Keeping the flame alive
The announcements just keep on coming. Following Wenlock and Mandeville's arrival into the world last week, we learned in the past couple of days that Universal Music is becoming Locog's music licensee and that and "Official Steel Supporter" of the Games.
There was the unscripted and less welcome announcement of a budget cut - discussed by my colleague David Bond here. But on Wednesday the press releases are again flooding into the inboxes - with news of London's Torch relay.
You'll know from the previous blogs here and here that we're pretty keen on the Torch within the 91Èȱ¬ 2012 project team.
It looks like most effective means of getting the whole of the United Kingdom involved in the build-up to the Olympics - and this time there's no international dimension, so no risk of running . The relay can be about the best of Britain.
The Olympic flame passed to London at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Games in 2008
We've learned some new things today. The torch will arrive in the UK on Friday, 18 May, 2012. No disclosure yet, though, about where or how. It will be carried by 8,000 torchbearers with over half the places expected to go to young people - and there will be a torchbearer nomination process announced a year from now.
It's also being revealed who the key sponsors - or "presenting partners" as they're known - will be: Coca Cola, Samsung and Lloyds TSB. Meanwhile, there's confirmation that its route will be within one hour's travel time of 95% of the population and it will go from "dynamic urban areas to places of outstanding natural beauty and sporting and cultural landmarks." But we will have to wait quite a while for the detail of the itinerary.
As for the 91Èȱ¬, we'll be covering it every step of the way. We now have a creative head for the Torch in Carl Doran, whose name you'll know from Sports Personality and Sport Relief.
We've also decided the day-to-day coverage will be led by , who will work closely with the 91Èȱ¬'s Nations and Regions to ensure there's coverage on all our services from network news to local radio. It will be a big part of our interactive and online services, too. Imagine the potential if people can share their personal Torch experiences - and what happens when it comes to their town - through our digital platforms.
Much more of this to come, then. London 2012 are noting that "the origins of the Olympic Torch can be traced back to the Ancient Olympic Games in Greece where messengers were sent out from Olympia to cities, announcing the dates of competitions".
No need for that now as yet more e-mails whizz in, but it'll be intriguing to see how a flame still lit by the rays of the sun at Olympia can inspire and unite in a very different world.
I'm Roger Mosey, the 91Èȱ¬'s director of London 2012. That means I'm overseeing all the 91Èȱ¬'s 2012 preparations including not just sport but the Cultural Olympiad, our Olympic news and information services and everything that will bring the story of the London Games to audiences at home and abroad. I want to share here what we're planning - and debate some of the big issues. You can also follow me on .
Comment number 1.
At 26th May 2010, mambo wrote:2012 Olympic torch relay details unveiled....
Err, no they are not...
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Comment number 2.
At 26th May 2010, irishbcn wrote:This is getting repugnant- Arcelor Mittal is a Tier 2 sponsor and "Official Steel Supporter".
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Comment number 3.
At 27th May 2010, voice_germany wrote:It´s a pity that the international dimension of the torch relay has been cancelled! For the UK it is certainly not to be expected that there would be any problems like the Chinese torch relay.
....just to play it more safe?
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Comment number 4.
At 28th May 2010, Roger Mosey - 91Èȱ¬ Director, London 2012 wrote:Voice_Germany - the reasons were set out in this news story:
I think in a perfect world there would still be an international dimension, but under the revised arrangements the UK having a relay lasting 70 days does mean it will reach many more people in the host country. The 91Èȱ¬ will, of course, be providing a picture feed that will be widely available including on this website.
Mambo - well, we do know a bit more! But I did say the detail of the arrival and itinerary will be quite a while away, and I wouldn't expect the bulk of that until well into 2011.
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Comment number 5.
At 28th May 2010, Tiger Rose wrote:I for one am glad that the international leg is out if it means that the torch gets to go to more places in the UK.
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Comment number 6.
At 28th May 2010, voice_germany wrote:Ok - for the people in the UK it is more appropiate, although I can imagine that it would also be a good idea if the route could have been extended to other Commonwealth nations.
Perhaps there is a motto of the torch relay like in London 1948: peace (Rome fe 1960: antiquity, Mexico 1968: On the footstepas of Columbus)?
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Comment number 7.
At 30th May 2010, Jordan D wrote:All well and good about the young people, but does everything about the Games have to be about "young people"? Seeing as London taxpayers like me are footing part of the bill, how about earmarking places for us? Or how about for once just going beyond "inspiring the youth of tomorrow" and letting everyone have a fair shot at getting involved?
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Comment number 8.
At 30th May 2010, Roger Mosey - 91Èȱ¬ Director, London 2012 wrote:Jordan D - it's a fair point. Originally there was some thinking that the runners would ALL be young people - but the suggestion now is around half would be under-24, which leaves half (4000 runners) to be over-24.
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Comment number 9.
At 31st May 2010, Jordan D wrote:Either this is a Games for all of London or it is for some. As someone just above that threshold why is it right that I could have been paying for it but not allowed to take part in one of the few bits (the Torch Relay) that is meant to be "inclusive of the whole community".
Does it mean that at 26 (come Games time), I'd be too old to enjoy the legacy of the Games or the "youth of tomorrow"?
Serious consideration needs to be taken over who these Games are actually targetting - if it is only youth, then let's bid for the Youth Olympics.
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Comment number 10.
At 6th Jun 2010, Brekkie wrote:I hope there is no truth to the tabloid reports the 91Èȱ¬ were offering Christine Bleakly the top job at the 2012 games in order to keep her on The One Show.
No disrespect to Christine, but she is not a sports presenter and for the biggest event in the history of 91Èȱ¬ Sport it's 91Èȱ¬ Sport's top talent who should be guiding us through it - not other 91Èȱ¬ folk who want to get in on the action.
With Hazel Irvine, Claire Balding, Gabby Logan and Sue Barker no additional female presenters would be required - and it would be a huge snub to them to bring in talent from outside 91Èȱ¬ Sport to front the event I'm sure they've all dreamt would eventually happen in their careers.
The male side of things is a bit thin on the ground now - John Inverdale undoubtedly should get the top job, and although I'd object to Gary Lineker being bought in above Invers, I think he'll be needed as part of the team, which I'd assume would also include Jake Humphrey who since Beijing has really proven himself with the F1 coverage.
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Comment number 11.
At 8th Jun 2010, Jordan D wrote:Simple really. Bring Steve Rider back and put him in charge. He knows how to handle the big event.
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Comment number 12.
At 11th Jun 2010, Roger Mosey - 91Èȱ¬ Director, London 2012 wrote:Just as a general point, I don't want to get into issues of personality and talent myself on this blog. We'll make our plans known much closer to 2012 itself - but for now I hope you'll understand if I don't comment on any of the individual issues.
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Comment number 13.
At 13th Jun 2010, David Shield wrote:I understand Roger that you are not going to comment on the talent used by the 91Èȱ¬ at this stage for the olympics but I hope we can continue to discuss it here, you might see some good suggestions!
I would imagine the coverage from London will be the most extensive coverage on 91Èȱ¬ 1/2 that there has ever been and therefore the presenting pool will need to be the biggest you have ever used.
I persoanlly wouldn't mind Chritine Bleakley having a role in the coverage if she was paired up with a sports broadcast someone like Rishi Persad in say an afternoon slot. The likes of Dan Walker and Colin Murray could also play a role.
P.S. This is a Sports Editors blog but does anyone know is Nick Mullins leaving the 91Èȱ¬ or is he going Freelance and therefore cover rugby union for ESPN and then could still cover the olympics, Wimbledon etc for the 91Èȱ¬?
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Comment number 14.
At 13th Jun 2010, Roger Mosey - 91Èȱ¬ Director, London 2012 wrote:David - comments are welcome, yes, it's just I won't respond on the detail!
The wider point, of course, is that in London 2012 we'll have presentation opportunities across a lot of genres: not just sport, but news, events, concerts. To take the topic of this blog: the Torch Relay will go on for 70 days and will have a number of big moments, and there'll be the opportunity to use people from across the 91Èȱ¬ for those.
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Comment number 15.
At 14th Jun 2010, David Shield wrote:Yes indeed Roger, very good point.
While I'm on - we need to have ~ Tony Gubba and Dougie Donnelly part of the team!
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Comment number 16.
At 15th Mar 2011, FoxesofNuneaton wrote:With the Torch being available to 95% of the population...will most big towns get the opportunity??
Me being in a Town which is blatently snubbed by Local 91Èȱ¬ TV and Radio services...will we get it or will I have to travel to the local City (the hub of the Local 91Èȱ¬ Radio Station) and watch as they lap it up yet the town I live in gets snubbed again!
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