Coventry's moment to shine
Tuesday 26 June 2012
The city is set to welcome the arrival of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay this Sunday (1 July) with a fantastic two hours of live entertainment created by London 2012, the Olympic Torch Relay presenting partners and local organisations in the War Memorial Park.
An undoubted highlight will be the climax of the show when the Olympic Flame arrives and the Olympic Cauldron is lit followed by a premiere of 'Song for Phoenix', a specially commissioned piece arranged by Coventry-based theatre company Talking Birds.
This performance has seen two new works created in partnership with Orchestra of the Swan to celebrate the Olympic Flame reaching Coventry. One piece is a whistle-stop 1000 year story of the city called 'Phoenix City' and the second is 'Singalong time?' an atmospheric Torch Song.
Nick Walker, from Talking Birds Theatre Company, said:
"We've written a love letter to Coventry. It's a whistle stop tour of a thousand years of Cov stories, both big and small, and it culminates in a lush 'torch song' to the city. We're hoping that people who don't already feel a bit sentimental about Coventry, will do by 7.15pm on 1 July."
Leader of Coventry City Council, Cllr John Mutton said:
"I am so excited and proud that Coventry is a co-host city for London 2012. The Olympic Torch Relay will be the climax of a fantastic weekend of entertainment at the Godiva Festival. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity so let's line the streets and give the London 2012 Torch Relay a really big Coventry welcome."
The Celebrations, hosted by Blue Peter's Andy Akinwolere, commences at 5.00pm with another local company, Freeman Dance performing Gangsters. The live entertainment continues with Samsung presenting celebrity act 'Twist and Pulse', a live performance from major rock band Morning Parade presented by Coca Cola through to the official welcome from The Leader of Coventry City Council, Cllr John Mutton.
A celebration with previous British Olympians and children born on 20 December 2004 , will then take place on the stage leading to the amazing site of the Flame arrival, cauldron lighting and the 'Song for Phoenix' finale due to finish around 7.20pm.
People are reminded that this is a FREE event and NO TICKETS ARE REQUIRED.
The following morning, Monday 2 July, people can also witness the Olympic Torch Relay depart from Millennium Place, in the city centre, as it leaves Coventry on its way to Leicester.
For full details on the Torch Relay route into and out of the city, people can go to www.coventry.gov.uk/london2012 or follow on Twitter @Coventry2012 using #TorchRelayCov
