Goldsmiths chosen to select three people as members of 8,000-strong Olympic torch rally

The Olympic torch. Pic: LOCOQ

Goldsmiths has been selected as one of just 30 educational institutions from around Britain to select bearers for the Olympic Torch relay ahead of next year’s 2012 Games in the capital.

The relay will set off from Lands’ End on May 19 for a 70-day journey across the whole of the United Kingdom, finishing in the Olympic Stadium on the opening ceremony. Goldsmiths will now be among 30 bodies which will be nominating some of the total of 8,000 people who will bear the torch in stretches of 300 metres at a time.

Thousands of people are expected to turn out to see the torch relay, which organisers say will be within one hour’s drive of around 95 per cent of the population.

The college has now begun the selection process for the three representatives – two students and a member of staff, to take their turn in carrying the Olympic Torch for 300 metres in the London section of the relay.

The torch was designed by the Hackney based design team of Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby.

The college was selected by Samsung, who are sponsors of the torch and say they are  keen to celebrate people ‘who have gone the extra mile’. Goldsmiths is now seeking nominees for selection from among students and staff.

Student representatives will be chosen from the team of Goldsmiths Student Ambassadors – who assist the college with internal and external events – and a shortlist of names nominated by the Students Union. Among staff members, Goldsmiths say they are seeking someone  who has gone ‘above and beyond to support Goldsmiths.’

Students and colleagues will be able to vote in each of the subcategories, leaving a final shortlist of ten from each group from which Samsung then will choose the three Goldsmiths representatives. Full details can be found here

Individuals can also be nominated to take part in the relay on their website and through the other sponsors,  Coca Cola and Lloyds TS.  Many people living in the Olympic boroughs, which include Tower Hamlets and Hackney are also hopeful of getting the opportunity to carry the torch, as ELL reported here

Read our story on the designers who created the torch here

 

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