WHO'D have thought it, the Olympic Torch bounding up Prescot Road?
Until now, it's only been famous for one type of stick – the tickling sort – but Knotty Ash will mark the starting point for the Olympic torch when it arrives in Liverpool this summer.
The London 2012 Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games has today announced the full route, outlining where the torch will travel here on Friday 1 June.
Liverpool’s route officially starts in Knotty Ash at around 4pm. It will travel through Old Swan and into the city centre where it will take in some of the city’s landmarks including the two cathedrals, the Chinese Arch and St George’s Hall.
It will temporarily leave the city through the Kingsway tunnel at around 5.40pm, and will board a Mersey Ferry at the Woodside Ferry Terminal at around 6.45pm. Whether it has to listen to Gerry and the Pacemakers is unknown.
The flame will sail back into the Pier Head at approximately 7.10pm, in time for special evening celebrations which will be taking place there. Community groups and organisations across the city are already in the process of planning events to welcome the flame to the city, ranging from special bell ringing at the two cathedrals, musical performances and more giant puppets.
An average of 115 torch-bearers a day will carry the Olympic Flame during its 8,000 mile journey around the UK before it arrives at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July 2012 for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony, signifying the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
In Liverpool, announcements have also been made about some of the people who will be carrying the flame.
These include 17 year old Molly Steel who was nominated as a result of her commitment to amateur boxing within the Merseyside and Cheshire area. Molly said: “I couldn’t believe it when I was told I had been chosen. I’m very excited but nervous too, but I feel so lucky as this really is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Two other successful torch-bearers are Jane Campbell who has been nominated for her work in the Speke community. This has included setting up a seniors lunch club and raising nearly half a million pounds to turn a closed down pub into a church and community centre. Also Rob Jackson, an advanced nurse practitioner at the Royal Liverpool Hospital, who was nominated for his commitment to tackling the problem of knife crime in the community and raising thousands of pounds for charity.
The map can be viewed in full here
