Olympic torch relay to light up region with six-day celebration

Organisers hope the “once-in-a lifetime” event will inspire a generation of young people to take up sport.

And it is hoped that iconic images of a runner carrying the torch through the region’s cities and famous landmarks such as Fountains Abbey, near Ripon, Scarborough seafront and the Humber Bridge will attract a wave of international visitors. Only London will have the torch for longer, with seven days of events.

In Yorkshire it will travel through all 22 local authority areas, with organisers promising 95 per cent of the population will be within 10 miles of the relay route, which will take in 78 towns and villages.

There are festivals planned for the overnight stops in Hull, York, Leeds, Sheffield and Cleethorpes while councils along the other stages of the route are organising Olympics-themed community events.

London 2012 chairman Lord Coe said he hoped the public would get behind the torch relay with the same spirit as they got behind the Royal wedding in April.

“I don’t want to be prescriptive about this. We’re not Big Brother sitting in headquarters telling people how to enjoy themselves in an Orwellian Way.”

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire and chairman of Yorkshire Gold, the regional organising body for the 2012 Games, said securing the torch for nearly a week showed what the region can achieve when it worked together.

“This has been a fantastic achievement for the team and Yorkshire will lead the way in showcasing the Olympics on the world stage,” he said.

The relay, made up of 140 vehicles with more than 600 people running with the torch in Yorkshire and Humber region, will make two visits to the region during June.