Ballantrae, Girvan, Turnberry, Maidens, Kirkoswald, Maybole, Alloway and Ayr will act as host locations for the Olympic Flame
EIGHT local communities in South Ayrshire have been chosen as host locations to welcome the Olympic Flame during the Torch Relay route in 2012.
Ballantrae, Girvan, Turnberry, Maidens, Kirkoswald, Maybole, Alloway and Ayr have been chosen by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) to host the Olympic Flame. Local residents in each area are being encouraged to come along with a warm South Ayrshire welcome for the torchbearers and the flame next summer.
The towns are part of over 1,000 villages, towns and cities announced by LOCOG through which the Olympic Flame will be carried by Torchbearers during the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, which is presented by Coca-Cola, Bank of Scotland and Samsung.
LOCOG has worked closely with representatives from a number of sectors in South Ayrshire to devise the route and Councillor Margaret Toner, South Ayrshire Council's Portfolio Holder for Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, Tourism and Leisure said: "Today's announcement is incredibly exciting and we're thrilled that eight local communities in the area have been chosen as host locations for the Olympic Flame.
"This really puts South Ayrshire on the map and the eyes of the world will be on us as the Olympic Flame Relay makes its way through the beautiful and iconic scenery of South Ayrshire before moving around the rest of the UK, before it lights the fire signifying the start of the 30th Olympic Games in London.
It really is a one-off chance for local residents in and around the area to come along and witness the fantastic spectacle of the Olympic Torch Relay and enter the spirit of the Olympics. I'd encourage everyone in each of our communities to turn out and welcome the Flame.
The Olympic Flame Relay also gives us a chance to shine the spotlight onto those well deserving and inspirational members of our local communities who have been chosen to run with the Olympic Flame.
Athlete Caroline George (17) a pupil at Belmont Academy and potential Olympian of the future said: "It's really exciting the Olympic torch will be coming to South Ayrshire and fantastic news we have eight towns and villages in a position to welcome it.
"My dream is to represent Scotland on the Great Britain team in 2016 and my aim is to bring home at least two medals! I've been lucky to enjoy the support of my family, Belmont Academy and my athletics club in pursing my ambition and I hope the Olympic Flame will inspire a new generation of sports people in South Ayrshire".
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: 'We are thrilled to confirm that Ballantrae, Girvan, Turnberry, Maidens, Kirkoswald, Maybole, Alloway and Ayr will act as host locations for the Olympic Flame, extending an invitation to people in South Ayrshire to welcome the Olympic Torch Relay during its journey around the UK.
"This is the UK's moment to shine and I want to encourage people across South Ayrshire to start planning how they can be part of this once in a lifetime opportunity and show their support for the inspirational Torchbearers chosen to carry the Olympic Flame as we count down to the start of the Olympic Games."
The 70 day Olympic Torch Relay, will start at Land's End, Cornwall on the morning of 19 May 2012.
On leaving Land's End, the Olympic Flame will travel an estimated 8,000 miles around the UK giving thousands of communities and individuals their moment to shine as the Olympic Flame comes to a place near them.
In announcing the villages, towns and cities LOCOG has realised the aspiration of taking the Olympic Flame to within an hour's journey time of 95% of the population. In fact, over 95% of the population will be within just 10 miles of the Olympic Flame next summer.
The street by street detail of the route will be confirmed next year.
People are invited to view the interactive map at www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelaymap to find their nearest community through which the Olympic Flame will be carried.
On the final day of the Olympic Torch Relay, it is LOCOG's intention that the Olympic Flame will travel down the River Thames as it makes its way to the Olympic Stadium on 27 July 2012, for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony, signifying the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The Olympic Flame will be carried across the UK by 8,000 inspirational Torchbearers each of whom will have a story of personal achievement and/or contribution to the local community.
In December this year, successful nominees will be contacted with a conditional offer and final Torchbearer places will start to be confirmed from February 2012 onwards.
Today LOCOG also launches two new public participation programmes.
The 'Local Leaders' initiative is an invitation to people to take the 2012 Games into their community and create their own celebrations next year, for the Olympic Torch Relay and other key moments during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
People are encouraged to sign up to the Local Leader programme at www.london2012.com/localleaders to receive further information on a range of themed celebration ideas focusing on the Opening Ceremony evening, gardening, quizzes and barbecues and be in the front row to receive free London 2012 event materials to support events.
Also launched today is the 'Get Set for the Olympic Torch Relay' education resource, available to all schools registered with Get Set, London 2012's official education programme.
The aim of the resource is to provide schools with cross-curricular resources aimed at teachers working with 3 to 16 year olds to aid learning around history of Olympic Torch Relays, the design of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay and the Torch itself.
A further education resource will launch next year to encourage schools to plan a welcome for the Olympic Flame and show support for the Torchbearers.
Bank of Scotland, official Education Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, have launched their Flame Followers schools programme which complements the Get Set resources and gives schools once-in-a-lifetime opportunities be right at the heart of the excitement and celebrations of the Relay.