Living Here - Bedford & The Olympics 2012

The London 2012 Olympic Games are coming around fast! As a borough Bedfordshire is getting in with all the action. Between now and the Olympics there will many opportunities to get involved in supporting the games via the community. We will be providing updates leading up to and during the games to keep you in the loop! If you are supporting the games at school, work, in your own community or there is something we have missed please let us know, we would love to hear from you!

The Olympic Torch Relay

In the build up to the start of the event, the Olympic Flame will make its journey from Greece and arrive in the UK on 18 May 2012, ready for the Olympic Torch Relay to begin the following day.  Representing peace, unity and friendship, the Flame will start its 70-day journey around the UK towards the Stadium carried by 8,000 inspirational Torchbearers. Two of those inspirational people are Bedford Modern School students Marcus Burnett and Julie Rogers.

The 70 day Olympic Torch Relay, will start at Land’s End, Cornwall on the morning of 19 May 2012. On leaving Land’s End, the Olympic Flame will travel an estimated 8,000 miles around the UK giving thousands of communities and individuals their moment to shine as the Olympic Flame comes to a place near them. On the 8th July the Olympic Flame will reach Bedford Borough. Torchbearers will carry the Olympic Flame through the streets of Bedford and Cotton End who will host a welcome on behalf of their surrounding communities. 

Bedford Live Site  

Bedford Borough Council is delighted to confirm a free festival of sport at the Bedford International Athletic stadium during next summer’s Olympics. This will include a big screen showing all the action live, including the men's 100 metre final, and opportunities to have a go on the top class facilities on offer at the stadium, especially for young people.
The Council has received confirmation that it has been successful in a bid to have the Stadium selected as an Official Olympic ‘Live Site’ during the London 2012 games next summer. Bedford now joins a select group of other towns and cities across the UK which will be an official part of the Olympic Games during next summer.

The Live Site will offer local residents the opportunity to come together and experience the Olympic Games and ensure the Athletics Stadium will become a fitting centre of Olympic action for the borough.