Cardiff fired by Olympic spirit

Local festivities will light up Olympic torch relay

Denise Lewis and Jonathan Edwards Olympic torch

Athletes Jonathan Davies and Denise Lewis pose with Austin Playfoot, a Torchbearer from the 1948 Olympics (photo: London2012)

Celebrations are being planned to welcome the Olympic flame into Cardiff as part of its epic 8,000-mile journey across the UK.

On Friday 25 May 2012 the torch will remain overnight in the city, and organisers are asking local people to help plan festivities to mark the occasion.

The Olympic organising committee LOCOG wants Local Leaders to volunteer their time to help inspire communities to get behind the 2012 Games.

Sebastian Coe, chairman of LOCOG, said, “This is the UK’s moment to shine and I want to encourage people across Cardiff to start planning how they can be part of this once in a lifetime opportunity, and show their support for the inspirational Torchbearers chosen to carry the Olympic Flame.”

Travelling across Wales

As well as being part of celebrations in Cardiff, the Olympic torch relay will be visiting all corners of Wales, including travelling to the summit of Mt Snowdon by rail, and riding on a Ceredigion Cob horse through Aberaeron high street in West Wales.

Inspiring Cardiff

Cardiff Council’s Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture Cllr Nigel Howells is hoping that the event will prove that Cardiff is ready and eager for the Games: “Cardiff is set to host the first football matches of the Games at the Millennium Stadium, we are a selected pre-games training camp for several teams and this latest announcement firmly cements our role in this fantastic event.”