Around 100 School children were given an Olympic-sized surprise at the City of Coventry on monday, when the torch came to visit!
Youngsters Given 2012 Day To Remember
The pupils from John Shelton Primary School asked the nearby stadium if they could see the Olympic Flame when it arrived at the 2012 venue.
But instead of being merely spectators, they were the VIP guests, watched the Flame arrive, the torch being lit and the bearer then carried it past them as it left for its journey around the UK.
Head teacher Claire Jones said the visit had outstripped all the school’s expectations.
“This has been just fantastic,” she said. “We are the nearest school to the stadium and asked if some of the children could come to see the torch as it was the other side of the city when it arrived the day before and most of them couldn’t get to see it.
“We thought we would just come and see it arrive from a distance but we have really been a part of it, which has been great. It is a day the pupils can remember for the rest of their lives.
“They have been doing a lot of work around the Olympics and its ideals, to show them that they can really aspire to achieve what they want.”
Olympic triathlete Tim Don was the man chosen to carry the torch into the City of Coventry Stadium which will host 12 Olympic football matches starting in just over three weeks time.
Daniel Gidney, Chief Executive of the City of Coventry Stadium, said the arrival of the Flame had underlined how close 2012 was.
“It has been a great weekend in Coventry with the arrival of the torch, and it was fabulous to see it here. It only underlines the enormity of the games and how much it means to the city and the stadium.
“I think all the staff here were as excited as the pupils to see the Flame arrive at the venue. We now just can’t wait for the action to start in the city.”
Picture caption: Tim Don mounts the stairs watched by (from left) Leader of Coventry City Council Cllr John Mutton, Cllr George Duggins and Daniel Gidney (City of Coventry Stadium).
