Olympic torch to get a warm Dorset welcome
2 February 2012
Communities across Dorset are preparing to welcome the Olympic torch with a series of innovative events.
Hundreds of community leaders gathered at Weymouth Pavilion to plan their area’s welcome for the Olympic Torch Relay.
The county boasts one of the most extensive routes for the London 2012 Olympic flame, which is visiting more than 40 communities on July 12 and 13 this year.
The festivities will provide an early taste of the Olympic Games, which is officially opening just two weeks later.
An official overnight celebration is being planned on Weymouth Beach on July 12, followed by an evening event in Bournemouth on July 13 – among just 66 overnight stop locations during the 70-day journey of the flame.
David Clarke, the joint chief executive of West Dorset and borough councils, welcomed 160 guests to the Ocean Room.
He said: “This is our first opportunity to start to celebrate what will be a terrific event, involving 8,000 miles and 8,000 runners across the country.
“As far as Dorset is concerned it will be arriving on July 12 and 13.
“It’s a great opportunity to showcase Dorset in the build up to the Olympics – not only the beautiful nature of the place and the varied communities but also to demonstrate a warm Dorset welcome to the world.”
Mr Clarke described the ‘tremendous amount’ of multi-agency work going on behind the scenes to ensure the safety and smooth running of the Olympic and Paralympic sailing events hosted in the borough, when 60,000 visitors a day are expected.
He added: “It’s an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“I know residents of Dorset have gone through tribulations in terms of highways but now we’re in the situation where we can turn that into success.”
Organiser Gary Fooks welcomed the ‘buzz’ of ideas from the community leaders following a brain-storming session.
The ideas put forward include a White Horse theme at Osmington, Abbotsbury residents creating a display of sails, 1,000 Lyme Regis schoolchildren with their own Olympic torches, a treasure hunt and residents-own torch relay in Littlemoor to reach Chalbury Corner to watch the official procession.
Inspector Alan Jenkins, of Dorset Police, said while a team of Metropolitan Police officers would be escorting the relay, all community celebrations would be the remit of the county force.
He added that local Safer Neighbourhood Teams could help with event guidance.
All event organisers were asked to send their plans to the Dorset 2012 Torch Working Group by March 16.
GRANTS OF UP TO £200 are available to help Weymouth and Portland communities to organise their own Torch Relay celebrations.
The Weymouth and Portland Partnership and the borough council have established a Small Community Grants Fund, which opens to applications from February 1 until the deadline of Friday, April 20.
Grants could be used to purchase materials for art workshops, flags and bunting, or hiring entertainment equipment.
Communities could also purchase plants and planters to help decorate their area in Olympic colours.
For more information, visit the ‘2012 Community Involvement’ pages at weymouthandportland partnership.org or dorset foryou.com/london2012 Health and safety advice can be found at hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg195.htm
Article Courtesy of Dorset Echo
