AFTER being lit by the rays of the sun in Athens, flown to the United Kingdom under the protective guard of footballer David Beckham and already been seen by millions of people on its route to London 2012 - the Olympic Torch arrives in Wakefield today.
Back in May it was lit among the ruins of Olympia, the home of the Olympics.
And during the past six weeks the flame which signifies purity, has wound its way through the streets of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland as part of its relay involving 8,000 torchbearers on its way to London for the opening ceremony of the 2012 games.
The games are thought to have begun as part of religious festival more than 2,700 years ago and were held in the honour of Greek God of Kings Zeus, taking place every four years in Olympia.
A sacred flame was lit and would burn throughout the ceremony on the altar of the goddess Hera. Her Heralds were then summoned to travel throughout Greece to relay the announcement of the games, with a sacred truce called across the country during the duration of the games, creating the origins of the torch and relay race.
And on today (Monday) part of that tradition and history will be brought to the district.
The torchbearers will carry the flame on a route of 22.5 miles through Wakefield, Castleford, Pontefract and Ackworth.
It is expected to arrive in Wakefield city centre on Wentworth Street just after 11am before being carried past the Town Hall.
Wakefield Council wants people to line the route, which also sees the torch pass Wakefield College, Wakefield County Hall and Wakefield Girls High School.
Council Leader, Peter Box, said: “We encourage crowds to line the streets along the Olympic Torch Relay route to welcome the inspirational torchbearers and celebrate the flame’s journey through Wakefield, Castleford, Pontefract and Ackworth.”
It will then head onto Westmorland Street, past the Cathedral, and onto Kirkgate,
Special celebration points have been created at County Hall, the Cathedral and the Hepworth Wakefield for spectators.
The gallery will be open for spectators to welcome the torch as it passes through the garden and over the footbridge at approximately 11.31am.
There will be live music and entertainment along with invited school pupils all taking part in the historic event.
Next the torch convoy heads on into Castleford, Pontefract and Ackworth before leaving the region early on Monday afternoon.
There will be rolling, temporary road closures along the route to prevent disruption.
Wood Street will be closed between 11am and 1pm and Thornes Lane, between Ings Road and Thornes Lane Industrial Estates, will be closed between 11.15 and 11.45am.
Keep logging onto www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk and follow us @WakeExpress throughout the day for updates.
Torch Route
WAKEFIELD
Approximate arrival time 11:09am
Wentworth Street (Wakefield Girls High School),
Burton Street (Wakefield College),
Bond Street (County Hall),
Wood Street (Town Hall),
Bull Ring,
Westmorland Street,
Teall Street,
Kirkgate Precint, Kirkgate (Hepworth Gallery)
CASTLEFORD
Approximate arrival time 11:49am
Leeds Road (Joffre Avenue - Front Street),
Front Street,Park Road.
PONTEFRACT
Approximate arrival time 12:05pm
Front Street,Jubilee Way,Mill Hill Road,
Ackworth Road (The King’s School)
ACKWORTH
Approximate arrival time 12:28pm
Pontefract Road (Ackworth Quaker School),
Barnsley Road (Ackworth Moor Top and Oakfield Park Primary School).
Roads Subject to a Full Road Closure
Wood Street, Wakefield
11:00 hrs to 13:00 hrs
To provide a viewing area
Thornes Lane, Wakefield (Ings Road to Thornes Lane Industrial Estate)
11:15 hrs to 11:45 hrs
Roads Subject to Rolling Closure
Chancery Road, Ossett (District Boundary to Owl Lane)
10:15 hrs – 10:45 hrs
Kenmore Road, Wakefield (A650 to Coca-Cola Enterprises)
10:30 hrs – 11:15 hrs
Leeds Road, Wakefield (A650 to Bradford Road)
11:00 hrs – 11:30 hrs
Wentworth Street, Wakefield
11:00 hrs – 11:30 hrs
Leeds Road, Bond Street, Wakefield
11:00 hrs – 11:30 hrs
Bull Ring, Wakefield
11:15 hrs – 11:45 hrs
Wood Street, Cross Street and Northgate
Westmorland Street, Wakefield
11:15 hrs – 11:45 hrs
Kirkgate (Precinct to Ings Road/Thornes Lane including Marsh Way Roundabout)
11:15 hrs – 11:45 hrs
Thornes Lane (Kirkgate to Chantry Bridge Industrial Estate)
11:15 hrs – 11:45 hrs
Doncaster Road (Kirkgate to Waterside Way)
11:30 hrs – 12:00 hrs
Leeds Road, Castleford (Colorado Way to Front Street)
11:35 hrs to 12:05 hrs
Colorado Way, Park Road and Front Street Castleford
11:35 hrs to 12:05 hrs
Colorado Way, Park Road and Front Street Park Road, Castleford (Front Street to Stainburn Avenue)
11:45 hrs to 12:15 hrs
Front Street, Leeds Road and Colorado Way Park Road, Pontefract (Park Lane to Stuart Road)
11:55 hrs to 12:25 hrs
Front Street, Pontefrct (Stuart Road to Jubilee Way – Southbound side of dual carriageway)
11:55 hrs to 12:25 hrs
Jubilee Way, Pontefract (Southbound side of dual carriageway)
11:55 hrs to 12:25 hrs
Mill Hill Road, Pontefract (Southgate to Carleton Road)
12:00 hrs to 12:30 hrs
Ackworth Road, Pontefract (Carleton Road to Castlegate Drve)
12:00 hrs to 12:30 hrs
Ackworth Road, Ackworth (Meadow Way to Station Road)
12:15 hrs to 12:30 hrs
Barnsley Road, Ackworth (Station Road to Doncaster Road)
12:45 hrs to 13:15 hrs
Barnsley Road, Ackworth (Doncaster Road to Oakfield Park School)
13:00 hrs to 13:30 hrs
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