Norwich Olympic Torch Bearers Named

19 March 2012, 07:30

We now know who'll be carrying the Olympic Torch around Norwich...and the route they'll be taking.

The city is set for an exciting day of entertainment when the Olympic Flame arrives on Wednesday 4 July. Everyone can join in and celebrate - cheering our Torchbearers, joining in with entertainment along the route or organising your own local celebrations or street party.
Local communities will be in an even better position to plan their celebrations as for the first time they will be able to trace whether the Torch's route runs nearby.

Nominated as Olympic Torchbearers by the council last year, two very deserving local people will carry the Torch on part of its journey through Norwich. The route will see the Olympic Torch enter Norwich from Cromer Road near to the junction with Waldemar Avenue where it will then head towards the city centre.

With great pride and honour, Norfolk's multiple fencing medal winner 84-year-old Connie Adam and 18-year-old Catton Grove community volunteer Daniel Browne, will both be torchbearers on the day.
Council leader, Councillor Brenda Arthur said; It is wonderful for Connie to be recognised for her dedication to sport and Daniel for his commitment to the local Catton Grove community.

The Olympic Torch Relay is a wonderful opportunity for residents and businesses across Norwich to come together and celebrate in this once in a lifetime special occasion.
Connie said: "I'm absolutely over the moon to be nominated as a Torchbearer. At my age you don't expect anything like that.
"I keep busy and do a lot of walking and play badminton as well as the fencing so I'll be ready for the challenge. "It will certainly be a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
Connie started fencing when she retired at 60. There was a free 'come and try' session at the Duke Street Centre run by the council where she tried, liked and got hooked on fencing.
She has travelled all over the world with fencing, competing in the USA, Canada, Moscow, Australia and Europe. She has been European Champion for six years in Epee; Commonwealth Champion for three years and at the World Championships she came ninth. Connie has represented Great Britain many times and recently returned from Belfast where she represented England. At 84 she is still competing and winning.

Daniel said: "This is certainly not something that happens every day. It feels like an honour to have even been nominated let alone chosen.
I'll be proud to represent Catton Grove and Norwich. I enjoy sport, particularly football, and I'm looking forward to the Olympic Games."
Daniel was born with a bi-lateral cleft which not only affected his speech but also his hearing. In his 18 years, he has undergone 20 operations to restore his ability to speak and to improve his hearing. Throughout this he has maintained his positive outlook and become actively involved in a number of schemes to improve his neighbourhood. He is involved with the Catton Grove Residents' Association and was a team leader on a 2010 clean-up project and cleared gardens and painted fences in Catton Grove with 200 young volunteers in 2011.
In 2010 he also took on the role of youth member of the Mile Cross and Catton Safer Neighbourhood Action Panel (SNAP) focusing on youth issues and was elected as secretary for Norwich City Home Watch Association in 2011. He presented a successful participatory budget bid for a local youth club to other SNAP groups in Blackfriars Hall and attends council walkabout meetings on behalf of Norwich Residents' Forum.
Not only has Daniel has overcome his disability where others would have given up, he has surpassed himself by volunteering in the community and taking on roles requiring him to speak with members of the public, people in his community and local youth.
The Olympic Torch route The streets along the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay can be viewed in full www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay which gives street-by-street details and proposed start times for when the Olympic Flame will travel through Norwich.

The Olympic Flame reaches Norwich at approximately 5.50pm on Wednesday 4 July. Torchbearing starts in Cromer Road near to Waldemar Avenue. The route will then follow:
Aylsham Road,Waterloo Road,Magpie Road,Edward Street,Pitt Street,Duke Street,St Andrew's Street,Exchange Street,Gaol Hill,St Peter's Street,Millennium Plain (in front of The Forum),Theatre Street,Malthouse Lane, Chantry Road (in front of Chapelfield shopping centre at the Live Site Big Screen)arriving in Chapelfield Gardens at about 6.50pm  

5 July
At about 6.45am the Flame will set off from Norwich Castle,Castle Meadow,Upper King Street,Queen Street,The Close,Ferry Lane (river crossing,)Riverside Road,Bishop Bridge Road,Kett's Hill,Plumstead Road,St Williams Way