Hunstanton & District News

Posted by Borough Council of Kings Lynn & West Norfolk

Paul Evans (foreground) shows off the 1948 Olympic Torch with Deputy Borough Mayor, Cllr Elizabeth Watson, Hunstanton Town Mayor, Cllr Carol Bowers at the Hunstanton town sign

Organisers of the Let’s Get Active 2012 campaign are hoping that the 1948 Olympic Torch will spark interest in sporting activities in the borough and inspire even more people to make regular activity a part of their lifestyle in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics.

The Let’s Get Active committee is working with our local communities to offer Olympic-inspired events throughout the year.  Highlights include a tour involving the 1948 Olympic Torch (2-5 June 2012) being led by the West Norfolk Sports Council, where the 1948 torch will be carried into over 80 villages in West Norfolk and beyond. Many villages will be hosting events, full details of which will be released soon.

To celebrate the launch of this year of activity the 1948 torch was brought to Hunstanton Town Hall today by Cllr John Smith who personally collected it in a roundtrip journey from Loughborough College.

Gathering to celebrate the arrival of the 1948 Olympic Torch was the Deputy Borough Mayor, Cllr Elizabeth Watson, Hunstanton Town Mayor, Cllr Carol Bowers, a representative from Downham Market Town Council, Hunstanton ward councillors, Cllr Richard Bird and West Norfolk Sports Council relay event co-ordinator, Paul Brandon.

Also marking the occasion was the next generation of Olympic hopefuls and young Sports Leaders from Smithdon High School who met with former Olympian Paul Evans who was happy to share his coaching skills with them.

Borough Council Cabinet Member, Cllr Elizabeth Nockolds, said: ““The Let’s Get Active 2012 campaign will showcase the many fun and exciting ways people can celebrate the Olympics. As well as marking this momentous year, we want there to be a lasting legacy here in west Norfolk and hope that people will use the events to find out about new ways to get active in the borough this year and into the future.”

Paul Brandon said: “Villages that I’ve spoken to about the 1948 torch tour around the borough have been really enthusiastic. Many villages are making exciting plans for when the torch passes through. Downham Market is having the torch lead their annual carnival and RAF Marham is exploring unique possibilities. I’m sure the whole weekend will be an enjoyable and memorable occasion for all the communities involved.”

Olympian, Paul Evans & Olly the Elephant support Olympic hopefuls and young Sports Leaders from Smithdon High School alongside Cllrs Watson and Bowers

The year of activity will begin on 1 January 2012 with the Resolution Ramble – an invigorating 5-mile walk along the coast from Hunstanton to Heacham and back again. Entry is free. The ramble is being organised by Hunstanton Town Council for more information or to enter please visit www.letsgetactive.org.uk or call 01485 532189.

Cllr Richard Bird, who has organised the Resolution Ramble on behalf of the town council, said: “We in Hunstanton look forward to seeing as many people as possible at 10.30am on 1 January 2012 for the Resolution Ramble.  The five-mile ramble will start Olympic year with a commitment to a fit person year.  The 1948 Olympic Torch will be available for individuals to hold for photographs at the ramble – booking advised, please call 01485 532189.”

For more information about the campaign please visit www.letsgetactive.org.uk. The calendar of events will be posted here so residents are encouraged to visit regularly so that they can find out about events near them.

Posted by Borough Council of Kings Lynn & West Norfolk

The Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk is delighted to announce that the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Route will be travelling through the borough on its way from Peterborough to Norwich.  King’s Lynn, South Wootton and the Rudhams will be hosting the torch and inviting people from across the borough to welcome the Olympic Flame.

Activities are being planned so members of the surrounding communities can attend to share in the excitement that the Torch Relay will bring.

King’s Lynn, South Wootton, East Rudham, West Rudham, Fakenham, Holt, Sheringham, Aylesham and Norwich are the key Norfolk locationsannounced by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) through which the Olympic Flame will be carried by Torchbearers during the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay which is presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung.  LOCOG has worked closely with representatives from a number of sectors in the eastern region to devise the route.  In all there are more than a thousand villaes, towns and cities along the route.

Borough Council Cabinet Member Cllr Elizabeth Nockolds was delighted that the Olympic Torch Relay is to be hosted by King’s Lynn, South Wootton and the Rudhams, allowing West Norfolk residents a unique and very special opportunity to witness the spectacle of the Olympic Flame and to mark the countdown to the London 2012 Olympics.

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: ‘We are thrilled to confirm that King’s Lynn, South Wootton & the Rudhams will act as host locations for the Olympic Flame, extending an invitation to people in West Norfolk to welcome the Olympic Torch Relay during its journey around the UK.  This is the UK’s moment to shine and I want to encourage people across West Norfolk 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 as we count down to the start of the Olympic Games.

The 70-day Olympic Torch Relay, will start at Land’s End, Cornwall on the morning of 19 May 2012. On leaving Land’s End, the Olympic Flame will travel an estimated 8,000 miles around the UK giving thousands of communities and individuals their moment to shine as the Olympic Flame comes to a place near them.

In announcing the villages, towns and cities LOCOG has realised the objective of taking the Olympic Flame to within an hour’s journey time of 95% of the population. In fact, over 95% of the population will be within just 10 miles of the Olympic Flame next summer. The street by street detail of the route will be confirmed next year.

There is an interactive map at www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelaymap to help you find your nearest community through which the Olympic Flame will be carried.

On the final day of the Olympic Torch Relay, it is LOCOG’s intention that the Olympic Flame will travel down the River Thames as it makes its way to the Olympic Stadium on 27 July 2012 for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony, signifying the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The Olympic Flame will be carried across the UK by 8,000 inspirational Torchbearers each of whom will have a story of personal achievement and/or contribution to the local community. In December this year, successful nominees will be contacted with a conditional offer and final Torchbearer places will start to be confirmed from February 2012 onwards.

LOCOG has launched two public participation programmes. The ‘Local Leaders’ initiative is an invitation to people to take the 2012 Games into their community and create their own celebrations next year, for the Olympic Torch Relay and other key moments during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. People are encouraged to sign up to the Local Leader programme at www.london2012.com/localleaders to receive further information on a range of themed celebration ideas focusing on the Opening Ceremony evening, gardening, quizzes and barbecues and be in the front row to receive free London 2012 event materials to support events.

Also recently launched is the ‘Get Set for the Olympic Torch Relay’ education resource, available to all schools registered with Get Set, London 2012’s official education programme. The aim of the resource is to provide schools with cross-curricular resources aimed at teachers working with 3 to 16 year olds to aid learning around history of Olympic Torch Relays, the design of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay and the Torch itself. A further education resource will launch next year to encourage schools to plan a welcome for the Olympic Flame and show support for the Torchbearers.   Lloyds TSB, official Education Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, have launched their Flame Followers schools programme which compliments the Get Set resources, and gives schools once-in-a-lifetime opportunities be right at the heart of the excitement and celebrations of the Relay.