Olympic torch to pass through Birkenhead and Wallasey next June

Nov 9 2011 by Lorna Hughes, Heswall News

WIRRAL has been announced as one of the areas to host the Olympic Torch Relay next year.

The Olympic torch will pass through Birkenhead and Wallasey on June 1, 2012, en-route to the opening ceremony in London on July 27.

Street by street details of the route will be revealed next year by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).

Wirral West MP Esther McVey, who earlier this year called for the torch to pass through the borough, said she was delighted at the news.

A provisional route for the torch in the North West skirted around Wirral and would have seen the torch visiting only Chester, Blackpool, Liverpool and Manchester.

Councillor Steve Foulkes, leader of Wirral Council, said: “This is a tremendous opportunity for the people of Wirral to become part of the once-in-a-lifetime experience of hosting the Olympic Games.

“Wirral has a strong tradition of sporting success and participation and I know that hundreds of people will be proud to extend a special Wirral welcome to the torchbearers.”

The 70-day Olympic Torch Relay, will start at Land’s End, Cornwall on the morning of May 19, 2012.

On leaving Land’s End, the Olympic Flame will travel an estimated 8,000 miles around the UK.

Ms McVey said: “Earlier this year when the first route was published I was disappointed that Wirral was not included.ŠŠ

“I immediately wrote to the LOCOG, as well as meeting with them to request that the Olympic torch relay route passes through Wirral engaging with the local community, pointing out that Wirral has a proud tradition of sportsmen and women such as Austin Healy, Chris Boardman, Matt Dawson, Ian Botham, Dixie Dean, Ray Stubbs and Lottie Todd.ŠŠ

Š“To be a part of this historic torch relay will mean so much to the people of Wirral.”

An interactive map can be viewed at www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelaymap