by Adam Williams

Canterbury has officially thrown its hat into the ring to host a leg of the Olympic torch relay in 2012.

Following the launch of the Kentish Gazette's Bring The Flame campaign, Canterbury City Council has confirmed a bid has now been tabled to the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG).

The district will cross its fingers and hope organisers look favourably on the city’s proven track record for hosting major cultural and sporting events, such as the opening leg of the Tour de France in 2007.

Assistant head of culture David Ford gave an insight into the bidding process.

He said: “Tuesday (April 6) was the deadline for submitting expressions of interest to LOCOG and we’re quietly confident the heritage and cultural offerings in Canterbury, and indeed the surrounding coastal towns, will work in our favour.”

Once lit in Olympia, Greece, the torch will skip a continental leg and arrive in the south east for a three-day tour. Many local authorities across the region are believed to be keen on being included on the relay route.

Mr

Ford (pictured right) said: “It’s quite a large region that stretches as far south as Southampton and as far west as Oxford. There’s likely to be three places hosting it each day, with two-hour morning, lunchtime and evening events. The expression of interest doesn’t commit us to any funding at this stage, but it asked us to list what we feel are our top five cultural and historical aspects.

“The Cathedral is obviously there, our status as a world heritage site and other things that will be with us by 2012, like the new Marlowe Theatre and Beaney Institute.

“But we’re keen to promote the district as a whole package to include the coast as well. We want to promote it as a real option for people to either stay or come and visit, both during and after the games. After all, we’re only an hour away from the Olympic park now the high-speed line is fully up and running.”

The city council is likely to find out whether its bid has been successful by early next year.

Once the route of the torch relay is confirmed, local people will be invited to participate, either as runners or as volunteers on the day itself.

Local sports clubs, celebrities and public servants are normally chosen to help carry the torch along its journey.

The journey will conclude at the 2012 opening ceremony, to be held on Friday, July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, east London.