Phil MacHugh is carrying the Olympic Torch during the relay tomorrow morning, although he said that until this last week some of his friends still did not believe him.
He is someone who is not averse to a bit of publicity having been in the public eye since he first started out on TV at the tender age of 14. He now works in PR and is currently Creative Director of Steak restaurant at No14 Picardy Place.
We wondered why the former BBC Alba TV presenter had been chosen for the honour, particularly as when we looked his name was missing from the list of torchbearers on the official Olympics website…
When we caught up with him earlier today he was so excited he could hardly speak. He is running with the Olympic Torch tomorrow morning at 08.03 a.m in Milnathort. He is raising the flame on New Rd (A911) near Milnathort Town Sign to Victoria Ave. Well we say running, but actually what he intends doing when he has the torch in his hands, he is keeping a little vague. As a World Highland Dance Champion, we think he might have a wee dance or two on the way.
We asked him about his training for this event:-“Oh yes I have been hitting the gym morning, noon and night of course! I don’t have to run very far with the Torch, and so I may well just jaunt with the torch. I am going to take it in my stride and keep it for as long as I can. It is timed to the minute of course but maybe the next person may have to wait a little before they get their turn…!”
Phil explained why he had been chosen:-“I have done some corporate work with Team Samsung before, and they asked me a while ago if I would like to carry the Olympic Torch. I speak Gaelic and they quite liked the idea of a Gaelic speaker in the Relay. So they put me forward for it and I was delighted to be nominated. I was originally supposed to be running in Stornoway, but then the way it will work out is that I will be part of the Samsung Hope Relay running up to the Olympics which is a way of raising money for charity. I will be at the Castle tomorrow night too, and Samsung really wanted me along for that part of the event.
“Tomorrow morning I will be running first thing, then I am going to an Edinburgh School in the afternoon for a Meet and Greet, and then I will be at Crew Clothing at Ocean Terminal later on to show off my torch! It is going to be an exciting day.
“I have checked the weather and it is to be dry and sunny tomorrow which is great.
So The Reporter then asked what MacHugh’s own sport is? He replied quickly:-“I am not really a sports fan. The only sport that I take part in now is skiing when I am on holiday. The nearest I get to the gym is the sauna, but I was a good Highland dancer.
STV news anchor, John Mackay, has given him some advice after his own run with the torch at Stranraer. Apparently the torch is a bit top heavy, so John told him to hold it halfway up so that it doesn’t wave about too much. And finally MacHugh said:-“I hope not to drop the torch or put the flame out!”
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