Evening Celebration locations across the UK confirmed today by the London 2012 Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG). The evening events will offer thousands of people the opportunity to come together and get involved in celebrations and share in the Olympic spirit. As part of the events LOCOG and the Presenting Partners, Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung, will stage exciting entertainment shows where a cauldron will be lit from the Olympic Flame, marking the end of the day's proceedings.

The Olympic Flame will arrive in the UK from Greece on Friday 18 May 2012 and the 70 day Torch Relay will start at Land's End, Cornwall on the morning of the 19 May 2012. On leaving Land's End, the Olympic Flame is expected to travel an estimated 8,000 miles across the UK, giving thousands of communities and individuals their moment to shine as the Olympic Flame comes to their doorstep. The Olympic Flame will arrive at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July 2012 for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony, signifying the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Cllr Paul Watkins, Leader of Dover District Council said: "This is headline news for Dover and the whole area, and follows a sustained campaign and hard work by a range of community partners. This is a major opportunity to showcase Dover in a national and international arena, and follows the eyes of the world turning to the district for the Open Golf Championship this year. This will provide an important economic boost, as well as a chance for community celebrations, and is a great opportunity to help spread the Olympic spirit across the area."

KCC Cabinet Member for Customer and Communities Mike Hill said: "We are delighted that Dover has been chosen to host an evening celebration as part of the Olympic Torch Relay. It was always our ambition to see Dover play a part in the London 2012 torch relay. After many years working with partners including Dover District Council and the 52 schools from the area through a range of community projects including Pass the Passion, it is great to see the town being recognised. The torch will be in Kent in the later stages of the Relay just before it enters London so the world's media will be firmly on Kent as residents have the real chance to be part of this exciting occasion."

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: "We are thrilled that Dover District Council has agreed to host the Olympic Flame on its journey right across the UK. The Olympic Flame will shine a light right across Dover, celebrating the culture and heritage of the area and showcasing the very best of Dover. We have no doubt that the welcome Dover District Council will provide will demonstrate how the spirit of the Olympic Games is reaching out across the UK and excitement builds as the start of the 2012 Games draws closer."

The Olympic Flame will be carried across the UK by 8,000 inspirational Torchbearers and once the detailed daily route is confirmed later this year, it is the aim that 95% of the population will be within a one hour journey time of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.

The London 2012 Olympic Torchbearer nomination programme launches today at 11am. Together with the three Presenting Partners, Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung, LOCOG is seeking 8,000 of the most inspirational people to have their moment to shine next summer by carrying the Olympic Flame. Full details of the LOCOG Torchbearer programme and how to nominate potential Torchbearers will be released from 11am today.

In addition to the locations confirmed on the route today, many other cities, towns, villages and places of outstanding natural beauty, sports venues and community hubs will be announced in a second, more detailed route announcement later this year that will confirm the many other places the Olympic Flame will visit on each day of the Relay.