The London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games provides Wiltshire with a unique opportunity to create a lasting and beneficial legacy for local communities.
A wide range of organisations are working in partnership to ensure Wiltshire makes the very most of this unique opportunity.
The aim is to ensure the 2012 Games helps to promote economic development and tourism, sporting and physical activities, health and wellbeing, volunteering and cultural life.
Wiltshire Olympic Games Strategy Read The Wiltshire Olympic Games Strategy 115kb
- London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Route
- London 2012 Olympic Torch Bearers
- London 2012 Olympic Spectator Journey Planner
- Wiltshire 2012 Festival of Celebration
- Key successes
- Get inspired
- Team Wiltshire
- Find out more
Wiltshire chosen for the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Route
Salisbury has been chosen to host an Evening Celebration event as part of the London 2012 Olympic Torch relay. The Olympic Flame is coming to Wiltshire as part of its journey around the UK and provides the county with a unique opportunity to take part in this historic event.
Wiltshire Council and Salisbury City Council are delighted that the London 2012 Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has chosen Salisbury as a key location to celebrate the Olympics. Team Wiltshire; made up of the county’s key public services has worked and campaigned hard to promote the county as an ideal location for the Torch Relay. Their aim is to deliver a lasting legacy that benefits the whole of the Wiltshire through working with community groups and businesses to show case the talent and opportunities that makes Wiltshire unique. The announcement that Wiltshire will be part of the celebrations has been welcomed by everyone involved.
Jane Scott, leader Wiltshire Council said; "We are so pleased that our county has been chosen as we have worked hard for over 18 months with the Organising Committee to secure Wiltshire’s part in the 2012 Games. We see this as a real opportunity to create a lasting and real legacy for our local communities. We have so much to show case in Wiltshire and we want to inspire and encourage everyone to take part in this significant piece of history and spread the Olympic spirit across the whole of Wiltshire. Leader of Salisbury City Council, Susan Thorpe says, "This is a one-off unique event for Salisbury and we want local communities to take part in celebrating the arrival of the Olympic flame."
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: "We are thrilled that Wiltshire has agreed to host the Olympic Flame on its journey right across the UK. The Olympic Flame will shine a light right across Salisbury and the county, celebrating the culture and heritage of the area and showcasing the very best of city. We have no doubt that the welcome that Wiltshire Council and Salisbury City Council will provide will demonstrate how the spirit of the Olympic Games is reaching out across the UK and excitement builds as the start of the 2012 Games draws closer."
For an interactive map, showing the route street-by-street, and an opportunity to find out where the Olympic Flame will be closest to you, please visit the Torch Relay map.Olympic Torch Bearers
Thank you to everyone who nominated an Olympic Torchbearer through the London 2012 Organising Committee 'Moment to shine' campaign.
Members of the public were encouraged to nominate someone inspirational to carry the Olympic Flame. Following a process of validation, eligible nominations were put forward to one of 12 regional selection panels. Nominations were judged on an anonymous basis and judged purely on the story alone. The selection panels were made up of individuals who best represent the local communities and were therefore well placed to judge which nominations for LOCOG’s 2012 Torchbearers deserve their Moment to Shine. Those shortlisted were put forward to selection panels across the UK, who judged each story anonymously. With the standard so high, there were difficult decisions to be made as to who would be one of the 8,000 people carrying the Flame. Nominees had around a one in 11 chance of being a Torchbearer.
Places have now been confirmed for 7,300 of the 8,000 Torchbearers, with more to be announced in the coming months. For details on who will be running in your area, please meet the Torchbearers.Key successes
Athletes, sports clubs, volunteers and coaches across Wiltshire and Swindon were recognised for their exceptional achievements at the second Wiltshire and Swindon Sports Awards on 22 September 2011. Following the success of last year’s awards, the 2011 Wiltshire and Swindon Sports Awards was jointly hosted by Wiltshire Council, Wiltshire Health Improvement Partnership, NHS Wiltshire, Wiltshire and Swindon Activity and Sports Partnership, Swindon Borough Council and Liquid Media Group. The prestigious event, hosted by former England rugby captain Phil de Glanville, saw performances from rhythmic gymnast Francesca Fox and Judo Champion and last year’s Young Sports Personality of the Year Jemima Duxberry, before the winners in 13 categories were announced along with winners of the Outstanding Contribution to Sport in Wiltshire award. Held at the City Hall in Salisbury, the event was also attended by 2004 Paralympic gold medallist in the 800 metres Danny Crates.
Find out about the Wiltshire and Swindon Sports Awards
Get Inspired
London 2012 has sport at its heart and London at the centre, but it is more than London and more than sport. It is Games for London, the UK and the rest of the world, for sport and culture, for volunteers and business. Through the London 2012 Inspire Mark Programme, non-commercial organisations have the chance to be a part of it: to reach new audiences, to forge new partnerships and to inspire change in sport, culture, education, sustainability, volunteering and enterprise. This is the first time the Olympic Committee has sanctioned the use of the use of the Olympic logo for use other than the Games itself therefore being part of the Inspire Mark programme is a once in a life time opportunity.
Wiltshire Council Sports Development team and the Wiltshire Council Arts development team has secured the Inspiremark for the following projects:
- WOW Fit
- Active health – Strength and balance
- Extreme Wiltshire
- Return to Sport
- Kandu Kicks
- Celebrate PAWS
- Screen Me
- Wiltshire’s Flame
Team Wiltshire
The team is supported by Wiltshire Council, NHS Wiltshire, Wiltshire Assembly, Wiltshire Health Improvement Partnership, Wiltshire and Swindon Activity & Sports Partnership, Visit Wiltshire, Swindon Borough Council, Team South West, and Relays.
Team Wiltshire focuses on four different areas:
Sport, Physical Activity & Health
Wiltshire Council believes that sport and active recreation has the power to positively affect individuals and communities. We believe that everyone is entitled to the same opportunities and access to high quality sports, physical activities and events, irrespective of age, gender, ability, personal circumstances or ethnic origin. By working with a range of partners in public, private and voluntary sectors, sports and physical activity opportunities can be improved and enhanced. Sport and physical activity can play a major role across a much wider agenda including positive effects on community safety, community sustainability and health and obesity as well as the traditional focus on PE and School Sports, alongside clubs and community groups.
Economic Development and Tourism
Visit Wiltshire Ltd is the official Tourist Board for Wiltshire. It is a private sector organisation representing over 450 members. Wiltshire's visitor economy currently generates £1billion and supports over 20,000 jobs.
Throughout 2012 Visit Wiltshire will be working to generate positive PR using the travel trade and consumer press to maximise tourism opportunities for the county.
The London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay will travel through Wiltshire twice, for two days in May and two in July.
The Torch Relay will be accompanied by a variety of colourful events, including an evening celebration at Hudson’s Field in Salisbury. The Visit Wiltshire website has details of this and a huge variety of other festivals and events throughout the year.
If you are looking for accommodation in Wiltshire the county offers a wide variety of accommodation and friendly campsites. Further details can be found on the where to stay page.
Cultural Olympiad, Heritage and Arts
An exciting range of projects are planned for 2012. Many are starting now with final events taking place from spring through to the end of the summer next year. If you would like to take part in any of these projects please contact the arts service by email at arts@wiltshire.gov.uk or by visiting Cultural Olympiad, Heritage & Arts.
Communications and Community Engagement
2012 is an exciting time for communities throughout Wiltshire. We have created free a toolkit to download we hope this will enable communities to host events. Whether you are looking at a street party for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee or a mini family Olympics to celebrate the torch route, we hope that every person in Wiltshire will remember 2012 as a year communities got involved. For any further help please email 2012celebrations@wiltshire.gov.uk or visit 2012 celebrations.Find out more
Contact Details (LiveLink)
Multiple Contacts:
eMail: teamwiltshire@wiltshire.gov.uk
Telephone:
Out of hours:
Fax:
Postal Address:
In Person:
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Last updated: 23 April 2012
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