Sports Events

The Norfolk's Year of Celebration 2012 fund information and event planner is now available, this is the address www.norfolk.gov.uk/events2012

Olympic Torch Relay 2012 Great Yarmouth Borough - Thursday 5th July

Introduction
The Olympic Flame will travel for 70 days; 63 days around the UK and the final 7 days in London passing through hundreds of Communities on Route. There will be 8,000 Torchbearers (approximately 300 metres each). In total, 8,000 miles will be covered across the UK through torchbearer and convoy mode.  The convoy itself will be made up of 14-16 vehicles and be approximately 150 metres long.

95% of the UK population will be within 10 miles of the Olympic Flame. There will be a strong focus on youth and the aim is for over 50% of Torchbearers to be aged between 12 and 24 years. With this in mind, the Torch is one of the lightest torches ever made for the Games; the design incorporates 8,000 holes to represent 8,000 Torchbearers.

The Route
Due to confidentiality restrictions stipulated by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd (LOCOG), Great Yarmouth Borough Council is unable to specify the exact route and time details at this stage. However, more details will be available as the event draws nearer.

In the meantime, we are able to confirm that the Torch Relay will travel form Norwich and visit Great Yarmouth Borough at the start of the day on Thursday 5th July and we can therefore look to plan our celebrations to take place during the breakfast period between 7.30 – 9.30am.

The Torch will travel in two modes: Convey mode, when the flame will be within a vehicle travelling and Torchbearer mode, when the flame will be carried by a Torchbearer along the ‘Communities on Route’.

Our Moment to Shine – ‘Communities on Route’
LOCOG are actively encouraging everyone to get involved as the torch passes through their local community. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity; this is the one element of the Olympic Games that goes everywhere, from the lighting in Olympia through to the lighting of the cauldron in Stratford, London. It provides us with the opportunity to showcase the borough and our communities; collectively it is ‘our moment to shine’ and we want to celebrate the Torch coming to our Borough.

The Torch Connects
LOCOG have been entrusted with this very special, unique symbol of peace and friendship; they want everyone to feel that they can be involved and celebrate with the Torch. The overarching theme is that the Torch connects: it connects young people to sport; it connects the Olympic values to London 2012; it connects London 2012 to the UK and the UK to the rest of the world!

The Sponsors
The three key partners are Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung (as reflected in the Relay logo). Every penny they provide in addition to their Games sponsorship is spent in staging the Olympic Torch Relay. Due to their commitment, no additional sponsorship advertising will be allowed to be displayed along the ‘Communities on Route’.

Communities on Route - How You Can Be Involved
LOCOG invite local communities to support the Olympic Flame to travel through their area. Communities are encouraged to animate the route and encourage crowds to line the route. It is anticipated that local events and activities will be held to coincide with the Olympic Torch Relay’s visit to the Borough.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council has ordered some London 2012 banners from the official Look Book to dress areas along the ‘Communities on Route’.

Plan Your Welcome
Local Leaders: The Local Leaders national programme is available to support people across the UK to take the Games into their local communities and create their own celebrations; sign up at www.london2012.co/localleaders and receive information directly on a range of fun themed celebrations and event materials.

Get Set education resources: The ‘Get Set for the Olympic Torch Relay’ resource pack is available to all schools registered with Get Set, London 2012’s official education programme. The aim of the resource is to provide schools with cross-curriculum resources aimed at teachers working with 3-16 year olds to aid learning around history of Olympic Torch relays, design of the London Relay and Torch. Further resources will follow to assist schools to plan celebrations ideas to welcome the Olympic Flame to our Borough. To find out more visit www.london2012.com/getset

Norfolk County Council website www.norfolkcelebratingtalent.co.uk features more details on the Olympic Torch Relay visit to Norfolk plus other London 2012 related events & activities.

Funding Support
Great Yarmouth Sports Partnership will be offering small grants to local clubs, schools and organisations towards providing local events & activities that support the Olympic Torch Relay’s visit to the Borough and/or celebrate London 2012 Olympics. For further details contact Marie Hartley, GYBC Culture, Sport & Leisure Manager on GY 846354 or email mlh@great-yarmouth.gov.uk

Additional funding may also be available from Norfolk County Council’s Norfolk’s Year of Celebrations 2012 Fund’ visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/events2012 for further details.