BISHOP VAUGHAN STUDENT BRINGS OLYMPIC FLAME TO BRITAIN
Sean White, from Bishop Vaughan Catholic Comprehensive, Swansea, was one of five youn people from across the UK who last week had the honour and unique experience of brining the Olympic Flame to the UK, with London 2012 Ambassador David Beckham on Flight BA2012 from Athens.
The official delegation was led by British Olympic Association President and LOCOG Board Member HRH The Princess Royal, Chair of LOCOG Sebastian Coe, Minister for Sport and the Olympics Hugh Robertson and Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
The young people were selected from schools and colleges involved in the London 2012 Get Set Education programme and school linking programmes run by the British Council. As well as visiting some of the schools in Athens they are linked with, they played a starring role in the Handover Ceremony which began at 19:00pm local Greek time (17:00pm BST) on the evening of 17 May at the Panathenaic Stadium.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: ‘We wanted to involve young people from across the UK in bringing home the Olympic Flame. Their stories of personal achievement and contribution to sport echo the 8,000 inspiring Torchbearer stories that will be shared from this weekend and over the next ten weeks in the build up to the start of the Games. Working with one of our most inspiring sportspeople is also fitting for this hugely exciting time for the London 2012 Games.’
Before leaving for the ceremony, Sean, a student at Bishop Vaughan School, said: ‘I am really excited about visiting Greece and seeing Athens, the home of the Olympic Games. I am looking forward to the Ceremony and to taking the Flame back to the UK in preparation for the Olympic Games. I am really excited about coming home and sharing my experience, both in school, my running club and in the wider community and hope that this will help people to become even more excited and enthusiastic about the Olympics’
The Diocesan Community congratulates Sean on his achievement, and the Staff of Bishop Vaughan School as they continue to recongise and encourage excellence among the students there in whatever form it is expressed. More about Sean’s story will be published here and in the next (summer) edition of the Diocesan Magazine, DieM, due out in July.
About the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay:
For more information on the London 2012 Torchbearers and the streets through which they will carry the London 2012 Olympic Flame, please go to www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay
