Olympic Flame Is Coming To John O'Groats

7th November 2011

On 27 July, 2012, the eyes of the world will be on London for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games as the Olympic Flame arrives at the Olympic Stadium for the lighting of the cauldron to signify the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

In the build up to the start of the event, the Olympic Flame will make its journey from Greece and arrive in the UK on 18 May 2012, ready for the Olympic Torch Relay to begin the following day. Representing peace, unity and friendship, the Flame will start its 70-day journey around the UK towards the Stadium carried by 8,000 inspirational Torchbearers.

The Highland Council is pleased to confirm that on Saturday 9 June 2012, the Olympic Flame will reach the Highlands. Torchbearers will carry the Olympic Flame through Glencoe, Ballachullish, Fort William and Spean Bridge before travelling up the A82 to Fort Augustus, Invermoriston and Drumnadrochit and then into Inverness where there will be an evening celebration of this historic occasion at The Northern Meeting Park.

The following day the Torch will make an appearance at John O Groats and on Monday 11 June the Torch will leave Inverness passing through Aviemore, Carrbridge and Grantown on Spey en route to Aberdeen.

Early in the new year Council staff will arrange to meet with representatives of the communities the Torch is passing through to encourage them to host a welcome on behalf of their surrounding communities. Full details of the Relay will be announced closer to the time, inviting people from across the area to welcome the Olympic Flame in these locations.

Councillor Sandy Park, Convener of The Highland Council, said: "This is great news that the Highlands is to feature so prominently in the Olympic Torch Relay. I am sure the Highland public will turn out in large numbers to follow the torch's journey.

"What a weekend we have in store as Rock Ness, the popular rock concert, and the World Mountain Biking Championships in Fort William are taking place at the same time."

Provost Jimmy Gray, Inverness, said: "This is the biggest sporting event to take place in the UK for 64 years and it is a great privilege for Inverness to be playing such a key part in the celebration of this memorable occasion."

Catriona Strivens, Chair of the Badenoch and Strathspey Sports Council who is delighted that the flame will travel to the local area said: "There are so many local Olympic connections around Aviemore, from past Olympians to the training base at Glenmore Lodge, and even the Grantown Sports Centre is named after the Olympic Cyclist Craig McLean. We were proud to welcome Seb Coe, Chair of the London Olympic Games Organising Committee, to unveiled our Olympic Tribute Statue in 2007, and at present have talented young athletes training for the winter Olympics. The visit of the Torch will certainly inspire them and I'm sure the town will be partying.'

John Green, Chairman of the Dunnet and Canisbay Community Council, said: "I am very pleased that the Torch is visiting John O Groats, the last point on the Scottish mainland, and I hope that the Caithness people will take the chance to go along to see it."

Bill Fernie, Wick councillor and chairman of the Education, Culture and Sport committee, said: The symbolic torch coming to Caithness is something many people had hoped for and this confirmation is great news and for many is a once in a lifetime chance to see it close to where they live in the north and I am sure that it will be welcomed in style"

Gary Innes, musician and International shinty player is also pleased that the Torch will be visiting the area, said: "I am sure we will give the Torch's entry to the Highlands a right Lochaber welcome and I hope that it will have the chance to encounter our shinty tradition on its travels through the district."

THE OLYMPIC TORCH
The Torch is made up of an inner and an outer aluminium alloy skin, held in place by a cast top piece and base, perforated by 8,000 circles.

Representing the inspirational stories of the 8,000 Torchbearers who will carry the Olympic Flame, the circles which run the length of the body of the Torch also offer a unique level of transparency. You can see right to the heart of the Torch and view the burner system which will keep the Olympic Flame alive on its journey around the UK.

The circles also help ensure heat is quickly dissipated, without being conducted down the handle, and providing extra grip.

The Torch stands 800mm high.

The Torch is being tested in BMW's climatic testing facility in Munich to make sure it can withstand all weather conditions. BMW is a Supporting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.

Shape: the power of '3'

The triangular-shaped Torch was inspired by a series of 'threes' that are found in the history of the Olympic Games and the vision for the Olympic Movement:

The three Olympic values of respect, excellence and friendship;
The three words that make the Olympic motto - faster, higher, stronger;
The fact that the UK has hosted the Olympic Games in 1908, 1948 and will host them for the third time in 2012; and
The vision for the London 2012 Olympic Games to combine three bodies of work - sport, education and culture.
Weight: as light as possible

More than half of the London 2012 Torchbearers are expected to be young people aged as young as 12, so the designers aimed to make the Torch as light as possible.

It is made from an special aluminium alloy developed for the aerospace and automotive industry. The alloy is lightweight but strong, with excellent heat resistance. The 8,000 circles also reduce the weight of the final design, whilst ensuring strength isn't compromised. The Torch weighs 800 grams.

Colour: gold

The gold colour embraces the qualities of the Olympic Flame - the brightness and the warmth of the light that it shines.