Olympic torch will not stop in Shropshire
SHROPSHIRE'S BID for the London 2012 Olympic Torch to stop overnight in the county during its 70-day journey through Great Britain has been snubbed. SHROPSHIRE'S BID for the London 2012 Olympic Torch to stop overnight in the county during its 70-day journey through Great Britain has been snubbed. The county is one of only six in England to miss out on an overnight stop, despite bids from both Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin councils to host a stay by the Torch Relay. But the UK's International Olympic Committee member today vowed that the torch would pass through Much Wenlock - widely regarded as the birthplace of the modern Olympic movement. The county put in bids for the Torch Relay to stop overnight at either Much Wenlock or the Ironbridge Gorge. But hopes were today dashed with the announcement that the three West Midlands overnight stops would be in Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham and Coventry. [24link]
SHROPSHIRE'S BID for the London 2012 Olympic Torch to stop overnight in the county during its 70-day journey through the UK has been snubbed.
The county is one of only six in England to miss out on an overnight stop, despite bids from both Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin councils. But the UK's International Olympic Committee member today vowed the torch would pass through Much Wenlock.
The town is widely regarded as the birthplace of the modern Olympic movement.
The county put in bids for the Torch Relay to stop overnight at either Much Wenlock or the Ironbridge Gorge. But hopes were today dashed with the announcement that the three West Midlands overnight stops would be in Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham and Coventry.
Richard Sheehan, managing director of Shropshire Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise, said: "Given that Much Wenlock is the home of the modern Olympics I think it's astonishing that we haven't got an overnight stop here.
"Leisure and tourism are a very important part of the business make-up and economic drivers. An overnight stay of the torch would have raised awareness of that profile. It's deeply disappointing that once again a rural community has been overlooked."
George Candler, area director from Shropshire Council, said: "The entour-age that surrounds the torch is about 300 people strong. An overnight stop would bring the economic benefits of overnight stops such as bed space occupancy."
Officials said they were now focused on making sure the torch's route passed through Much Wenlock and Ironbridge.
Britain's IOC member Craig Reedie said: "The intention is to run the torch all around the country. It will go to within an hour's travel of 95 per cent of the population.
"It will also have a British sporting history element to it, so the torch will be run past many of those famous sporting venues such as Wimbledon, Old Trafford, St Andrew's and of course Much Wenlock." London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe said: "The Olympic Flame will shine a light right across every nation and region of the UK."
By Andy Richardson
