The Olympic Torch Relay in Dorset 12 - 14 July
- 12 July - the Olympic Torch Relay will start its route through Dorset, passing through: Shaftesbury, Fontmell Magna, Iwerne Minster, Stourpaine, Blandford Forum, Winterborne Whitechurch, Milborne St Andrew, Puddletown, Dorchester, Winterbourne Abbas, Bridport, Chideock, Lyme Regis, Burton Bradstock, Abbotsbury, Portesham, Chickerell, Wyke Regis, Osprey Quay, Portland and then to Weymouth for an evening celebration
- 13 July - the Olympic torch relay will continue its route through Dorset, passing through: Portland Bill, Southwell, Weston, Easton, Portland, Fortuneswell, Weymouth, Preston, Osmington, Winfrith Newburgh, Wool, Corfe Castle, Swanage, Stoborough, Wareham, Sandford, Lytchett Minster, Upton, Hamworthy, Poole, Ashley Cross, Branksome, Wallisdown, and then into Bournemouth for an evening celebration
- 14 July - the torch will conclude its route through Dorset starting out in Bournemouth and visiting Boscombe and Christchurch
Dorset streets
- The street level route for the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay can be viewed in full on The London 2012 Olympic website (opens in a new window)
- The website gives street-by-street details and proposed start times for when the Olympic Flame will travel through Dorset
- On average 115 Torchbearers a day will carry the Olympic Flame during its 8,000 mile journey around the UK before it arrives at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July 2012 for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony, signifying the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games
- LOCOG has worked closely with representatives in each region of the UK to devise the route
- The Flame will travel within ten miles of over 95% of the population
What is the Cultural Olympiad?
The Olympics and the Paralympics are about much more than just sport.
The original vision of Pierre de Coubertin, the man responsible for reviving the Olympic ideal in the late nineteenth century, sought to realise the marriage of sport and the arts.
An arena in which everyone, whatever their talent or skill, is given the opportunity to strive for excellence.
The charter of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stipulates that the host nation must "organise a programme of cultural events" that should:
- Promote harmonious relations, mutual understanding and friendship among the participants and others attending the Olympic Games
- Highlight the shared values of sport and the arts in terms of excellence, endeavour and achievement
- Promote the arts and culture of the host city and host nation while embracing an international cultural dimension
- Provide a dynamic and high profile context for promoting Olympism and the Olympic Games