Council confirms the streets the Olympic Flame will be carried along
Published on:
19
March 2012
The Olympic Flame will travel on the A907 through Alloa Town Centre when it comes to Clackmannanshire on the morning of 13th June as part of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.
Seven inspirational Torchbearers will carry the Flame through Alloa from outside Alloa Athletic's stadium in Clackmannan Road, past Forth Valley College, along King Street and past the train station, towards Alloa Town Hall, finishing at Marshill.
It is hoped that people of all ages throughout Clackmannanshire will turn out in force to welcome the Olympic Flame, share in the excitement of the Relay, and celebrate the achievements of the Torchbearers by lining the streets along the route.
The streets along the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, which can be viewed in full at www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay, gives street-by-street details and proposed start times for when the Olympic Flame will travel through Alloa. Residents living in and around Clackmannanshire can find out when it will be travelling along their nearest high street, through their town square or past their local village shop.
The Torchbearers confirmed to carry the Flame in Clackmannanshire today include those that were successful through the public nomination processes run by LOCOG and the Presenting Partners, Coca Cola, Bank of Scotland and Samsung. LOCOG has endeavoured to slot all community Torchbearers within an hour of their nomination address so family and friends can cheer them on. Each Torchbearer will wear a white and gold uniform which been designed by adidas.
Stuart Crickmar, Head of Strategy and Customer Services and chair of the Clackmannanshire Olympic Torch Relay Community Task Force said: "We're delighted that the Olympic Flame will be carried on the A907 through the heart of Alloa by Torchbearers on Wednesday 13th June during the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. As we reveal that the Flame is being carried along the main thoroughfare through Alloa, it really brings the route to life and allows local residents, businesses and communities across Clackmannanshire to start planning their involvement. We will be making sure that as many people in Clackmannanshire, particularly young people, will be able to witness the spectacle of the Olympic Torch Relay and enjoy the fun and excitement of the build-up to the London Games. We are all looking forward to lining the streets along the route to welcome the Torch to Clackmannanshire and also cheering the inspirational Torchbearers to the community."
One of the Torchbearers carrying the Flame through Alloa on 13th June will be Robbie Donaldson (28) from Keirhill Farm, Balfron. Robbie has recently returned from a 6 month tour in Afghanistan with the 'The Highlander's' 4 SCOTS.
Robbie lives life to the max. He is a fun-loving sporty guy, an academic, the life of the party and a beloved family member. Fighting for one's country is a true test of courage and strength. He is scheduled for 10 days R&R in July. While many will take a well deserved break with family and friends, Robbie is competing in the Artemis Great Kindrochit Quadrathlon to raise money for charity. The Armed Forces Fund (TAFF) is a charity seeking to finance secondary education at independent boarding schools for children of military personal killed or wounded in Afghanistan. Swimming 1.35k, running seven Munros (approximately 24k), kayaking 11k and cycling 54k, the Artemis Quadrathlon is a huge challenge both physically and mentally. Robbie's commitment and determination on a rickety old tread mill, in 40 degree heat, somewhere in the desert is testament to the heart and soul of a true hero, always going above and beyond, someone who I believe should be recognised, someone we can all be proud of.
Robbie is currently working in Glasgow as the Adjutant of 6 SCOTS who are the TA Battalion for the Lowlands. He's due to leave the Army in August after 6 years' service to pursue a career in the renewable energy industry. He has a Masters from Leeds University in Civil and Environmental Engineering. He joined the Army in 2007.
His parents (mum and step-dad) live in Balfron and he has a brother (Will, 32), sister (Jo, 34), step-brother (Buddy, 36) and step-sister (Fi, 38). He's also got 6 nephews and nieces.
His hobbies generally revolve around sport and outdoor activities. He especially likes doing endurance events, mostly in the Highlands, both for fun and to raise money for charities. Recently he's become a member on the Board of Trustees for the Dougie Dalzell Memorial Trust, set up in memory one of his good friends who was killed in Afghanistan in 2010. He was at school, university and then joined the Army with Dougie. The charity raises money to help wounded soldiers be able to afford bespoke pieces of equipment or go on trips. So far the Trust has to raised over £250,000.
Since going to Sandhurst, Robbie has spent most of his time serving based in Germany with The Highlanders, 4th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland. His time in the Army has also included operational tours of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Robbie said: "I must mention my wonderful girlfriend Caroline, who unbeknown to me entered me into the competition to be a Torchbearer while I was away on operations last year. It must have been really hard for her, and she was fantastically supportive while I was away and the fact that I'm doing this is a result of her selflessness. She's a very special girl who I love very much, so I'd like to say a big thank you to her."
Two of the other Alloa Torchbearers confirmed today are Gerry Malone (48) from Coatbridge and Lesley Finn (36) from Houston, Renfrewshire.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG added: "Today we bring the Olympic Torch Relay to life. The Flame symbolises the Olympic spirit and its journey around the UK will bring the excitement of the Games to our streets. Now the people know the route the Olympic Flame will be carried along and the Torchbearers for their community, they can start planning how they might celebrate and make it Clackmannanshire's moment to shine."
An average of 115 Torchbearers a day will carry the Olympic Flame during its 8,000 mile journey around the UK before it arrives at 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.
LOCOG has worked closely with representatives from a number of sectors in each Nation and Region of the UK to devise the route and is taking the Olympic Flame to within ten miles of over 95% of the population.
Schools across the UK can now access free learning resources linked to the Olympic Torch Relay through Get Set (london2012.com/getset), the official London 2012 education programme. The activities are designed to help schools and colleges make the most of the Relay by lining the route, and cheering on their local Torchbearers. Resources include ideas for making Flame hats and shakers to welcome the Flame, an assembly presentation to get the school behind a Torchbearer and a film showing one Get Set network school's preparations for the Relay.
Notes to editors
As the longest standing Presenting Partner of the Olympic Torch Relay, Coca-Cola will be using its heritage and experience to spread excitement across the UK ahead of London 2012. Coca-Cola's national nomination campaign - Future Flames - has focused on finding inspirational young people from across the country to have the once in a lifetime opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame. This summer Coca-Cola will celebrate these Future Flames: young people who use their passions in areas like sport and physical activity, music and dance, and community and the environment; to spread happiness in their local communities. Find out more at: www.coca-cola.co.uk/olympic-games
As the only National Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, Lloyds TSB will be taking the spirit and inspiration of the Olympic Flame right to the heart of communities across the UK. As part of Lloyds Banking Group, Bank of Scotland will be the National Presenting Partner in Scotland. Schools can be right at the heart of the celebrations through our Flame Followers programme, giving them access to free resources to get their pupils inspired and excited about the Olympic Torch Relay (schools can register at www.bankofscotland.co.uk/flamefollowers). Customers can be the first to hear how they can follow the Olympic Flame, through our customer-exclusive programme Trackside. Find out more at www.lloydstsb.com/london2012
As a Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, Samsung aims to encourage everyone to be part of the London 2012 Torch Relay to make London 2012 'Everyone's Olympic Games.' We aspire to offer new and memorable experiences for everyone around the world. Samsung is providing 1,360 Torchbearers, who have "gone the extra mile" by contributing to the local communities, through its worldwide public nomination campaign. Samsung will support towns and cities to celebrate the exciting moment of the Torch Relay and help showcase Great Britain's cultural landmarks to provide a more enjoyable experience to everyone. The evening celebrations that will be staged in 66 towns and cities throughout the Olympic Flame's journey across the UK, will allow Samsung to entertain the community they are visiting. The Samsung caravan, complete with LED screen on the side showcasing runners and goodwill messages, will travel with Torchbearers around the UK cheering up everyone to celebrate the Torch Relay with music and interaction with local communities. It is Samsung's ambition that London 2012 will be an event that reaches and involves more people than on any other Olympic Games occasion. To learn more about Samsung's London 2012 Olympic programme, please visit www.samsung.com/london2012.