Olympic torch set for summer cross-border celebration

A NUMBER of high-profile sportspeople and celebrities will be asked to carry the Olympic torch when it makes its historic visit to Dublin on June 6 next year.

It was confirmed yesterday that there will be a ceremony to commemorate the symbolic crossing of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, after which the torch will be conveyed in convoy to the Olympic Council of Ireland’s headquarters in Howth, Co Dublin.

From there, it will be carried by relay into Dublin for a tour of the inner city, north and south of the Liffey, before a major celebration later in the day. OCI president Pat Hickey confirmed they will be looking for people “from all walks of life” to be represented.

Among those on the list of possible chaperones is Ireland’s best hope for a gold medal in London Katie Taylor who, all going to plan, will have secured her qualification for the games at the Women’s World Boxing Championships in China earlier that week.

“It would be a huge honour to do it,” said Taylor yesterday.

“We’ll see if I get asked to do it first but it’s great that the torch is going through Dublin. It’s like a home Games anyway with it being in London. It will make it a lot more exciting.”

Eamonn Coghlan, Sonia O’Sullivan, Michael Carruth and Ronnie Delany are others in the running to carry the gold-coloured aluminium torch which has been given special dispensation to leave the host country’s jurisdiction so close to the Games.

Olympic chiefs have become increasingly cautious about the route taken by the flame since its progression around the globe four years ago, prior to the summer games in Beijing, was accompanied by protests in several cities.

However, Olympic Games Executive Director Gilbert Felli said yesterday there were no concerns about a possible repeat but the problems in 2008 had been taken into account before the green light was given for the Dublin leg.

Though the prospect has been mooted for some time, Martin made it clear the planning for such an event is still in the very early stages and refused to be drawn on who or what will be involved on the day.

“It’s meant to come into Belfast for half a day or a day and back up again and over to Scotland I think but it’s very early to say. It’s fantastic news for Olympic sport and for the country. It’s a stunning symbol.”