The Welsh town of Monmouth, in the UK, is preparing to receive the Olympic torch as it reaches the town today.
The Secretary of State for Wales, Cheryl Gillan, said, ‘The London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay is Wales’ moment to shine, and a chance to showcase the people and places that make the country great. Over the next five days, the Olympic torch will be carried by around 550 runners along more than 300 streets in Wales and provides a unique opportunity to celebrate the Games as a country.
I congratulate the many deserving people across Wales who have been selected to play their part in the celebrations. I look forward to seeing everybody join together to celebrate their communities, rally behind our athletes, and show the world all the great things that Wales, and the whole of the UK stands for. On arrival of the Olympic torch and the beginning of the Welsh leg of the torch relay, that the event will shine a light on the places, people, values and traditions of Wales.’
Ms. Gillan will be attending a torch relay reception today, at the Shire Hall in Monmouth, arranged by Monmouthshire County Council.
Hundreds of people are expected to line the streets in celebration of the Olympic spirit, as Hazel Cave-Brown-Cave, 44, from Raglan, will carry the torch through the town’s streets. Hazel is an athlete and runs fundraising marathons for Bobath Cymru, and has recently completed treatment for breast cancer. She will share the torch relay with another athlete, Robyn Tyler, 21 from Monmouth.
Commenting on the Olympic torch relay, Hazel said, ‘It is a real honour for me to be carrying the torch and I still find it very hard to believe that I have been chosen from the many people nominated.’
