Next steps confirmed for London 2012 ‘Moment to Shine’ Torchbearer nominations.
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has confirmed that all valid Torchbearer nominations received by LOCOG between 18 May and 29 June 2011 through the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Moment to Shine campaign to find 2,012 of the most inspiring people to carry the Olympic Flame will go forward to the relevant selection panel in October 2011.
An average of 110 people a day will take centre stage next summer by carrying the Olympic Flame on its 8,000 mile journey around the UK before it arrives 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.
90% of the total 8,000 Torchbearer places are available to the public through a number of channels, including the four public nomination campaigns run by LOCOG and the three Presenting Partners of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay: Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung. The public nomination programmes run by each of the Presenting Partners remain open until September 2011.
As part of the LOCOG Moment to Shine public nomination programme a selection panel will be established over the next month in each Nation and Region to choose the LOCOG Torchbearers for their area of the UK. The twelve panels will comprise of representatives from the local culture, sport, voluntary, education, youth and local government sectors who will review a total of 28,000 nominations in October 2011.
Early indications show that the quality of nominations for personal achievement and/or contribution to the local community is exceptionally high, proving that the Olympic spirit is alive and well in communities across the UK.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said:
"We are thrilled with the response we have had to the LOCOG Torchbearer nomination programme and would like to thank everyone who took the time to put friends, colleagues or family members forward for consideration for one of the 2,012 Torchbearer places on offer through the Moment to Shine campaign."
"With the selection panels set to review an average of 14 nominations for every one available LOCOG Torchbearer place, difficult decisions will need to be taken. However, we should be proud so many inspiring people have been put forward to carry the Olympic Flame next summer and receive recognition for their achievements."
Individuals who received more than one nomination had a nomination selected at random to go forward to the selection panels. Nominations that did not comply with the terms and conditions of entry or were incomplete have also been removed from the programme. No ballot was required to further reduce the number of valid nominations as the threshold of an average of 15 nominations to every one place on offer was not surpassed.
From today, nominees going forward to the selection panel stage, will be emailed and invited to verify the 150 word maximum nomination story provided by their nominator earlier in the summer and give LOCOG their consent by 16 September 2011 for their story to be considered at their Nations or Regions selection panel. Nominees are able to make a small number of factual changes to the story provided by their nominator before 16 September 2011.
Every nomination going forward to the selection panels will be read by two individuals who will be looking for inspirational people who have personally achieved something great and/or who contribute to the local community. The Olympic values of friendship, excellence and respect will also feature in the selection criteria. Torchbearers will be selected on the strength of their nomination story as the representatives on the selection panel will not be told the names of the nominees.
Sport and Olympics Minister, Hugh Robertson, said:
"The Olympic Torch Relay will bring the magic of the Games to communities up and down the UK and give local heroes a once in a lifetime experience of carrying the Olympic Flame. I am delighted that LOCOG’s Torchbearer nomination programme has received so much support and wish all the entries good luck in the next stage of the selection process."
LOCOG Moment to Shine Torchbearer timeline
11 August 2011: Torchbearer nominees contacted to verify story and give their consent to go forward to selection panel
16 September 2011: deadline for verifying nomination story and giving consent for selection panel
3 to 14 October 2011: 12 Nations and Regions selection panels to meet and review nominations
December 2011: Successful nominees contacted with a conditional offer
February 2012: Torchbearer places confirmed.
