Flaming Success as Thousands Welcome Olympic Torch Relay
Published on:
13
June 2012
The Olympic Torch Relay in Clackmannanshire has been hailed a huge success as thousands welcomed the Torchbearers this morning.
Around 7000 people came out to see the Torch during Day 26 of the Olympic Torch Relay, which now sees the Relay continue on its journey across east central Scotland on its way to Edinburgh tonight ahead of the London 2012 Games.
As the Olympic Torch Relay arrived in Alloa town centre thousands of people, including around three thousand school children, lined the route to support the Torchbearers.
Clackmannanshire Provost Tina Murphy hosted a reception in Alloa Town Hall for the Torchbearers, attended by a range of local sporting talent.
Provost Murphy welcomed the four Torchbearers to Clackmannanshire and also made presentations to local people who have been selected as Torchbearers elsewhere on the Relay Route.
She said: "The Olympic Flame is on a 70 day journey across the UK and here in Clackmannanshire we have been fortunate to have been chosen as one of the areas to have been selected to be part of the Olympic Torch Relay Route.
"Clackmannanshire has a wealth of sporting talent. This is evidenced by the success at local and national events. I am confident that our achievements in sport will continue, through the help of local clubs and organisations, many who are represented here today. My personal thanks for your commitment to your chosen sport.
"Lots of people have been involved in making the arrangements for the Olympic Flame visiting Clackmannanshire and my thanks go out to everyone who has played a part.
"I would also like to thank the many thousands of people who came out and lined the streets and made it such a memorable day for everyone concerned."
Council Leader Gary Womersley paid tribute to the people of Clackmannanshire for making the Olympic Torch Relay event such a resounding success.
He said: "I want to thank everyone involved in the Torch Relay. Local people who turned up in their thousands and the Council staff who worked so hard all did Clackmannanshire proud. The time the Olympic Flame travelled through Alloa will be remembered by everyone for a very long time.
"The Torch Relay gave so many local people the chance to shine. Everyone deserves high praise for making the whole event so memorable and for creating such a showcase for Alloa with the eyes of the world upon us."
Superintendent Graham Bye, of Central Scotland Police, said: "The Olympic Torch Relay attracted a great number of crowds as it passed through Clackmannanshire. It has been a great occasion and we are pleased that it passed without any incident. We have worked closely with Clackmannanshire Council to ensure that this event was a success."
One of today's Olympic Torchbearers Kate Pearson
