18 May 2012
Three-times Olympic Gold medallist Ben Ainslie will officially start the 70 day journey of the Olympic Flame tomorrow (Saturday) which means in less than two weeks it will be here in Wigan!
It will arrive in the borough on the afternoon of Thursday May 31 as part of its tour around the country before the Olympic Games in July.
To mark the countdown to the Olympics, leisure chiefs today unveiled a Cultural Olympiad Calendar with scores of activities planned over next few months.
Stuart Murray, Chief Executive of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, said: “From traditional Olympic events such as the 100 metres to scuba diving, community fun days to a National Skateboarding Day; there’s a raft of sporting events taking place across the borough over the next few months to celebrate the games. Whatever your age and whatever your ability, this programme has something for everyone.”
Cabinet member for Leisure and Culture, Cllr Chris Ready said: “The spirit of the Olympics is as much about taking part as it is about winning. This wonderful programme is an opportunity for everyone to feel part of the biggest British sporting event in a generation.”
Penny McGinty, head of Leisure and Culture for Wigan Council added: “Wigan has a rich sporting heritage and we’re delighted the torch is passing through the borough.
“This is a once in a lifetime event so we’d like to encourage everyone to be part of the celebrations.”
The Olympic Torch will arrive in Wigan on Thursday 31 May with numerous events organised along the route.
On Torch Day, there will be volleyball and Thai boxing in Walmseley Park, Ince and community events in Abram.
In Hindley there’s both patriotism, in the form of a Veterans’ salute as the Torch passes the town hall and slapstick, with the residents’ association planning their own ‘It’s a Knockout’ sporting party.
Not to be outdone, there’s plenty going on in parts of the borough away from the Torch Relay itself. Leigh Sports Village is planning a triathlon as part of a week of linked events and several Worsley Mesnes schools are planning Olympic themed events. Parties in the parks are planned at Ashton’s Jubilee Park (Sunday 18th May), Mesnes Park (on the morning of the Torch Day 31st May) and later at Pennington Hall Park in Leigh.
Wigan town centre will play host to The Anvil Street Drummers, art workshops, cycling demonstrations, sustainable transport events and promotions from the NHS, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust and Wigan Youth Zone.
Lizzie Hendley, from Wigan’s Sports Development Unit, will be volunteering during the torch relay and will also be at the Olympics and Paralympics as a First Aider.
She added: “I’m thrilled to be helping out at all the events. It’s a massive honour to be one of the 70,000 volunteers selected for the Olympics from the 250,000 who applied.”
Aspull wrestling coach, Roy Wood, will be carrying the torch through Aspull and will be coaching at the Olympic Games. He added: “It’s going to be a great summer. I’m really looking forward to it.”
For more information about the Torch Relay visit www.wigan.gov.uk
For more information on the Cultural Olympiad Calendar see main section of this website.
It will arrive in the borough on the afternoon of Thursday May 31 as part of its tour around the country before the Olympic Games in July.
To mark the countdown to the Olympics, leisure chiefs today unveiled a Cultural Olympiad Calendar with scores of activities planned over next few months.
Stuart Murray, Chief Executive of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, said: “From traditional Olympic events such as the 100 metres to scuba diving, community fun days to a National Skateboarding Day; there’s a raft of sporting events taking place across the borough over the next few months to celebrate the games. Whatever your age and whatever your ability, this programme has something for everyone.”
Cabinet member for Leisure and Culture, Cllr Chris Ready said: “The spirit of the Olympics is as much about taking part as it is about winning. This wonderful programme is an opportunity for everyone to feel part of the biggest British sporting event in a generation.”
Penny McGinty, head of Leisure and Culture for Wigan Council added: “Wigan has a rich sporting heritage and we’re delighted the torch is passing through the borough.
“This is a once in a lifetime event so we’d like to encourage everyone to be part of the celebrations.”
The Olympic Torch will arrive in Wigan on Thursday 31 May with numerous events organised along the route.
On Torch Day, there will be volleyball and Thai boxing in Walmseley Park, Ince and community events in Abram.
In Hindley there’s both patriotism, in the form of a Veterans’ salute as the Torch passes the town hall and slapstick, with the residents’ association planning their own ‘It’s a Knockout’ sporting party.
Not to be outdone, there’s plenty going on in parts of the borough away from the Torch Relay itself. Leigh Sports Village is planning a triathlon as part of a week of linked events and several Worsley Mesnes schools are planning Olympic themed events. Parties in the parks are planned at Ashton’s Jubilee Park (Sunday 18th May), Mesnes Park (on the morning of the Torch Day 31st May) and later at Pennington Hall Park in Leigh.
Wigan town centre will play host to The Anvil Street Drummers, art workshops, cycling demonstrations, sustainable transport events and promotions from the NHS, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust and Wigan Youth Zone.
Lizzie Hendley, from Wigan’s Sports Development Unit, will be volunteering during the torch relay and will also be at the Olympics and Paralympics as a First Aider.
She added: “I’m thrilled to be helping out at all the events. It’s a massive honour to be one of the 70,000 volunteers selected for the Olympics from the 250,000 who applied.”
Aspull wrestling coach, Roy Wood, will be carrying the torch through Aspull and will be coaching at the Olympic Games. He added: “It’s going to be a great summer. I’m really looking forward to it.”
For more information about the Torch Relay visit www.wigan.gov.uk
For more information on the Cultural Olympiad Calendar see main section of this website.
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