David Beckham and Seb Coe. Photo courtesy telegraph.co.uk
Global sports icon David Beckham joins five young people to bring the Olympic Flame to the UK
Today the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) confirms that London 2012 ambassador David Beckham will attend the Olympic Flame Handover Ceremony in Athens and bring the Flame back to the UK ahead of its 70 day journey, presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung.
David, who was part of the successful London 2012 bid team in 2005, will be joined by five young people invited to take part by LOCOG and the British Council in recognition of their commitment to sport and their role in promoting the Olympic values of friendship, excellence and respect within their school or college.
The official delegation will be led by British Olympic Association President and LOCOG Board Member HRH The Princess Royal, Chair of LOCOG Sebastian Coe, Minister for Sport and the Olympics Hugh Robertson and Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
The young people have been selected from schools and colleges involved in the London 2012 Get Set Education programme and school linking programmes run by the British Council. As well as visiting some of the schools in Athens they are linked with, the young people are set to have a starring role in the Handover Ceremony expected to start at 19:00pm local Greek time (17:00pm BST) on the evening of 17 May at the Panathenaic Stadium.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: ‘We wanted to involve young people from across the UK in bringing home the Olympic Flame. Their stories of personal achievement and contribution to sport echo the 8,000 inspiring Torchbearer stories that will be shared from this weekend and over the next ten weeks in the build up to the start of the Games. Working with one of our most inspiring sportspeople is also fitting for this hugely exciting time for the London 2012 Games.’
Representing Scotland is rugby player Dennis Coles, age 17 from Doon Academy, Dalmellington, East Ayrshire; representing Northern Ireland is talented hockey player Chloe Brown, age 18 from South Eastern Regional College, Bangor and representing Wales is Swansea Harriers athlete and Mumbles Rangers FC player Sean White, age 17 from Bishop Vaughan Catholic School in Swansea.
Olympic Torch Relay - Georgia Higgs. LOCOG
Representing Cornwall where the Olympic Flame arrives and starts its 70 day journey is Falmouth Ladies hockey player Georgia Higgs, age 15 from Helston Community College and School Sports Ambassador and athlete Sakinah Muhammad, age 15 from Clapton Girls’ Academy, Hackney represents London where the Olympic Flame will light the cauldron signifying the start of the Olympic Games on the evening of 27 July 2012.
Click here for biographies and images of the young people. Images of their time in Athens will also be uploaded to this link over the course of the next couple of days.
Paul Docherty, Director UK 2012 at the British Council, said: ‘The British Council is delighted to be part of this historic occasion, enabling young people from across the UK to participate in the Handover ceremony and to meet Greek youngsters from their partner schools. The London 2012 Games offer a great opportunity for people in the UK and around the world to develop a better understanding of each other and build lasting relationships. Our school linking projects help make that happen.’
Dennis Coles from Doon Academy, East Ayrshire said: ‘Going to Athens is a fantastic opportunity, and to be part of such an historic ceremony representing my school and country, fills me with pride and excitement. This is the chance of a lifetime and I look forward becoming even more involved in the Get Set London 2012 work in my school when I return.’
Chloe Brown from South Eastern Regional College, Bangor, Northern Ireland, commented: ‘I have been selected for this trip as through my involvement in sport and through my studies, I show the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect. Playing hockey has taught me these three important aspects. I am really looking forward to the Olympic Games and the Olympic Flame handover will be an amazing event which I am very honoured to be involved in.’
Olympic Torch Relay - Sakinah Muhammad. LOCOG
Sean White from Bishop Vaughan School, Swansea, said: ‘I am really excited about visiting Greece and seeing Athens, the home of the Olympic Games. I am looking forward to the Ceremony and to taking the Flame back to the UK in preparation for the Olympic Games. I am really excited about coming home and sharing my experience, both in school, my running club and in the wider community and hope that this will help people to become even more excited and enthusiastic about the Olympic Games.’
Georgia Higgs, Helston Community College, Cornwall, said: ‘I have always loved participating in numerous sports, so to be given the opportunity to partake in the world’s greatest sporting event is just incredible. I’m so proud to be part of this experience and to bring the Flame back to Britain, as well as my home county of Cornwall, is utterly amazing. I know it will be something I will always remember!’
Sakinah Muhammad, Clapton Girls’ Academy, added: ‘I am thrilled to have the honour of representing my country, London, Hackney, Clapton Girls’ Academy and my family in such a historic event. Being given this opportunity means so much to me as I’ve been looking for a way to get more involved in the 2012 Games.’
The young people will also be on board the BA2012 flight carrying the Olympic Flame from Athens to RNAS Culdrose landing on the evening of Friday 18 May 2012.
