David Beckham to Bring the Olympic Flame to the UK

Global Sports Icon David Beckham Joins Five Young People to Bring the Olympic Flame to the UK

Today the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) confirms that London 2012 ambassador David Beckham will attend the Olympic Flame Handover Ceremony in Athens and bring the Flame back to the UK ahead of its 70 day journey, presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung.

(PRWEB) May 16, 2012

Today the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) confirms that London 2012 ambassador David Beckham will attend the Olympic Flame Handover Ceremony in Athens and bring the Flame back to the UK ahead of its 70 day journey, presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung.

David, who was part of the successful London 2012 bid team in 2005, will be joined by five young people invited to take part by LOCOG and the British Council in recognition of their commitment to sport and their role in promoting the Olympic values of friendship, excellence and respect within their school or college.

The official delegation will be led by British Olympic Association President and LOCOG Board Member HRH The Princess Royal, Chair of LOCOG Sebastian Coe, Minister for Sport and the Olympics Hugh Robertson and Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

The young people have been selected from schools and colleges involved in the London 2012 Get Set Education programme and school linking programmes run by the British Council. As well as visiting some of the schools in Athens they are linked with, the young people are set to have a starring role in the Handover Ceremony expected to start at 19:00pm local Greek time (17:00pm BST) on the evening of 17 May at the Panathenaic Stadium.

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: 'We wanted to involve young people from across the UK in bringing home the Olympic Flame. Their stories of personal achievement and contribution to sport echo the 8,000 inspiring Torchbearer stories that will be shared from this weekend and over the next ten weeks in the build up to the start of the Games. Working with one of our most inspiring sportspeople is also fitting for this hugely exciting time for the London 2012 Games.'

Representing Scotland is rugby player Dennis Coles, age 17 from Doon Academy, Dalmellington, East Ayrshire; representing Northern Ireland is talented hockey player Chloe Brown, age 18 from South Eastern Regional College, Bangor and representing Wales is Swansea Harriers athlete and Mumbles Rangers FC player Sean White, age 17 from Bishop Vaughan Catholic School in Swansea.

Representing Cornwall where the Olympic Flame arrives and starts its 70 day journey is Falmouth Ladies hockey player Georgia Higgs, age 15 from Helston Community College and School Sports Ambassador and athlete Sakinah Muhammad, age 15 from Clapton Girls’ Academy, Hackney represents London where the Olympic Flame will light the cauldron signifying the start of the Olympic Games on the evening of 27 July 2012.

Click here for biographies and images of the young people. Images of their time in Athens will also be uploaded to this link over the course of the next couple of days.

Paul Docherty, Director UK 2012 at the British Council, said: ‘The British Council is delighted to be part of this historic occasion, enabling young people from across the UK to participate in the Handover ceremony and to meet Greek youngsters from their partner schools. The London 2012 Games offer a great opportunity for people in the UK and around the world to develop a better understanding of each other and build lasting relationships. Our school linking projects help make that happen.'

Dennis Coles from Doon Academy, East Ayrshire said: ‘Going to Athens is a fantastic opportunity, and to be part of such an historic ceremony representing my school and country, fills me with pride and excitement. This is the chance of a lifetime and I look forward becoming even more involved in the Get Set London 2012 work in my school when I return.’

Chloe Brown from South Eastern Regional College, Bangor, Northern Ireland, commented: ‘I have been selected for this trip as through my involvement in sport and through my studies, I show the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect. Playing hockey has taught me these three important aspects. I am really looking forward to the Olympic Games and the Olympic Flame handover will be an amazing event which I am very honoured to be involved in.’

Sean White from Bishop Vaughan School, Swansea, said: ‘I am really excited about visiting Greece and seeing Athens, the home of the Olympic Games. I am looking forward to the Ceremony and to taking the Flame back to the UK in preparation for the Olympic Games. I am really excited about coming home and sharing my experience, both in school, my running club and in the wider community and hope that this will help people to become even more excited and enthusiastic about the Olympic Games.’

Georgia Higgs, Helston Community College, Cornwall, said: ‘I have always loved participating in numerous sports, so to be given the opportunity to partake in the world’s greatest sporting event is just incredible. I'm so proud to be part of this experience and to bring the Flame back to Britain, as well as my home county of Cornwall, is utterly amazing. I know it will be something I will always remember!’

Sakinah Muhammad, Clapton Girls’ Academy, added: ‘I am thrilled to have the honour of representing my country, London, Hackney, Clapton Girls’ Academy and my family in such a historic event. Being given this opportunity means so much to me as I’ve been looking for a way to get more involved in the 2012 Games.’

The young people will also be on board the BA2012 flight carrying the Olympic Flame from Athens to RNAS Culdrose landing on the evening of Friday 18 May 2012.

For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office.

Notes to editors

About the schools and colleges involved:
The schools in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland were invited to get involved because of their work with the Get Set network and also because they have an existing link with a school in Greece through Comenius, the EU-funded programme managed by the British Council in the UK.

Helston Community College was invited to get involved due to its proximity to RNAS Culdrose where the Olympic Flame will arrive. As a result of the Athens visit, the college is developing a partnership with 2nd Exemplary Experimental Gymnasium of Athens through the London 2012 School Linking Programme delivered by LOCOG and British Council and supported by the Hellenic Olympic Committee. Georgia will visit her partner school during their visit to Athens and develop ideas for future joint projects between the two schools.

Clapton Girls’ Academy in Hackney was chosen as a member of the Get Set network, located in the Borough of Hackney one of the Host Boroughs for the London 2012 Olympic Games, and because it is supporting and learning about the Greek Olympic team in the lead-up to the Games. Earlier in the year, the school was linked with Leontios School in Athens through the London 2012 School Linking Programme, delivered by LOCOG and the British Council and supported by the Hellenic Olympic Committee. During their visit to Athens, Sakinah will visit her partner school and develop ideas for future joint projects between the two schools.

About the British Council:
The British Council creates international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and builds trust between them worldwide. We are a Royal Charter charity, established as the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. Our 7000 staff in over 100 countries work with thousands of professionals and policy makers and millions of young people every year through English, arts, education and society programmes. We earn over 75% of our annual turnover of nearly £700 million from services which customers pay for, education and development contracts we bid for and from partnerships. A UK Government grant provides the remaining 25%. We match every £1 of core public funding with over £3 earned in pursuit of our charitable purpose.

For more information, please visit: http://www.britishcouncil.org.

About the Handover Ceremony:
Timings local to Greece and subject to change

19:00pm (17:00pm BST)
Olympic Anthem; UK and Greece National Anthems; Entry of the High Priestess and Priestesses into the Stadium; Arrival of the last Torchbearers; Lighting of the cauldron; Address by the President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, Mr Spyros Capralos; Address by Sebastian Coe Chair of LOCOG; Handing over of the Olympic Flame

19:45pm (17:45pm BST)
Departure of the LOCOG representatives, carrying the Olympic Flame

About the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay:
For more information on the London 2012 Torchbearers and the streets through which they will carry the London 2012 Olympic Flame, please go to http://www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay

About the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Presenting Partners:
As the longest standing Presenting Partner of the Olympic Torch Relay, Coca-Cola will be using its heritage and experience to spread excitement across the UK ahead of London 2012. Coca-Cola's national nomination campaign - Future Flames – has focused on finding inspirational young people from across the country to have the once in a lifetime opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame. This summer Coca-Cola will celebrate these Future Flames: young people who use their passions in areas like sport and physical activity, music and dance, and community and the environment; to spread happiness in their local communities.

As the only National Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, Lloyds TSB will be taking the inspiration and excitement of the Olympic Flame right to the heart of communities across the UK. As part of Lloyds Banking Group, Bank of Scotland will be the National Presenting Partner in Scotland. We are creating as many opportunities as possible for communities the length and breadth of the UK to get involved as the Flame travels past their front doors. Lloyds TSB’s troupe of performers the Flame Followers will be travelling ahead of the Flame to excite crowds with a unique fusion of street performance, theatre and sport celebrating the endeavour, athleticism, agility and skill of Olympic sporting heroes, Team GB.

Lloyds Banking Group is Britain’s biggest corporate investor in UK communities and in 2011 invested £85 million and as part of the Group’s Community Investment Programme, we’ve launched the Lloyds Banking Group Community Fund to give back to the communities in which we operate and pass through on our journey with the Olympic Flame. We’re inviting everyone to visit the Lloyds TSB stand at each Evening Celebration to vote for a community project in their area that inspires and supports young people. By voting at the Evening Celebration members of the public will automatically enter a draw to win four tickets to London 2012. The two projects that receive the most votes at each locality will each win a £5,000 grant from Lloyds Banking Group. At the Lloyds TSB site members of the public will also have the opportunity to have their photo taken with the Olympic Torch, meet Lloyds TSB Local Heroes – the future stars of Team GB and ParalympicsGB – and get up close to our Flame Followers.

As a Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, Samsung aims to encourage everyone to be part of the Olympic Torch Relay to make London 2012 ‘Everyone’s Olympic Games.’ We aspire to offer new and memorable experiences for everyone around the world. Samsung is providing 1,360 Torchbearers, who have “gone the extra mile” by contributing to the local communities, through its worldwide public nomination campaign. Samsung will support towns and cities to celebrate the exciting moment of the Torch Relay and help showcase Great Britain’s cultural landmarks to provide a more enjoyable experience to everyone. The evening celebrations that will be staged in 66 towns and cities throughout the Olympic Flame’s journey across the UK, will allow Samsung to entertain the community they are visiting. The Samsung caravan, complete with LED screen on the side showcasing runners and goodwill messages, will travel with Torchbearers around the UK cheering up everyone to celebrate the Torch Relay with music and interaction with local communities. It is Samsung’s ambition that London 2012 will be an event that reaches and involves more people than on any other Olympic Games occasion.

The Supporters of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay are:
Worldwide Olympic Partners Procter and Gamble and Visa, Tier One Partners adidas, BMW, BP, British Airways, BT and EDF, Tier Three Providers Aggreko, Holiday Inn and NATURE VALLEY.

London 2012 Games partners:
The Worldwide Olympic Partners who support the London 2012 Olympic Games and the National Olympic Committees around the world are Coca-Cola, Acer, Atos, Dow Chemical Company, GE, McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Procter and Gamble, Samsung and Visa.
LOCOG has seven domestic Tier One Partners - adidas, BMW, BP, British Airways, BT, EDF and Lloyds TSB. There are seven domestic Tier Two Supporters – Adecco, ArcelorMittal, Cadbury, Cisco, Deloitte, Thomas Cook and UPS.

There are now twenty-eight domestic Tier Three Suppliers and Providers – Aggreko, Airwave, Atkins, Boston Consulting Group, CBS Outdoor, Crystal CG, Eurostar, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, G4S, GSK, Gymnova, Heathrow Airport, Heineken UK, Holiday Inn, John Lewis, McCann Worldgroup, Mondo, NATURE VALLEY, Next, Nielsen, Populous, Rapiscan Systems, Rio Tinto, Technogym, Thames Water, Ticketmaster, Trebor and Westfield.

There is one domestic Tier One Paralympic Games-only Partner, Sainsbury’s and one domestic Tier Three Paralympic Games-only Supplier, Otto Bock. The London 2012 Paralympic Games also acknowledges the support of the National Lottery

William and Catherine Royal Wedding Guests Red Carpet Fashion Report: Part 2!

Westminster Abbey Red Carpet Continues...

Proper Becks: David and Victoria Beckham

Footballer and all-around HUNK, David Beckham--and his wife Victoria--were "special guests" of William and Catherine and EVERYONE was awaiting their arrival. They stood with the rest of the invited guests in the "You Are Not Real Royalty" line--it's like an "Economy Class" Airport Security Line (as opposed to Premium Class). Needless to say, they acted and looked very Posh & Proper.

David, always a dandy when it comes to style looked handsome in his Morning Suit with top hat and silver satin cravat. Although many are docking him style points for apparently wearing his Office of the British Empire Medal on the wrong lapel!! Que Horror!

Besides those SKY HIGH Stilettos (hello, isn't she like 6 months pregnant??), Miss Victoria wore...

A tent-like dress from her own Victoria Beckham Fall/Winter 2011/12 Collection, seen above on the runway in brick red. Hers was a dark (almost black) navy blue. Her hat was from Philip Treacy. I really thought Mrs. Beckham was going to wear a "Va Va Voom" fitted dress that she would have had custom made to fit her growing tummy. But nope, she went the comfy route.

The Other Queen: Sir Elton John and his partner David Furnish

Sir Elton John and David Furnish also went the Posh & Proper route, both choosing to wear elegant Morning Suits--as was suggested...strike that!... REQUIRED, in the Wedding Invitation. Many people expected Miss Elton to be all crazy and wear a fuchsia Versace suit but really kids, he hasn't done that in years and he knows that a Royal Wedding is NOT the place and time for that. I liked how Elton was the one giving you hints of color with his lemon yellow waistcoat/vest and violet tie. Proper...but with a "twist".

Cobalt Lady: Tara Palmer-Tomkinson

Socialite, "It Girl", TV presenter and all around "British Paris Hilton" TPT (as she's dubbed in the UK) wore cobalt blue HEAD TO TOE, with her dress matching her hat, gloves, shoes and clutch. When I first saw her on TV lining up in that "Economy Class Westminster Abbey Line", I was like "WHO is Miss FIERCE???". Leave it to Tara to not want to blend in. No pastels or blush colors for her, darling! I think she's FAB! I love women who KNOW they have an "Inner Drag Queen" and aren't afraid to use it! Especially at Royal weddings! How did she get invited again???

Swedish Class: Crown Princess Victoria in Elie Saab Spring/Summer 2011--and her husband, Prince Daniel of Sweden

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden (she's going to be Queen someday!) was one of my favorite royals at the William & Catherine Wedding. She looked every inch a "modern/next generation" princess. No fussy suits, no coat-and dress combination. Nope, just a sexy, side gathered salmon-colored dress from Lebanese designer Elie Saab and a variation on a dress from his Ready-to-Wear Spring/Summer 2011 Collection. A wide brimmed hat and matching shoes finished off her look. Why, though, is there something about Daniel that makes me want to slap him upside the head? Like a student who's trying to get one over on me...that's what he reminds of...Just sayin'

The New Grace Kelly: Prince Albert of Monaco with his fiancée, Charlene Wittstock

And then there's Prince Albert's fiancée, the statuesque Charlene Wittstock, who was born in the former British colony of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Their upcoming nuptials on July 2, 2011 is THE next "Royal Wedding of The Century" in case you wanted to know and Armani is designing her wedding gown. Until then, we can all live in the splendor that is Charlene above as she arrives--Prince in hand. Dove-gray princess seamed coat, stand-up Peter Pan collar, gloves, clutch, nude heels and sleek wide-brimmed hat. Her mother "done taught her right". She knows what it takes to look like a Royal darlings. Seriously.

Paparazzi Insight

Last night walking across St James Park, the Carlton Steps and up Regent Street to Piccadilly I obtained an insight into the slime ball world of the paparazzi, those hungry photographers who feel anybody is fair game for the “money shots” which appear in newspapers the next day. Here was the coverage and the photos in today’s papers

“LILY Allen was the talk of the GQ 20th anniversary dinner last night at St Alban. She arrived in one outfit, changed before dinner got under way and by the end of the evening had slipped into a third costume. No wonder she laddered her tights in the process. As the Veuve Clicquot flowed, guests, who included Nancy Dell'Olio and David Walliams, were still digesting the results of the American election. Historian Andrew Roberts revealed he had been to five parties on election night cementing his reputation as London's most ubiquitous party goer.”

And here is the panting porno prose description from the restaurant’s web site;

“St Alban is the latest restaurant from Chris Corbin and Jeremy King, owners of The Wolseley and former proprietors of Le Caprice, The Ivy and J. Sheekey. The restaurant's comfortable, contemporary interior has been realised by Stiff & Trevillion in collaboration with Michael Craig-Martin, whose murals decorate the walls and windows and complement the artwork of Damien Hirst. His works are displayed throughout the restaurant and include the gloriously titled 'Jubilation'. The 22ft long painting is made up of hundreds of butterfly wings in a mandala-like pattern, and expands on the iconic motif of the butterfly as a symbol of beauty, love and fragility.”


St. Alban

Well that is the glamorous public image and what appears in the papers but from what I saw last night the reality of paparazzi London which results in these pictures in the papers is very different. Indeed it provoked sympathy for Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse, Naomi Campbell, Sienna Miller and others who are subject to continuous intrusion from that most parasitic of occupations the paparazzi. Indeed I would applaud Sienna Miller who has launched a legal battle against News International and photo agency Big Pictures at the High Court.


Amy Winehouse battling with Paparazzi outside her flat

Law firm Carter-Ruck has served a writ for breach of privacy against the News of the World, the Sun, and the Big Pictures agency relating to a series of articles about the star. It is believed that the writ relates to two articles that appeared in the Sun where Big Pictures contributed photos. The stories and pictures reported on Miller's holiday in Italy and also referred to her friendship with Balthazar Getty, heir to the Getty oil fortune. Miller is taking action over a further two articles that appeared in the News of The World.



In March 2009 year media specialists Carter-Ruck obtained a legal injunction to protect pop star Lily Allen from harassment by Big Pictures and rival agency Matrix Photos. Carter-Ruck also obtained an injunction "restraining further harassment" by other paparazzi photographers in a case which was presented to the high court by barrister David Sherborne, who also represented Winehouse.



Allen's move followed a collision outside her London home between her car and that of a photographer, after which cameramen continued to follow her. Photographers covered by the order have been ordered not to pursue or follow Allen by any means or approach her within 100 metres of her home. They are also forbidden from taking pictures of her at her home or at the homes of any members of her family or friends.


Paparazzi break Lily Allen's car window outside The Groucho Club, Soho

As I walked up the road I was nearly knocked over by a Vauxhall Astra reversing at speed off Regent Street into a side road by a young driver who turned out to be one of the Paps. When I berated him for his dangerous driving he was abusive, as obviously I was interfering with his right to run over pedestrians and park illegally on a corner whilst driving without a seatbelt in pursuit of the “money shot”. At the next corner where there is the entrance to St. Alban there was a scrum of 12 photographers already waiting. The Restaurant keeps its entrance clear with two rope barriers so the photographers blocked the pavement and pedestrians were forced onto the road.


Victoria and David Beckham leaving St Alban

As I crossed to the far side of the road a Mercedes with a driver and a passenger in the back drew up and there was roaring and shouting and an outburst of flashes. A small and rather beautiful young woman got out of the back – it was Lily Allen looking in the flesh somewhat lovelier than she does in photos wearing a beautiful ruffled light pink number. A scooter with a photographer and an “L” plate on it pulled up behind Lily Allen’s car and the guy jumped off leaving his scooter running in the middle of the road – he had obviously been following Lily from her home. The Pack of Paps crowded around her pushing each other out of the way and sticking lenses into her face and flashing away all the time while barking in braying unison “here Lily” “ Smile Lily” “This way Lily”. Lily performed, smiled and eventually they parted slightly as the bouncers led her on a zig zag route into St. Alban. No doubt if Lily had scowled, inadvertently showed some underwear or tripped that would have been the next morning’s “money shot” no doubt with a fabricated heading such as “Lily’s love agony” or “Lily shows the strain” or some such nonsense.



Looking back there were two car parked on double yellow lines on the corner with photographer’s boards on the dash – it occurred to me these were deliberately illegally parked on a corner so drop offs to St. Alban could only take place (also on a double yellow) in front of the Paps lenses. Public space is just that and belongs to us all and should not be stolen from us be it by the Paps or Tesco. Just one block away from St. Alban is the club “Tiger, Tiger” where currently there is a trial underway about two car bombs which were similarly illegally parked. So what are the Metropolitan Police and Westminster Council doing about the danger of public space being abused, telling us that if something else happens in the west End they’ll have good CCTV pictures to show us after the fact?



Singer Amy Winehouse fought back against paparazzi photographers keen to record every aspect of her troubled private life, winning a high court anti-harassment injunction and posting the ruling outside her new home in the London suburbs.
Winehouse, who has been a ubiquitous presence in the tabloids ever since her Mercury-nominated album Frank was released secured the injunction in May 2009 to prevent her being pursued by photographers after her move earlier this year from her central London home to a more sedate neighbourhood.


Paparazzi record the delivery of a sunbed to Amy Winehouse's home in March 2009. The anti-harassment ruling has now been posted outside the house in north London.

The order bans leading paparazzi agency Big Pictures from following Winehouse but also refers to any "persons unknown" seeking to photograph the musician outside her home and in other public places if they have pursued her.

A source close to Winehouse's management team said that the injunction was sought because press attention had made her life "unsafe".

"Every time she got in her car she was chased or was jostled, and it has become unsafe not just for her, but the people around her," the source said. "We don't have the problem with the press doing their job but it has been mayhem a couple of times and Amy had to do something."

So, good luck to Naomi Campbell,Amy Winehouse, Sienna Miller and others who are taking firm action against this appalling intrusion and harassment. As for Lily Allen I truly felt sorry for her having to endure this rubbish everywhere she goes and making a Faustian pact with the Shabby Pap Pack to keep smiling, grit her teeth and hope for the best in next mornings papers. So shame on the toothless and useless Press Complaints Commission and to the supine editors who buy and publish the shoddy goods of the Pap Pack 10 years after they hounded Princess Diana to her death.

Shame on;

Veronica Wadley, Evening Standard
Rebekah Wade, The Sun
Paul Dacre, Daily Mail
Richard Wallace, Daily Mirror
Lloyd Embley, People
Colin Myler, News of the World
Sarah Ivens, OK Magazine
Miranda Priestly, Hello Magazine
Melinda Shaw, Heat Magazine


Rebekah Wade, The Sun

Shame on them all in their plush offices and false respectability whilst financing the Pap Goon Squad and its tawdry trade. And shame on the Paps who have so little respect for themselves and those around them. But there again from what I saw, lack of self respect seems to be a qualification for being a Paparazzi in the first place!