Son to follow in Jane’s Olympic footsteps

The son of Jane Tomlinson has spoken of his excitement after he was given the honour of carrying the Olympic Torch when it comes to Leeds this summer.

Mrs Tomlinson, the renowned charity fundraiser who lost her battle against cancer in 2007, carried the torch ahead of the 2004 games in Athens.

Yesterday the London Olympic organisers revealed details of the historic torch’s route throughout the country and announced the names of the torchbearers.

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Steven, 14, who has followed in his mother’s footsteps in other ways by taking part in the 2,500-mile Istanbul to Leeds bike ride in 2010, said: “I’m really excited about being nominated as a torchbearer, it’s a great opportunity to be part of the Olympics.

“I will be doing it on behalf of my sisters and my mum.”

Organisers hope the 8,000-mile relay involving 8,000 torchbearers will be the point when enthusiasm for the Games ignites across the country.

Details on the two-day finale to the 70-day relay, which brings the Olympic Flame to the lighting of the cauldron to start the Games are being kept under wraps until closer to the start of the relay at Land’s End on May 19.

The youngest unsung hero is 12 and each torchbearer will wear a white-and-gold uniform which been designed by Adidas.

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An average of 115 torchbearers a day will carry the flame during the nationwide relay, from May 19 to July 27, to the opening ceremony in Stratford, east London.

Unusual ways have been found for some of them to complete their relay leg.

A torchbearer will carry the flame on a chair lift at the Needles on the Isle of Wight, another will skate with it at the Nottingham Ice Centre and it will be rowed at Henley-on-Thames and on the River Bann in Coleraine, Northern Ireland.

The torch will arrive at York Racecourse’s main stage on June 19 on a thoroughbred horse and the following day it will steam out of the city from the National Railway Museum aboard the Scots Guardsman locomotive.

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