Bethany and Mayor ignite Olympic "flame of hope"

Cheshire Academy home page www.disabilitysport.com
Mayor of Crewe and Nantwich Maureen Grant with Bethany Collina. Ready to light the olympic torch
Young rhythmic gymnastics star Bethany Collina swapped her gymnastics ribbon for an Olympic torch when she attended a special "lighting of the torch" ceremony held at the Cheshire Academy of Integrated Sport and Arts, in Crewe, last Thursday [June 30th]

The ceremony, which was attended by over 200 people saw 12 year old Bethany carry the Olympic torch and with the guiding hand of the Crewe and Nantwich mayor Maureen Grant, raise the torch and ignite the giant Olympic flame which stands in front of the Cheshire Academy.

The lighting of the torch is strictly a local ceremony and officially heralded the departure of the 45 strong team of athletes and coaches who will represent South and East Cheshire at the 7th National Special Olympic games in Glasgow.

During the torch ceremony 4 young members of the squad, footballers Joseph Harrison and Kieran Sandlands, and table tennis players Jack Fellows and Neil Jones were given the privilege of carrying the flag slowly through the assembled crowd.

To the stirring sound of the Special Olympic anthem "together we are strong", Joseph Harrison slowly and ceremonially hoisted the flag up the giant white flag pole especially erected for the occasion. The crowd applauded to see the Special Olympic emblem flying high and fluttering in the breeze.

The Lighting of the local olympic flame
This was followed by another traditional feature of the ceremony, namely the reading of the Special Olympic oath, "let me win, but if I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt" This honour was given to 21 year old Julie Pointon, a key member of South and East Cheshire Special Olympic boccia team.

Cheshire Academy co-director Jane Whetnall related the significance and importance of the ceremony.

"The 'lighting of the torch' ceremony is a very important part of our South and east Cheshire Special Olympic tradition. This ceremony is carried out only on very special occasions and the departure of the disability team to these national Special Olympic games which are held only every 4 years heralds one such occasion."

"The flames of the torch, which both illuminate and inspire, will serve as a reminder to the peoples of the Boroughs' of Crewe and Nantwich, Congleton and Macclesfield, of the special needs athletes who are battling hard against other top disability athletes in the UK in an effort to bring back sporting accolade and honour."

A special Ceremony to "extinguish the flame" will take place on Monday July 11th at the Cheshire Academy, (see extinguish the flame report)