Coventry City Council

Coventry’s London 2012 Torchbearers have been given a warm reception as they prepare to carry the Olympic Flame. 

Ahead of their involvement they were all invited to a reception with Coventry City Council leader John Mutton.

A total of 18 Torchbearers from Coventry will carry the Olympic Flame as part of the London 2012 Torch Relay between May 19 and July 27.

In addition, Olympic archer Naomi Folkard, 800m Olympic runner Sheila Carey and Paralympic swimmer Melanie Easter will all be carrying the Flame as part of the Olympic Torch Relay.

Coventry will also welcome Torchbearers from across the region and beyond into the city during the Torch Relay.

During the event, held at the Council House, the Torchbearers were welcomed by Cllr Mutton before being given an update on Coventry’s involvement in London 2012. Those in attendance were also given the chance to hold a replica Olympic Torch thanks to staff from Exhall-based Premier Group, which is manufacturing the Olympic Torches.

Guests went on to watch the Olympic Flame arrive in the UK live on the big screen at Coventry’s London 2012 Live Site in Millennium Place.

Coventry will host one of just 66 evening Olympic Torch Celebrations in the city’s War Memorial Park on the evening of July 1, coinciding with the end of the Godiva Festival.

Cllr John Mutton said: “Coventry’s Torchbearers will represent their city in front of a global audience.

“After meeting them, and hearing their stories, it was obvious that Coventry has a collection of hugely inspirational and enthusiastic individuals who everyone in the city can be extremely proud of.

“I wish them all the best of luck on their journeys and we look forward to welcoming the Olympic Torch Relay to our city on July 1.”

The streets along the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, which can be viewed in full at www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay, gives street by street details and times for when the Olympic Flame will travel through Coventry.

The full list of Coventrians who will carry the Olympic Torch is:

Shane Kennedy, Diane Lewis, Chanel Carter, Bhanu Dabhi

Ali Abdillahi, Karam Cheema, Emily Hickman, Doug Chamberlain

Eleanor Lisney, Matthew Mcpolin, Charlotte Moore, Chloe Pahnke

Tony Worth, Kymrun Dhami, Jenny Simpson, Simon Duffield-Harding

Anne Dow and Jan Malatesta.