Mark Francois, MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, is set to welcome the Olympic Torch to his constituency on Friday 6th July, as it makes its journey to the Olympic Stadium, where it will light the cauldron and officially open the Olympic Games on 27th July 2012.
The Torch will be lit in Greece, before embarking on a 70-day journey through the UK beginning on the morning of 19th May, from Lands End before covering 8,000 miles travelling via several different methods of transport, including horseback, bicycle, tram and steam train, encountering extreme heights, high speeds and breathtaking scenery as it visits well known landmarks such as Mount Snowdon, Loch Ness and Stonehenge.
Thousands of people are expected to welcome the Olympic Flame as it makes it way across the country each day, and take the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the Torchbearers in parks, streets and squares across the UK. 8,000 inspirational Torchbearers, who will each have a personal story of achievement or contribution, will carry the torch for one mile on its journey to the opening ceremony.
Commenting on the event, Mark said:
“I am delighted that we will play our part in this historic occasion and this will be a fantastic opportunity for the whole community to come together to celebrate the countdown to the Olympic Games. I am urging everyone in Rayleigh and Wickford to start thinking about the ways in which we can welcome the Olympic Flame in a truly local way. We will be inviting neighbouring communities to join us in these celebrations and to cheer on the inspirational individuals from our area that will carry the Olympic Torch through our streets.”