Flight 'BA2012'
British Airways, the official airline partner of the London 2012 Games, will carry the Olympic Flame on board flight ‘BA2012’, a gold-liveried aircraft, from Athens into the UK on 18 May.
As the Olympic Flame is classified as a symbolic flame it is permitted to be carried on board an aircraft subject to special authorisation from the Civil Aviation Authority. It will travel in a ceremonial lantern that is secured in a specially designed cradle which is, in turn, firmly fixed to its seat on the plane using a secure holding device.
Arrival in the UK
It will arrive into the UK at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose, near Helston in Cornwall, in the early evening of 18 May. The arrival at this venue acknowledges the vital contribution that maritime and coastal search and rescue services undertake for our island nation.
On the morning of 19 May, the Olympic Flame will travel from RNAS Culdrose to Land’s End ready for the start of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. It will then be carried on a 70-day journey across the UK, arriving at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July for the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.
LOCOG Chair Seb Coe said: ‘It gives me great pleasure to confirm 10 May as the Flame lighting date and RNAS Culdrose as the Olympic Flame’s arrival point into the UK. My team is looking forward to working with the Hellenic Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Defence and our commercial partners to create exciting events to mark the Flame’s Greek provenance and its arrival to our shores.’
Shine as the Flame travels: An Invitation to join a 70-day Cascade of Prayer
Background
More Than Gold’s response to the Relay
Our longing is to see: The Olympic Torch Relay used as a catalyst by hundreds of churches to mobilise united and creative prayer for their
communities and the Nations. This cascade of prayer preparing the way for all the service, mission and hospitality taking place in thousands of communities during 2012 and beyond.
Being developed is a separate prayer initiative for the Paralympic Torch Relay, which has its focus on the UK’s capital cities.
Prayers where the Torch stops: The way the prayer relay will work is as follows:
When the Torch starts its journey, from Lands End on Saturday 19th May, Christian leaders will launch the cascade of prayer. They will then travel to the next main Torch stopping place (Plymouth). Here they will bring prayers of blessing and hand on a symbolic prayer baton to Christian leaders there.
That simple process will continue day by day. That means, the next day, Plymouth leaders will travel to Exeter – and so on through the 70 days.
This means each community receives and releases prayers of blessing. It will up to the churches in each place that receives the Torch to decide when and how the prayer chain of blessing is moved on. The More than Gold local link person can be contacted through: torch@morethangold.org.uk
We ask for the focus to be on praying for the release of God’s blessing and light among our communities and the Nations. And the approach
used to include all Christian traditions
For more details go to :
www.morethangold.org.uk/uploads/file/Shine%20as%20the%20flame%20travels%...
For more details of where the Torch will travel see www.morethangold.org.uk/torchplaces
Volunteering opportunities
As the time to the Games gets closer More Than Gold gets busier making sure the church is resourced for this moment. If you would like to find out more about volunteering then please check out this link. www.morethangold.org.uk/service/playing-our-part.html
Holiday at Home – Going the Distance
The Olympic and Paralympic games are billed as the greatest show on earth. Olympic fever will be coming to every community and there is something for everyone to get involved with. The games aren't just for the young but also for the young at heart, Holiday at Home have teamed up with the Methodist Church to deliver a fantastic guide in how to run a successful holiday club for seniors in your community.
Order your copy online at: www.morethangoldresources.org.uk