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Olympic honour for Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

7th Nov 2011

Thomas Telford’s magnificent Pontcysyllte Aqueduct has been named as one of the alternative modes of transport that will be used during the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. The aqueduct is one of just a few landmarks on the route of the Olympic Flame announced today by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG). The Olympic Flame will travel over the aqueduct on 30 May 2012.

Vince Moran, British Waterways’ operations director, said: “We are delighted that the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Llangollen Canal World Heritage Site is to form part of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Route. It is great to see that such a unique part of the UK’s heritage will be involved in this momentous occasion in the same year that the canals and rivers in England and Wales are set to be put into trust for the nation.”

Unique canal landmark

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: “We have worked hard to devise a route that achieves proximity to people while taking in the diversity of the UK’s landscape and landmarks. By taking in this area and Telford’s alternative mode of transport we are doing just that. This is the UK’s moment to shine and I want to encourage people across Wrexham to start planning how they can be part of this once in a lifetime opportunity and show their support for the inspirational torchbearers.”

The 70-day Olympic Torch Relay will start at Land’s End, Cornwall on the morning of 19 May 2012. The Olympic Flame will travel an estimated 8,000 miles around the UK, giving thousands of communities and individuals their moment to shine. It will end by travelling down the River Thames to the Olympic Stadium, arriving on 27 July 2012 for the Opening Ceremony of the Games.

It has also been confirmed that the torch will travel by canal boat through the Black Country Living Museum on the Dudley Tunnel Branch on 30 June 2012.

View an interactive map of the destinations for the Olympic Flame.

Last updated: 10/11/2011

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