This summer the Olympic Games are being held in the UK: London 2012 Olympic Games - 27 July to 12 August Paralympic Games - 29 August to 9 September. Your chance to be part of history - the Olympic Torch Relay On Tuesday 10 July people in the Vale of White Horse will be able to welcome the Olympic Torch Relay to the district and celebrate the achievements of the inspirational Torchbearers when it travels through Abingdon as it makes its way round the country before the start of the London 2012 Olympics. The Flame will begin its journey through the town at just after 7.30am at the top of Oxford Road. It will then travel down to Vineyard, on to Stert Street and Broad Street before leaving the town at Bridge Street. Residents will be invited to line the Abingdon streets to mark this historic occasion and cheer the Flame on its way. There will be temporary road closures in place along the route for up to an hour before the convoy begins its journey through the town. Residents and businesses are therefore asked to plan in advance if they intend to make a journey between 6.30am and 8.30am. Full details of the route can be viewed on the Abingdon Olympic Torch Relay Map . For a full list of the times for day 53 (Oxford to Reading, including Abingdon) click here. A full list of the inspirational Torchbearers who will carry the Torch in Abingdon can be found at Meet the Torchbearers. Your help needed Vale of White Horse District Council is looking for members of the public to volunteer to act as route marshalls on the morning that the Olympic Torch Relay passes through Abingdon. Volunteering to be a marshall guarantees you a great view of proceedings and also means that you will play an important role in ensuring things run smoothly. All volunteers will receive training in the run up to the event. To express interest in becoming a volunteer please email mark.hewer@southandvale.gov.uk or call 01235 547693. The Olympic Flame journey The Olympic Flame will arrive in the UK from Greece on Friday 18 May 2012 and the 70 day Torch Relay will start at Land's End, Cornwall on the morning of the 19 May 2012. On leaving Land's End, the Olympic Flame will travel an estimated 8,000 miles across the UK, giving thousands of communities and individuals their moment to shine as the Olympic Flame comes to their doorstep. The Olympic Flame will arrive at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July 2012 for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony, signifying the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Become a Local Leader If you want to plan a celebration for the Games, then why not sign up to be a Local Leader. Whether you invite three friends or your whole community, you will be provided with all the tools to make your celebration one to remember. Ideas of ways in which you can celebrate include:
- Garden for the Games
- Line the streets
- Sports Quiz
- Opening Night In
- Super Saturday
- Light a Lantern
- Last Day of the Games
For more information go to the London 2012 Local Leaders website. Be a sporting hero by becoming a Sport Maker Sport Makers are, quite simply, people who make sport happen. Whether it's planning the route, finding the pitch or encouraging people to take part - it needs people to make it happen. Sport Makers is part of Sport England's mass participation legacy programme and is being coordinated in Oxfordshire by the Oxfordshire Sports Partnership. Find out more and sign up on the Oxfordshire Sports Partnership website. Events around Oxfordshire On Monday 9 July, Oxford will be one of 66 Evening Celebration locations and six Island Visits across the UK confirmed by the London 2012 Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG). The evening events will offer thousands of people the opportunity to come together and get involved in celebrations and share in the Olympic spirit. As part of the events LOCOG and the Presenting Partners, Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung, will stage exciting entertainment shows. For information see www.oxford.gov.uk. For information about other events around Oxfordshire visit the Oxfordshire Game on website. The Olympic Legacy in Oxfordshire To find out about how the Olympics will have a lasting effect in Oxfordshire see Oxfordshire Legacy Plan.