Torch Relay

Almost 20 Further and Higher Education institutions will be visited by the Olympic Flame as it makes its way to the Opening Ceremony of London 2012 on the 70-day Torch Relay whilst scores of students and staff members from the sectors have been confirmed as Torchbearers.

The Olympic Flame arrives in the UK on Friday 18th May and will come within 10 miles of 95% of people in the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey before arriving in the Olympic Stadium on 27th July.

Podium would like to hear from all members of the FE and HE sectors who have been selected as Torchbearers and institutions which will be hosting a section of the Torch Relay, so that we can showcase your participation. Please email torch@podium.ac.uk giving us brief details of your involvement and we will contact you for more information.

The University of Bath will be the first HE institution on the route, as the Torch Relay passes through the official pre-Games training camp base of ParalympicsGB on Tuesday 22nd May.

The following day, Swindon College will become the first FE provider to be lit up by the Torch as it passes through the town en route to an evening celebration in Cheltenham.

Other FE and HE institutions on the route include, in date order:

Hereford 6th Form College
Lancashire College (Adult Learning Centre)
St Andrews University
Borders College
Barnsley 6th Form College
Doncaster College
Loughborough University
Anglia Ruskin University
Trinity College (Cambridge Uni)
University of Hertfordshire
Oxford University
Andover College
Kingston Maurward College
Trinity Laban
Brunel University
Southgate College
Middlesex University

Of the 7,300 members of the public confirmed as Torchbearers, many of them are students and members of staff from the sectors.

Alex Williams, a Sport and Leisure student at Tameside College in Greater Manchester will carry the Torch on 31st May whilst Ross Ensor, a student at Dudley College, will be a Torchbearer in the West Midlands town on Saturday 30 June.

Ross, who has been recognised for his volunteering and contribution to work in the community, said: "When I opened the email from the London 2012 Olympic organisers I nearly fell off my chair. I'm over the moon to be selected. It's a real honour and it will definitely be a once in a lifetime experience. I'm very excited and looking forward to the special day."

Prof Ian Henry, Director of the Centre for Olympic Studies & Research at Loughborough University, will be carrying the Torch through the East Midlands town on 3rd July. The following day, Prof Tom Ward, Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of East Anglia, will run with the Torch in Norwich.

Two days later, Bharat Thakrar, a student at the University of Portsmouth, will carry the Torch through Hadleigh in Essex and Prof Ian Campbell, Pro-Vice Chancellor at Brunel University, will be a Torchbearer on 21st July as the Olympic Flame visits the London host borough of Newham.

Please let us know your involvement with the Olympic Torch Relay by emailing torch@podium.ac.uk

Anyone who would like to get involved in providing entertainment or services for the Torch Relay is advised to contact their local authority.