Pictured: Guests at The University of Northampton enjoy
some Zumba and line up to have their moment of history with the
Coca-Cola Olympic Torch Tour
Over 2,700 members of the public, students and staff were at The
University of Northampton's Park Campus on a gloriously sunny day
(Friday 28 October) to have their picture taken with the official
Coca-Cola Olympic Torch and participate in a massive range of free
sporting events.
The queue for photographs with the Olympic Torch stretched into
the hundreds for the entire day as everyone patiently waited to see
a special piece of history. The event came about after a successful
bid by the University's Students' Union to be the only University
in the East Midlands to host the Torch in a nationwide search for
inspirational young people - Future Flames - to carry the Olympic
Flame during the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.
Hundreds of visitors also found out more about, and took part
in, sports activities on Campus and at nearby Benham Sports Arena,
including Hockey; Climbing; Football; Cricket; Boxing; Basketball;
Martial Arts; Badminton; Wheelchair Basketball; Table Tennis; Stick
Fighting; Rugby Union; Trampolining; Boccie; Handball; Nordic
Walking; Sailing and Rowing.
The University's Olympic spirit was further bolstered by the
presence of Bobby White, Team GB Handball Captain; Tim Male, an
Olympic rower who represented Britain in rowing at the Athens games
in 2004, and Christopher Davidge, Chairman of the University's
Foundation Trustees and a former British rower who competed in the
Summer Olympics three times in 1952, 1956 and 1960.
President of the Students' Union, Tim Joaquim, said: "This has
been a fantastic event and a once in a lifetime opportunity for
people to see and hold the Olympic Torch. It's been great to see
our students and the wider community really embrace the Olympic
spirit and enjoy all of the sports available to have a go at
today."
University Vice Chancellor, Professor Nick Petford, added: "This
has been a hugely successful occasion for us and we've had
thousands of people on Campus.
"We're very proud of our Students' Union and we'd like to offer
a big thank you to all of our supporting partners in this event,
including our own Sports and Exercise Science team;
Northamptonshire Sport; Northampton Town Football Club; Benham
Sports Arena; all the clubs and coaches that have supported today,
and all of our staff who have helped make the event such a
success."
Ceremonies closed with a 15-minute spectacular fireworks
display, courtesy of the Students' Union.