Yarborough Sports Ground prepares for Lincoln Olympic Torch party
Overnight celebrations for the Olympic Torch procession through Lincoln on June 27, 2012 will be held at Yarborough Sports Ground, it has been officially announced.
The free event will take place exactly one month ahead of the opening ceremony in London, but there are few details over what the celebration will entail — set to be announced nearer the time.
The Olympic Flame will stay in Lincoln overnight before it leaves the city on Thursday, June 28 to continue its journey though Saxilby, Grantham, Stamford and Market Deeping.
The party at Yarborough’s 4,000m2 acre site will be led by the City of Lincoln Council, supported by organisations from across the county.
City Council Leader Ric Metcalfe said: “Playing host to the Olympic Flame is a great honour and we’re delighted to be welcoming it to Lincoln.
“Planning is already well underway to ensure the evening celebration brings out all that is great about this city.
“Yarborough is the city’s sports hub and the size and position of the site makes it an ideal venue for an outdoor event of this size and magnitude.
“We will be working with our partners to ensure that young people in Lincoln are central to this once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of 2012 Olympic legacy.”
Details about the timing of the event, how many people will be able to attend, who will be performing and how people can attend are currently being finalised.
Evening celebrations will be free of charge, and each event will be different, with locally-programmed content on the stage, as thousands more people are expected to celebrate along the route each day.
As part of the events LOCOG and the Olympic Torch Relay partners, Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB/Bank of Scotland and Samsung, will stage entertainment shows where a cauldron will be lit from the Olympic Flame, marking the end of the day’s proceedings.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: “We have no doubt Lincoln will help to stage an Evening Celebration event that captures the excitement, passion and spirit of the Olympic Torch Relay as it comes to rest at Yarborough.”
Stuart Blackbourn, Contract Manager for Active Nation, who manage the Yarborough site, said he is delighted Lincoln has been chosen as the host for the Olympic Torch overnight:
“An event of this magnitude will be an exciting catalyst for kick-starting the buzz for sport and exercise locally in an Olympic year,” Blackbourn added.
Janet Inman, Chief Executive Officer at Lincolnshire Sports Partnership, said: “For many individuals it could be their only chance to see the Torch and the closest that lots of individuals will get to the Olympic Games.
“I hope everyone in the local area, and people from across the county will attend this inspiring event and be involved in the 2012 Games.”
