Flaming brilliant!

Council will host the Torch travelling through the Borough stopping at Portrush, where a formal ceremony and celebrations will take place to showcase what the Borough has to offer.

Mayor of Coleraine, Councillor Norman Hillis said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the Borough to be showcased world wide as we follow the route of the Olympic torch, through the Borough, to Portrush and onward to the next evening stop.

“The long Bank Holiday weekend is a bonus for us to extend the celebrations and attract visitors to come and stay in the area. I recommend everyone book their accommodation and make their reservations now as we aim to promote the best of the Borough and work with our local communities in the run up to the celebrations for this amazing event.

“Council will aim to make this the best event yet, as we will be hosting in between other significant events in the Borough at that time. Attracting visitors and boosting our local economy is high on our priorities and this will help to do just that. This is a great opportunity for our local communities to come together with ideas. We are marking this announcement this evening with some sporting and artistic members of our community at the iconic Arcadia in Portrush and will start to plan how the overall support for the weekend celebrations will take place.

“I can announce, that the evening celebration will be held on 3rd June 2012 at Landsdowne Crescent in Portrush, with more information to follow soon so keep watching Coleraine Borough Council’s website for updates, www.colerainebc.gov.uk ”

The Borough of Coleraine is one of the four in Northern Ireland and many more across the UK confirmed today 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. The Olympic Flame will be carried across the UK by 8,000 inspirational Torchbearers and once the detailed daily route is confirmed later this year.

The LOCOG Torchbearer programme to find 2,012 inspirational people who have gone beyond their personal best will run for six weeks from today. The nomination portal at www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay asks nominators for up to 150 words on why their nominee should carry the Olympic Flame. The deadline for nominating through the LOCOG campaign is 11.59pm on Wednesday 29 June 2011. Judging panels will be set up in each Nation and Region of the UK to select the Torchbearers for their area.