Common Good Funding approved to support city Olympic torch event

At today’s (Monday 26 March) Inverness City Committee, members approved to contribute up to a maximum of £20,000 from the Inverness Common Good Fund to go towards hosting an Olympic torch celebratory event in the Northern Meeting Park on Saturday 9 June.

Although the lead artist for the event is not yet being disclosed by the organisers, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG), during the three hour event there will be the opportunity for local young musicians to perform. Members were advised by City Manager David Haas that the Council is involved in managing arrangements and are working closely with the LOCOG over arrangements for the actual celebrations.

He said:  “This is the first time that the Olympic torch has come to Scotland so it is really going to be a unique and very significant event. This is going to be a great opportunity for people to come together to mark the Olympic torch’s arrival in the Highlands and opens up lots of exciting marketing opportunities.”
The Highland Council is contributing and additional £10K from its Cultural Fund for the Northern Meeting Park event and a further £5,000 is available to help the Highland communities hosting stages of the torch relay put on local events to mark the visit. 

The Olympic flame arrives in the Highlands on Saturday 9 June 2012. Torchbearers will carry the flame through Glencoe, Ballachullish, Fort William and Spean Bridge before travelling up the A82 to Fort Augustus, Invermoriston and Drumnadrochit and then into Inverness where it will take centre stage at The Northern Meeting Park.

The following day the Olympic Flame will  make an appearance at John O Groats and on Monday 11 June the Torch will leave Inverness passing through Aviemore, Carrbridge and Grantown on Spey en route to Aberdeen.

Details of the routes and the torchbearers who have been selected are available by visiting The Highland Council’s website - /leisureandtourism/events/olympics.htm