Deputy Lord Provost Deidre Brock announced today that 500 extra tickets will go on sale tomorrow at 10a.m. through Ticketmaster for the evening of entertainment when the Olympic Torch relay arrives at the Castle on Wednesday evening. The Tattoo staging is already in place, ready and waiting for the star-spangled event when the torch passes through the capital. The doors will open at 4.45p.m although the concert with Emeli Sandé will start at the same time as the Torch Relay one hour later.
We spoke with Councillor Brock about the event:-
The Olympic Torch Relay will arrive on the stage at the Castle on Wednesday evening at 7.20p.m after a tour through the streets of the capital starting from Chesser Avenue at 5.45p.m. We are informed that there will be some “advance activation” by the presenting partners along the route, including West Parliament Square. So that means they will be coming along the route in front of the torch with some freebies to hand out. On the evening pedestrians will not be able to get any nearer to the Castle than the Hub without a ticket for the evening celebrations. The full route is shown below.
The last torchbearer of the day will be Lesley Forrest who will light the cauldron to enable the Olympic Flame to be seen by the whole audience. Lesley (54) from Edinburgh was chosen through the Bank of Scotland nomination campaign. She had a kidney transplant in 1996 and began competing in the British Transplant Games last year. She has now won many medals and has spent much of her time fundraising. These efforts have also gained her an MBE.
Two other Edinburgh torchbearers were on hand today for photos and a chat with The Edinburgh Reporter.
It was interesting to hear why they had each been chosen to take part in the Relay, but they were both unanimous in their feelings of pride and excitement at the prospect. The first person we spoke to is Sally Hyder with her assistance dog Harmony. Sally has Multiple Sclerosis, but set herself a target of 50 challenges to achieve during this year when she celebrates her 50th birthday, which now includes carrying the Olympic Torch on Thursday morning very early!
The second is James Watt who is in his own words:-“Mega-chuffed!” James is a reservist with the Parachute Regiment and has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He has raised funds for many charities including`The Parachute Regiment Afghanistan Trust`. James also ran the Marathon the other week complete with 60lb backpack…
The Evening Celebration event at Edinburgh Castle will see the arrival of the Olympic flame on stage along with music and entertainment from the Torch Relay’s presenting partners: Bank of Scotland, Coca Cola and Samsung. Emeli Sandé will be performing a short set during the Evening Celebration.
Kim Edgar and The Big Project, featuring young people from Edinburgh, will perform two 10-minute sets during the show.
Towards the end of the show, the Olympic flame will arrive at the Castle and the cauldron will be lit on stage.
TORCH RELAY ROUTE
Route: Wednesday 13 June
The Olympic Torch arrives in Edinburgh on Wednesday 13 June, by vehicle convoy from Broxburn. Runners will then carry the Torch from Gorgie Road at Stenhouse Drive, setting off at 5.45pm, arriving at Edinburgh Castle at around 7.35pm.
The only significant road closures for this event will be around the Castle, starting at 6.30pm:
Mound
Market Street
North Bank Street
Bank Street
George IV Bridge.
Route: Thursday 14 June
On Thursday 14 June, the Torch leaves Festival Square at 07.08am, proceeding to Duddingston Village via Lothian Road, High Street, Pleasance, and then on to Milton Road and by vehicle convoy to Musselburgh.
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Thanks for posting this, Phyllis! The details about the event were scarce so this was very helpful!
By the way, here is a short interview with Lesley Forrest that I made a few weeks ago for #CitizenRelay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPNR7foazL8 — at the time, she hadn’t been told which leg of the relay she’d be running, so I’m quite happy to learn that she has such a significant role!
Surely Edinburgh City Council are not charging for this event??!
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