After the years of build-up the Olympic Flame final trots into town. For many, the Olympic Flame relay will be the closest we physically get to a sporting event at the gold-plated 2012 Games, although NVA's Speed of Light event taking place on Arthur's Seat for three weeks in August, offers Olympian branded interactive entertainment with its fusion of art, technology, and sport. The EIF this year will see seven productions performed as part of the London 2012 cultural Olympiad that runs parallel with the Games.
The Edinburgh leg, and day 27, of the Olympic Flame relay passes directly through the Old Town and up to Edinburgh Castle Esplanade for a free celebration in the evening (times to be confirmed).
The Olympic Flame will be carried through Edinburgh's city centre along the following route:
- Calder Road
- Chesser Avenue
- Slateford Road
- Shandon Place, Ashley Terrace, Gray’s Loan
- Colinton Road
- Holy Corner
- Bruntsfield Place, Leven Street, Home Street
- Lauriston Place;
- Forrest Road
- George IV Bridge
- Lawnmarket;
- Castlehill
- Edinburgh Castle.
The Olympic Flame is expected to travel for 70 days an estimated 8,000 miles around the UK with a torch-bearer for each mile of the relay. The idea is to bring the Flame within one hour's travelling time of 95% of the entire population of Britain.
The gold Torch was designed for the 2012 relay. It is made of an aluminium alloy, with 8,000 circular perforations, which represent each of the runners, as well as helping to cool heat from the flame. At 800 grams and 800 mm high it is light enough for many of the younger torch-runners to carry - around half of the 8000 relay runners are under 12 years old.
The Olympic Flame ends the previous day in Dundee and after Edinburgh continues on to Alnwick.
The Olympic torch also stops on its way North on 8 June in Glasgow for an evening celebration.
Olympic Flame Relay and London 2012 Olympic Games dates
The torch arrives in Britain on 18th May 2012 and sets off from Lands End on 19th May. Eventually, the torch arrives at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony, signifying the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The London 2012 Olympic Games continue until 12 August. The 2012 London Paralympic games are from 29 August to 9 September.
Olympic Flame Relay: Day 26 (13 June)
The previous evening's celebration is in Dundee. The relay then continues through these locations: St Andrews, Milnathort, Kinross, Crook of Devon, Alloa, Bridge of Allan, Dunblane, Stirling, Cumbernauld, Larbert, Camelon, Falkirk, Skinflats, Cairneyhill, Crossford, Dunfermline, Hopetoun House, Broxburn, Edinburgh.
Evening Celebration at Edinburgh Castle
Each of the Olympic sponsors will provide 20 minutes of entertainment for the event: Emeli Sandé, presented by Coca-Cola, will headline the celebrations followed by acrobatic performances brought by Bank of Scotland and dance performances staged by Samsung.
The Council will present two ten-minute slots: the BIG Project’s Youth Choir will be joined onstage by Scottish musical talent, including Kim Edgar and Karine Polwart and the final slot to close the celebration.
Sponsored activities will include having your photograph taken with the London 2012 Torch and other Olympic-related activities.
Towards the end of the two-hour show, the last Torchbearer of the day will light a celebration cauldron on stage at the event.
Tickets
Tickets will be free of charge to the public and are limited to six per household. A small postage fee of around £0.80 will apply to each ticket.. Available from Ticketmaster or by calling 08444999990 from 9am on Tuesday 8 May.
Doors for the evening celebration will open at 5pm with the show starting at 6pm.