Olympic Torch Relay - Great North Run offers inspiration!

The Olympic Flame will be carried across the finish line of the World's biggest half marathon in South Shields when passing through the town during its nationwide tour on Saturday 16 June.
 
It was revealed this week that the Flame will spend an hour in South Tyneside, initially being driven in a convoy from Leam Lane in Jarrow and then along Newcastle Road and Western Approach to the Town Hall.
 
Torchbearers will then take over its custody as it travels along Ocean Road, then Sea Road towards Gypsies Green and up to the Leas and onto to the Bupa Great North Run's finish gantry which will erected as a highlight of the programme.
 
The annual half marathon race, which starts in Newcastle and was first staged in 1981 through the vision of Brendan Foster, has since been recognised as a mecca for not only world class athletes, but mass participation runners who have raised millions of pounds for their favourite charities and other projects.

Along with organisers Nova International, South Tyneside Council has played a major part in the organisation of the Bupa Great North Run where the number of entries has risen from 12,500 in the inaugural race 31 years ago to a massive 54,500.

“It is wonderful that we have been included on the route and it is coming through South Tyneside," said Councillor  Alan Kerr, deputy leader of South Tyneside Council. “It will be a day for South Tyneside to shine as it gives us a wonderful opportunity to showcase our fantastic people and places, and it will be a very important, proud and memorable day for the whole community.”
 
Thousands of spectators are expected to watch the Olympic Flame - which represents peace, unity and friendship - during its passage, and spectators are urged in particular to gather at the Bupa Great North Run finish from which point the Flame will be carried by inspirational people from South Tyneside's community who have been selected by the London 2012 Organising Committee, will return to its convoy to visit Souter Point Lighthouse.
 
From there, torchbearers will carry it through Whitburn and onto Sunderland.
 
The Flame, due to arrive from Greece on 18 May, will visit 1,000 cities, towns and villages in the UK over 70 days, and the route has been mapped so the Flame will come within 10 miles of 95 per cent of the population.

For more details on the Olympic Torch Relay - which will come within 10 miles of 95% of people in the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey - go to: http://www.london2012.com/olympic-torch-relay-map