Olympic torch set to come to Manchester
The Olympic torch is coming to Manchester this summer as inspirational local residents carry it through it the city streets ahead of London 2012.
Residents will be able to cheer the torchbearers on and celebrate work they have done to improve life in their neighbourhoods when the Olympic flame comes through Manchester on Saturday June 23 before a glittering free evening celebration in Albert Square.
The torch will then be carried through Manchester's streets again on Sunday June 24 before leaving the city.
The torch relay will come into Manchester from Salford at around 5.40pm on June 23 and will travel along Elizabeth Street, Queens Road, Cheetham Hill Road and Miller Street before a 15-minute stop outside the Co-op headquarters on Balloon Street just before 6pm.
It will then travel along Exchange Square, Deansgate, Whitworth Street West and will pass the Alan Turing Statue on Sackville Street before going along Nicholas Street and Cooper Street before arriving at Albert Square, where crowds who have assembled for the evening celebration show will welcome it at 6.50pm.
Details of the free show, set to start at 5pm, will be released soon.
The torch relay will then re-enter Manchester on Upper Chorlton Road at 7.15am on June 24, before travelling down Moss Lane West and East, Wilmslow Road, Dickenson Road, and Stockport Road, finally leaving the city when it enters Stockport at 8.25am.
The London 2012 website gives street-by-street details and proposed start times for when the Olympic Flame will travel through Manchester.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG added: "Today we bring the Olympic Torch Relay to life. The Flame symbolises the Olympic spirit and its journey around the UK will bring the excitement of the Games to our streets.
"Now the people know the route the Olympic Flame will be carried along and the torchbearers for their community, they can start planning how they might celebrate and make it Manchester's moment to shine."