Olympic torch will travel through Swansea

One of the world's most iconic sporting symbols is coming to Swansea in the build-up to London 2012.

The Olympic Torch - courtesy of www.london2012.com

The torch will travel through Swansea on May 26 next year as part of a 70-day relay around the UK.

Details of the exact route in the city and information about an evening celebration on the same day will be announced later this year.

Cllr Chris Holley, Leader of Swansea Council, said: "We're delighted Swansea will play a part in this UK-wide tour of the Olympic Torch. Swansea Bay welcomed over four million visitors in 2010 and this event will provide us with an excellent opportunity to further raise the profile of the destination and showcase Swansea on a national stage.

"The evening event will give a chance for the community to get involved in celebrating this global event and will be a great addition to the exciting Olympic programme that we're already planning for the local area."

Swansea is one of 66 evening celebration locations to have been confirmed by the London 2012 Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).

The evening events will offer many thousands of people the opportunity to come together and get involved in the celebrations and share in the Olympic spirit. And, as part of the events, LOCOG and Presenting Partners Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung will stage exciting entertainment shows where a cauldron will be lit from the Olympic Flame to mark the end of the day's proceedings.

Swansea Council has also arranged for the arrival of the Following the Flame exhibition in the city's Brangwyn Hall from June 12 to July 10 this summer. The touring exhibition will be shaped in tribute to the famous Olympic rings and will tell how Welsh sports stars have left an indelible mark on the history of the world's most famous sporting competition.

The Olympic Flame arrives in the UK from Greece on May 18 next year and the 70-day Torch Relay will start at Land's End in Cornwall on the morning of May 19.

The Flame will then travel an estimated 8,000 miles across the UK to give thousands of communities and people their moment to shine before it arrives at the Olympic Stadium on July 27 for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony.

The Flame will be carried across the UK by 8,000 inspirational torchbearers and the aim is that 95% of the nation's population will at some stage be within an hour's journey time of the relay.

Details showing how to nominate someone inspirational to carry the torch in one of the selected locations will soon be announced.

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: 'We're thrilled that the City and County of Swansea has agreed to host the Olympic Flame on its journey right across the UK. The Olympic Flame will shine a light right across Swansea and will celebrate the culture and heritage of the area.

"We have no doubt that the welcome that the City and County of Swansea will provide will demonstrate how the spirit of the Olympic Games is reaching out across the UK as the start of the 2012 Games draws closer."