Olympic flame Torchbearers and Dover route announced

Dover District Council is welcoming exciting news that the streets the Olympic Flame will travel through in the district, and names of inspirational Torchbearers who will run in our communities, have been announced today.

A warm welcome continues to be prepared in the area, with DDC working closely with the community and a range of partners. Communities continue to get involved, and people are encouraged to line the route, celebrate the achievements of the inspirational Torchbearers, and share in the excitement of the Olympic Torch Relay.

The streets along the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay can be viewed in full at www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay. This gives street-by-street details and proposed start times for when the Olympic Flame will travel through Dover District. Residents living in and around the area can find out when it will be travelling along their nearest high street, through their town square or past their local village shop.

The Torchbearers confirmed to carry the Flame in the district include those that were successful through the public nomination processes run by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and the Presenting Partners, Coca Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung. LOCOG has endeavoured to slot all community Torchbearers within an hour of their nomination address so family and friends can cheer them on. Each Torchbearer will wear a white and gold uniform, which has been designed by adidas.

Cllr Paul Watkins, Leader of Dover District Council said: "For many district residents and visitors this will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the Olympic Flame and witness the spectacle of the Olympic Torch Relay. We continue to work closely with the community and partners to prepare a warm welcome for the Torch and the inspirational Torchbearers, and this announcement will help to bring the route to life and encourage people to line the streets and to continue to get involved."

Local Torchbearer Tracy Evans said: "This will be such a momentous day, and is a once in a generation opportunity that we will always remember. I am overwhelmed to have been chosen, and delighted that my family and friends will have the chance to be there, waving Union Jacks, and joining all those who will be celebrating this special occasion. I have been pleased to help the community, because I wanted to bring people together, and this will be a perfect opportunity to do just that."

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG added: "Today we bring the Olympic Torch Relay to life. The Flame symbolises the Olympic spirit and its journey around the UK will bring the excitement of the Games to our streets. Now the people know the route the Olympic Flame will be carried along and the Torchbearers for their community, they can start planning how they might celebrate and make it Dover District's moment to shine."

An average of 115 Torchbearers a day will carry the Olympic Flame during its 8,000 mile journey around the UK before it arrives at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July 2012 for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony, signifying the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

LOCOG has worked closely with representatives from a number of sectors in each Nation and Region of the UK to devise the route and is taking the Olympic Flame to within ten miles of over 95% of the population.

The Olympic Torch Relay is coming to Dover on 18 July, and Deal, Sholden and Sandwich on 19 July. When the Flame arrives in Dover, DDC is working with LOCOG and the three Presenting Partners of the Relay - Coca Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung - to host an Evening Celebration to celebrate the Olympic Flame. The event at Dover Seafront will be ticketed, and will feature locally programmed content. Details of the running of show will be released over the next few months.