Olympic Flame to visit Deal Pier and the Turner Gallery on its journey from Deal to Maidstone

On Thursday 19 July, the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay – presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung – will travel 65.47 miles through 21 communities on its journey from Deal to Maidstone.

The Relay will travel through the following communities: Deal, Sholden, Sandwich, Great Stonar, Cliffs End, St Lawrence, Ramsgate, Broadstairs, St Peters, Cliftonville, Margate, Westgate-on-Sea, Birchington-on-Sea, Upstreet, Sturry, Canterbury, Thanington, Faversham, Challock, Harrietsham and Maidstone.

Highlights for today include:

08.27 – Katherine Batts, who was nominated through the LOCOG campaign, will carry the Flame at Deal Pier. Katherine, 52, from Strood, was nominated in recognition of her commitment to the people of the local Medway area and in acknowledgement of her inspirational swimming achievements. In a voluntary capacity she has been Treasurer of the City of Rochester Swimming & lifeguard Club for 14 years and has served as lifeguard officer/coordinator for the Kent branch of the RLSS for the past 18 years.

12.36 – Turner Gallery, Margate. Artist Tracey Emin will carry the Flame at the Turner Gallery. Tracey was chosen for her support in helping British talent take off. A London-based artist, Tracey Emin has been recognized as one of the leading figures of the YBA (Young British Artists) in the 1990s. She graduated in fine arts from the Maidstone College of Art in 1986, and was awarded an MA in painting by the Royal College of Art in 1989. Tracey Emin was on the short list for the Turner Prize in 1999. In May 2011, Emin`s largest major solo exhibition in a public space was held at Hayward Gallery, London titled ‘Love Is What You Want’.

16.16 – Canterbury Cathedral. A Torchbearer will carry the Olympic Flame through the Cathedral grounds.

The evening celebration will take place at Leeds Castle in Maidstone. It will feature a variety of entertainment staged by LOCOG and the three Presenting Partners of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay - Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung. Coca-Cola will bring to the stage music from Rizzle Kicks. There will also be a performance of a unique fusion of street performance, theatre and sport and a routine from dance duo Twist and Pulse.

There will also be a performance of The River Runs Through, commissioned by Maidstone Borough Council and Kent County Council and performed by local children and adults. It tells the story of Maidstone through history using the iconic images of the Lion, the Horse and the Igunandon from Maidstone's coat of arms.

Towards the end of the two-hour show, the last Torchbearer of the day – Julia Chilcott - will light a celebration cauldron on stage at the event which will enable the Olympic Flame to be seen by the audience. Julia, 56, is a foster carer for Kent County Council and has been doing this for in excess of 24 years. She was nominated through the Lloyds TSB campaign and is a truly caring person who sees good in everyone and she provides a loving environment which allows children to thrive..

Torchbearer highlights:

Steven Backley, 43, will carry the Flame in Ramsgate. Steve is one of Britain’s most successful and popular athletes, consistently ranked in the world top ten for Javelin every year from 1989 – 2002. To date he is the only British track and field competitor to medal at three consecutive Olympic Games; winning bronze in Barcelona 1992, silver in Atlanta 1996 and silver in Sydney 2000. Steve retired from athletics after the Athens 2004 Olympic Games where he finished a credible 4th. Since then Steve has been involved in a number of different projects, including coaching and mentoring up-and-coming athletes. He is passionate about using his Olympic experiences to help and motivate others to promote Olympic success in the workplace.

Charlie Hedges, 25 is carrying the Flame in Challock. Charlie presents the Kiss FM breakfast show and is an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust.

Melwyn Moore, 67 from Maidstone, Kent, nominated through Lloyds TSB's public nomination campaign and has run 21 London Marathons over the last 21 years, raising money for the local community.

Joseph Smith, 78, was nominated through the Locog campaign. He made worldwide news when he became the oldest Briton to swim the English Channel at the age of 65 and was inaugurated into the international hall of fame in Fort Lauderdale, America. He was nominated by swimmers around the globe in recognition of his life-long work and dedication to swimming and his many epic contributions in the field of long distance and open water events. Having earned respect from a multitude of environs in the community, well known for his charitable work, especially with the field of sport and swimming for young disabled, raising much cash for them along the way, it is impossible to list all Joe's many offerings within this limited space. He is a much valued volunteer at the Dover Museum, having spent time over the past 7 years, researching the history of channel swimming for them, putting on record what has proved to be of universal interest on the Internet.

James Williams, Director, Olympic Torch Relay, Coca-Cola Northwest Europe & Nordics, said: "Today, with just eight days to go, more Coca-Cola Future Flames will help us celebrate the sixty-second day of our amazing journey, including Andy Morris and Joseph Guy who carry the Olympic Flame in Ramsgate and Westgate-on-Sea. We will also get everyone to Move to the Beat tonight as we bring Rizzle Kicks to the stage in Maidstone."

Sally Hancock, Director, London 2012 Partnership at Lloyds TSB said: "We are really looking forward to continuing the Flame’s journey through Kent and bringing the excitement of London 2012 to communities along the route. Lloyds TSB is proud to be creating as many opportunities as possible for people to get involved as the Olympic Flame passes their door. We’re calling on everyone to cheer on their local Lloyds TSB Torchbearers – extraordinary people like Roy Guy and Julia Chilcott, carrying the Flame at the beginning of the day in Deal and the end of the day in Maidstone. The Lloyds TSB Flame Followers will also light up the route ahead of the Flame, before their Flame Followers Spectacular performance at Maidstone’s Leeds Castle tonight."

Sunny Hwang, Vice President & Head of Global Sports Marketing, Samsung Electronics, said: "Samsung's Olympic Torch Relay campaign shares the Olympic spirit and encourages everyone to take part in London 2012. Samsung has offered an inspiring opportunity to people around the world to carry the Olympic Flame, as part of our ambition to make London 2012 Everyone's Olympic Games."

For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 100 or visit the website at www.london2012.com. Find out the latest from London 2012 HQ on our blog http://blog.london2012.com or follow us on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/london2012

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