Press Release: Chance for Coventry people to shine as London 2012 Olympic Torchbearers

The race is on to nominate Coventrians with a burning passion for the Olympic Games and their home city to carry the Olympic Flame.
Together with the three Presenting Partners – Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung - LOCOG is seeking 8,000 of the most inspirational people to have their moment to shine next summer by carrying the Olympic Flame.
The LOCOG Torchbearer programme to find 2,012 inspirational people who have gone beyond their personal best will run for six weeks from Wednesday, May 18.
The nomination portal at www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay asks nominators for up to 150 words on why their nominee should carry the Olympic Flame.
The deadline for nominating through the LOCOG campaign is 11.59pm on Wednesday, June 29. Judging panels will be set up in each Nation and Region of the UK to select the Torchbearers for their area.
A total of 90 per cent of the 8,000 Torchbearer places will be made available to the public through a number of channels including the four public nomination campaigns to be run by LOCOG, Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung. Each of the 8,000 Torchbearers will have a story of achievement and or contribution to their local community.
Councillor John Mutton, leader of Coventry City Council said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for deserving individuals to have a prestigious role in the build up to London 2012.
“The Olympic Games is the greatest sporting event on earth and for people from Coventry to have the opportunity to carry something as symbolic as the Olympic Flame is a tremendous privilege and extremely exciting.
“I would urge people to carefully consider which inspirational individuals in their community would be deserving of such a high profile honour and encourage as many people as possible to nominate them.”
For further information on how Coventry is getting involved in London 2012 please visit: www.coventry.gov.uk/london2012.
ENDS

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