Blog

Olympic Torch Launches

05-07-12

Written by Malika Andress

I think we can safely say that the National Space Centre's participation in the Olympic Torch Relay was out of this world.

It is now Thursday and I am still in shock at just how amazing it all was.  Jet Pack Man, Darth Vader, Rocket Science and excited Brownies sums up the send off we gave Kevin Davies, the first Torchbearer for day 46.

When people started arriving at 06:00 on Tuesday morning the whole team started to pull together the plans we have spent over 8 months creating.  The crowds looked excited and awake, the later being the most shocking at that time in the morning, as word had got out that we had a big surprise in store for how we would deliver the un-lit Olympic Torch to Kevin.

Jet Pack Man had travelled from Dubai to participate in the event and I am still slightly humbled by his generous offer to do this at no charge to the Centre, due to our charitable status and his desire to be a part of our event.

There isn't one highlight for me of the event, but lots.  As Kevin took off up the ramp with the Olympic Torch the crowds applauded, shouted and willed him on.  This brought goosebumps to the back of my neck and a lump to my throat.  He was such a nice chap and this was the moment the Olympic Torch Relay would take off into my City, I was very proud of my little part of it.

Jet Pack Man flying over the Rocket Tower to deliver the Torch was also a moment that got a standing ovation, I think to date over 2 million people have seen this moment on TV, YouTube, Twitter, Websites, News Sites, Facebook and in print.

Of course it wouldn't have been a National Space Centre event without some real science and the Education team did us proud. Huge explosions, foam plumes, flames of methane, frozen bubbles and huge dry ice comets were all enjoyed by over 140 Brownies and Cubs.

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Thanks to Mark Simpson and Dan Wray from the images.