With one year to go until the Olympic Flame arrives in the UK, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has launched the search for 8,000 Torchbearers to carry the Olympic Flame right across the UK with the start of the LOCOG Moment to Shine public nomination campaign.

Together with the three Presenting Partners of the Olympic Torch Relay - Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung, LOCOG is inviting the UK public to nominate inspirational people, give them their ‘moment to shine’ and have their story celebrated in the run up to the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The Olympic Flame will arrive into the UK from Greece on Friday 18 May. From the start point of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay at Land’s End the following morning, an average of 110 people a day will take centre stage by carrying the Olympic Flame during its 70 day journey towards the Olympic Stadium in London.

The majority of the 8,000 Torchbearer places are shared between LOCOG and the three Presenting Partners Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung. Young people in particular are encouraged to get involved, with half of the Torchbearer places expected to go to people aged between 12 and 24 years of age who are considered leading lights in their local communities.

90% of the 8,000 Torchbearer places will be made available to the public through a number of channels, including the four public nomination campaigns to be run by LOCOG, Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung. Each of the 8,000 Torchbearers will have a story of personal achievement and/or contribution to their local community.

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: ‘Carrying the Olympic Flame is an incredible honour and from today people have the opportunity to reward someone inspirational by nominating them to be part of this historic event. This is a great occasion to give someone you know, who has made a difference and who deserves recognition, their moment to shine.’

The LOCOG ‘Moment to Shine’ public nomination campaign aims to find 2,012 inspirational members of the public who have gone beyond their personal best. The programme will run for six weeks. There will be further opportunities to get involved via the Presenting Partner programmes that will launch in June 2011.

The LOCOG ‘Moment to Shine’ nomination portal at www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay asks nominators for up to 150 words on why their nominee should carry the Olympic Flame. There are six weeks to nominate potential Torchbearers and the deadline for making nominations is 11.59pm on Wednesday 29 June 2011. Judging panels will be set up in each Nation and Region of the UK to select the LOCOG Torchbearers for their area.

The 2,012 Torchbearer places on offer through the LOCOG public nomination programme is 76% of the LOCOG allocation of Torchbearer places. The remaining LOCOG places will be shared between:

•    Young people from schools in the Get Set Network programme who will be 12 at the time of the Olympic Torch Relay (8%)
•    Local Authorities hosting an evening celebration event in recognition of their contribution to the staging of the Olympic Torch Relay (6%)
•    Role models and outstanding members of the public by the invitation of LOCOG nearer to the time of the Relay (6%)
•    Grassroots sports initiatives in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales (3%)
•    Young people involved in the London 2012 International Inspiration sports participation programme (1%).

Hugh Robertson, Minister for Sport and the Olympics, said:

‘The Olympic Torch Relay brings London 2012 to the doorsteps of the UK giving everybody the chance to celebrate the London Games. It’s a magnificent showcase for the country and a chance to mark the achievements of inspirational people in our communities.’

The three Presenting Partner Torchbearer campaigns will launch in June 2011 with the principle of nominating someone with an inspiring story of personal achievement and/or contribution to their local community at their heart.