The fight for the Olympic torch to pass through Basingstoke next year is heating up with an appeal to schools from MP Maria Miller to help boost the town’s chances.
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) caused widespread disappointment after leaving the borough out after announcing the preliminary route earlier this year.
The committee is now in the final stages of determining the actual route and stops as it zigzag’s across the county from March 19. LOCOG has confirmed the torch will pass through Reading on July 10 before going on to Salisbury.
In a bid to bring it through Basingstoke, Mrs Miller is urging headteachers to sign up schools and colleges to two initiatives connected with the London games – the School Games and the Get Set free tickets programme.
The School Games is a national competition where pupils of all abilities have the chance to compete in a four-day event mimicking the Olympics.
And the Get Set programme will dish out thousands of free tickets to children and young people across the country.
Mrs Miller said: “The London 2012 Games promise to be a once-in-a-lifetime moment for the UK as a whole and I am very keen that Basingstoke and its people – particularly younger residents – should make the most of sharing in the occasion.”
She also urged school bosses to detail what schools are doing to mark the international event and how many would be prepared to help celebrate the torch relay.
Mrs Miller also confirmed that she will renew her calls to Olympics secretary of state Jeremy Hunt and LOCOG boss Lord Sebastian Coe to consider Basingstoke.
She added: “It would be fantastic for the town to have the Olympic torch come through the local area, and I want to ensure that LOCOG has carefully considered including Basingstoke on the detailed route.”
