The Olympic Torch visits Tynecastle High School

The pupils of Tynecastle High School in Gorgie got the chance not only to see the Olympic Torch up close, but also to hold it, as part of the National School Sport Week. The purpose of the event held a couple of days ago at the school was to inform the teenagers about the Olympic Relay.

Bernard Hollywood, the Senior Manager Business Development London 2012 Activation with Lloyds TSB Bank, spoke to the children about the journey that the torch will make throughout the UK. He also described how the torch is made and the significance of the design.

The teens were encouraged to join in the festivities when the torch comes to Edinburgh on 13 June. They also had the opportunity to get pictures taken with the Torch.

The torch is a rounded triangular shape with a side representing each year the Olympic Games have been held in Britain. There are 8,000 holes within the structure, representing each person chosen to run with the torch. A torch has been made for each of the runners which they are then able to keep as a reminder of their achievement.

National School Sport Week sponsored by Lloyds TSB, Bank of Scotland and sportscotland and is designed to get school children and young people interested in sport.  The initiative this year is using the momentum of the London Olympic Games 2012 to encourage children to try out new sports. It also aims to work alongside schools to help provide quality school sport programmes.