The Secretary of State for Scotland, Rt.Hon. Michael Moore MP today thanked people from all corners of Scotland for their fantastic support for the Torch Relay. His message comes as the Olympic Flame leaves Scotland after an eight day tour to continue its journey to London. It will make a further brief visit to Scotland on 21 June.
Michael Moore said:
“The Torch’s journey has touched the people of Scotland and given us an opportunity to showcase everything Scotland has to offer. I would like to thank everyone involved for making this such a successful event – particularly the torchbearers and the Scottish public. It shows beyond any doubt that Scotland is fully behind London 2012 and the spirit of the Games.
“It has been a fantastic success and privilege for us to have the Torch in Scotland. It has been on an amazing journey to all corners of our country and thousands of people have turned out to see it. The relay has firmly put Scotland on the map as one of the most beautiful places to visit in the world.
“The Torch has also fired people’s enthusiasm for the Games. I know that Scottish people are now doubly looking forward to supporting the athletes during the Olympics.”
The Olympic Flame began its journey through Scotland on the 7 June, starting at Stranraer. It has travelled through the Highlands and islands taking in a number of iconic monuments and locations over the past eight days. It has passed the Robert Burns museum, travelled across the Forth Rail Bridge, visited Loch Ness and been as far north as Lerwick in the Shetland Islands.
Rt. Hon. Danny Alexander MP, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury continued:
“The Olympic Torch symbolises the spirit of the games and it has been fantastic to have it in Scotland. The relay has given us an opportunity to showcase our history, heritage, cities, towns, islands and glens to a global audience showing why Scotland continues to be one of the world’s favourite destinations.
“I enjoyed the celebration with local people at Drumnadrochit and Inverness as we followed the convoy down the shores of Loch Ness. We can now pass the baton across the border as the countdown to the Olympics continues.”
During its eight day tour of Scotland the Olympic Flame was carried by over 700 Torchbearers through more than 120 towns and over 400,000 people turned out to see it.
The Olympics will leave a lasting legacy across the UK and in Scotland. More than 100 Scottish companies have secured tens of millions of pounds of contracts and 25 have been directly involved in building the park, including supplying utilities for the Olympic Stadium, helping to build the Basketball Arena and providing aggregate for the Aquatics Centre. Many more Scottish firms have picked up other Olympic-related contracts – from producing official Games merchandise to providing temporary power across many of the Games venues.
Notes to Editors
- The Government Olympic Communication (GOC) provides an integrated press office service on behalf of all UK Government Departments and Agencies from the arrival of the Olympic Torch on 18 May to the end of the Paralympic Games on 9 September. Visit our news website at www.goc2012.culture.gov.uk or follow us on Twitter @2012govpress.
- Find out more about London 2012 in Scotland: www.gameslegacyscotland.org.
- See press photos, key facts and briefing along with the latest news about Scotland and London 2012 on our website: http://goc2012.culture.gov.uk/regions/scotland/
- Find case studies highlighting the legacy of the Games on our ‘Beyond 2012’ tumblr: http://beyond2012.tumblr.com/
- View and embed our Tripline map following the torch relay around the UK: http://bit.ly/KvSTv0
- For media enquiries please call our news desk on +44 (0)20 7271 1700.