Olympic Torch to go through Chichester!

Monday 16th July is a date to get in your diaries as that the Olympics come to Chichester in the form of the Olympic torch!

The Olympic Torch originates as a symbol commemorating the theft of fire from the Greek god Zeus by Prometheus and in the ancient Olympic games the flame was kept burning throughout the games. The fire was then reintroduced at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. 

The modern torch relay which precedes the games was introduced at the infamous and controversial Olympics of 1936 in Berlin. From those beginnings, it will now be coming to Chichester in July 2012. 

The torch will begin its long journey at Land's End as it makes its way to Plymouth on May 19. The journey will be completed 70 days later in Stratford on July 26. It is just 10 days before its end that the flame will pass through our city. As well as going through Chichester, the flame will also pass through Petworth; Petworth House and one of the smallest villages on its route with a population of 400: Duncton. 

For all the Olympic enthusiasts of the city (including myself), this is very welcoming and very exciting news! Of course, we have no idea exactly who will be carrying the torch but we can only hope it isn't Usain Bolt carrying it - he would be through the city before we could even say Olympic Flame!

What's your reaction to this news? You excited about the Olympics in general? Anyone manage to get tickets to the games?  

Photo thanks to skinnylawyer on Flickr!