Watching the Olympic torch this morning was an amazing experience. It was the fastest 10 seconds I can remember and my most memorable Olympic experience to date.
To see the Olympic torch and its bright orange flame was an inspirational moment. Carried by soldiers, community volunteers, athletes and students, each person running with the flame is meant to inspire other people to represent the universal values of London 2012: respect, excellence and friendship.
At 6:30am, Camden High Street in north London was lined with enthusiastic residents and relatively relaxed police officers. As the torch progressed towards us, sponsor vehicles energized the crowds with pop music and big smiles. It didn’t work for everyone in the crowd but some people were so excited that they even cheered when the police let out a short burst from their siren.
When the torch passes, it’s very much a “blur” but it’s a blur worth seeing. The torchbearer we saw was Ellie Moss, a 22-year-old student from Leicester studying Costume Design. According to the Torch Relay website, she was selected because of the commitment and enthusiasm she has for her school’s academic community.
A great tip from my friend Ciara, was to keep an eye on the security vehicles just after the torch passes – one of them is full of spare torches! How cool is that?
If you’re in London, tomorrow is the final day to see the Torch Relay. The final schedule for tomorrow will be announced later today so check the Torch Relay’s website for more information. Remember, most of the London boroughs saw the torch today and part of the route tomorrow is on the Thames River, so your best bet might be to see it pass via the North Bank.
To see the torch’s approximate position, check out the Torch Relay’s website. Or to see what Hector and I saw, watch the video I created (below).
Cheers.
-Joe
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