Moray ignites Olympic spirit
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MORAY HAS ignited its own Olympic spirit by unveiling a torch relay to coincide with the London 2012 games.
The official Olympic torch will visit Tomintoul on June 11 on its way around Scotland.
And to complement that event, the Walk-Jog-Run in Moray Partnership (WJRM) has revealed an ambitious programme of its own.
Although not part of the official games, it is hoped the community-based initiatives will help commemorate the 2012 Games in London.
The five events include:
• Torch relay around Moray’s main towns and villages for 2,012 participants.
• A 10k in Buckie.
• A 3k race in Elgin.
• Relay races in Forres.
• 5k in Dufftown.
The partnership group comprises 20 walking, jogging and running groups across the Moray area.
Partnership chairman Dr Nick Brown said: "There is much excitement and anticipation surrounding the Olympic Games coming to Britain, but London is a long way from Moray, and few people from the area have been lucky enough to get tickets for official events.
"We therefore thought that we should try and bring the excitement and atmosphere of the London Games to Moray by organising events across the area that both coincide with and complement the official ones."
The ambitious torch relay will start in Elgin on June 8, and finish back in the town on June 13.
In between, it will visit 14 other communities and cover 113 miles.
It will head north to Lossiemouth, then complete a clockwise tour of the district taking in Buckie, Keith, Dufftown, Rothes, and Forres before returning to Elgin.
The four other events will see local races take place to coincide with events at London 2012 during August, allowing people a chance to participate and then watch the action on big screens.
"That way," added Dr Brown, "all our participants should connect more strongly with the London Games and also better appreciate the amazing performances of the elite athletes."
The four events are:
• Saturday, August 4, at 5pm – A 10k in Buckie followed by viewing of the mens and ladies 10k races from London at Buckie FC Social Club.
• Wednesday, August 8, at 7pm – A 3k and 1500m in the Cooper Park, Elgin, followed by the men’s 1500m and ladies’ 200m races on screen in Elgin Library.
• Friday, August 10, at 6pm – Relay races and 1500m in Forres followed by watching the men’s relays and women’s 1500m in the town hall.
• Saturday, August 11, at 5.30pm – The fourth and final race will be a 5k in Dufftown. This will be followed by the London 2012 men’s 5k, men’s relays and women’s 800m in the British Legion hall, including the Olympics closing ceremony.
The WJRM Partnership has launched new pages on its website – www.walkjogrunmoray.org.uk – which contains information on how to enter the events.
People can also sign up to carry the torch along one of the 11 different sections, but they are urged to do so as soon as possible.
School groups can sign up through their Active Schools Co-ordinators, but individuals and other groups must register online.
