Olympic Torch Relay to visit Hackney Saturday 21 July 2012
The route for the Olympic Torch Relay in Hackney has been announced.
The flame, to be carried by 21 inspirational residents, will enter the borough at Shoreditch High Street on 21 July and travel north along the A10 to Clissold Park in Stoke Newington. Along its route it will be welcomed by the One Hackney Festival 2012.
Torchbearers will then run the flame eastwards through Homerton in 300-metre legs until it passes into Waltham Forest for the evening.
The torch, by Hackney-based designers Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, is set to travel through 1,018 villages, towns and cities along its route, during its 70-day journey. Some 115 torchbearers a day will carry the flame during its 8,000-mile voyage before it arrives at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July.
Sebastian Coe, chair of LOCOG, said: "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."
Swimming coach Vicki Carter, one of the residents chosen to carry the flame along a section of its journey, said: "I am very excited to be running in the torch relay. It's an honour to have been selected - I have always loved the Olympics and I really hope the children I teach at King's Hall are inspired by seeing the swimming."
Mayor of Hackney, Jules Pipe, added: "Hackney is ready for a day of celebration and entertainment that will make the very most of the procession of the Olympic torch through the borough. We want residents to come out in force along the route to cheer torchbearers as the flame gets closer towards the Olympic Stadium."
Torch Relay route
Full details of the Olympic Torch route are available at: www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay
One Hackney Festival 2012
When the Olympic Torch Relay passes through Hackney, it will be welcomed by the One Hackney Festival 2012 - a borough-wide celebratory event to welcome the flame.
Full details of the festival are still to be announced but the day will include a musical street parade around the torch route and will culminate with an event at Clissold Park.
Accompanying the parade will be a festival fringe that brings the celebrations to Hackney's town centres with food, entertainment, performances and music.
Mayor of Hackney, Jules Pipe, said of the day: "It will be an opportunity to share in the excitement of the final build up to the Games whilst enjoying the carnival atmosphere of the One Hackney Festival 2012."
Find out more about the One Hackney Festival 2012
Page updated: 19 Mar 2012