Follow that flame
Details of Olympic torch relay route
revealed
The route of that the Olympic flame will take on its journey
around Scotland has been announced.
Almost 1,000 Scots will carry the torch on its seven-day tour of
the country, starting in Stranraer on 8 June.
Local people, chosen for their community work and achievements,
will be torchbearers.
They will carry the flame from Stranraer to Glasgow, and then
through Aberdeen, Dundee, St Andrews, Edinburgh, the Borders,
Inverness, Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles.
The main points of the route were revealed last year, but the
exact details were announced yesterday.
Around 115 people will carry the torch each day. It will travel
a total of 8,000 miles around the UK before arriving in London on
27 July for the opening ceremony.
Each Scottish city will host events to mark the arrival of the
Olympic flame and celebrate the people selected to carry it.
People in Edinburgh will be able to get free tickets to an event
to mark the torch's arrival.
"The Olympic Flame arriving in Edinburgh will be a
once-in-a-lifetime experience for residents and visitors, who I'm
sure will turn out in their droves to catch a glimpse," said Steve
Cardownie from Edinburgh City Council.
Click
here to see an interactive map of the Olympic torch
route through Scotland.
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Follow that flame
Who are the torchbearers?
Eight thousand torch bearers will carry the Olympic flame around
the UK this summer.
Most of them will be local heroes who were nominated by friends
or family for impressive personal achievements or for their
contribution to their local community.
Meet some of the young people who are among the 1,000 Scottish
torchbearers:
Emma Baird, 15
Emma will carry the torch through Glasgow. She was a
competitive swimmer and footballer until she was diagnosed with
having upper femoral epiphysis, which meant her hip had dislocated
from the socket, stopping her from playing sport again.
The Bannerman High School pupil said: "This truly is a once in a
lifetime experience and I would like to thank everyone for allowing
me to take part in this unique event. I can't wait."
John Beaton, 19
John, a modern apprentice with Edinburgh City Council who
is also a Scout leader, will carry the flame in Edinburgh.
John, who has Asperger's Syndrome, said: "I'm really excited to
have been chosen to be a torchbearer. I have followed the Olympics
since I was a small child and have been excited about the Games
coming to London since we won the bid in 2005."
Rosy Ryan, 17
Rosy coaches a girl's football team in Dumfries. She has
always had a passion for sports and for helping other people in her
community.
"In the future I would love to see women's football on the same
level as men's football and prove that it isn't just a men's
sport," she said.
Mark Szaranek, 16,
On 12 June Mark, from Fife, will carry the torch through Dundee. A
member of Carnegie Swimming Club, he last year took part in the
European Olympic Youth Games. He also offers regular support to
younger swimmers at the club.
Lorna Linfield, 12
A pupil at Lochaber High School, Lorna will carry the
torch on 9 June along its route from Glasgow to Inverness. At
school she helps out with the Mary's Meals charity, which helps
provide school dinners in developing countries.
She said: "Someone at school nominated me as I do lots of clubs
at lunch times and I do outdoor climbing, swimming and
mountain-biking. I think the torch might be very heavy. But I'm
looking forward to carrying it, it will be really exciting."
Click
here to see an interactive map of the Olympic torch
route through Scotland.
Lesson ideas and
suggestions
Read and discuss lesson ideas on our Facebook page
Join our mailing list (Glow login
required)