National Presenting Partner of the Olympic Torch Relay, Lloyds TSB, brings the Olympic Torch to the Nation’s High Streets with the Lloyds TSB Olympic Torch Tour As the only national presenting partner of the Olympic Torch Relay, Lloyds TSB is bringing the Olympic Torch to the nation’s High Streets. The Olympic Torch Relay will be a 70-day celebration, starting at Land’s End on 18 May 2012, travelling hundreds of miles and bringing the London 2012 Games to almost every community across the British Isles. To inspire the public to nominate those who have made a difference in their communities, Lloyds TSB is taking a tour of Olympic Torches across the British Isles as part of the Lloyds TSB Olympic Torch Tour starting today. The Olympic Torch Tour is an interactive roadshow bringing the excitement of the Olympic Torch Relay to local communities across the British Isles. Visitors can have their photo taken with the prototype London 2012 Olympic Torch, learn about the history of the Relay, play interactive games, and nominate someone who’s made a difference in their local community to carry the Flame in the Relay in 2012. On 17th June this year, the Olympic Torch Tour will be coming to the Isle of Man. It will be on display on Regent Street in Douglas from 10am – 5pm. This will give Islanders a chance to nominate members of the community who they think are worthy of carrying the torch in the Isle of Man in June of next year. Lloyds TSB will be hosting a short opening ceremony at 10am where members of the charity Project21 will officially cut the ribbon after which the public is invited down. Peter Reid, Islands Director for Lloyds TSB Isle of Man commented: “This is a fantastic opportunity to nominate heroes from charities, sports clubs and the wider community for their often unseen hours of hard work and dedication. We can’t wait to welcome as many people as possible on 17th June and feel privileged to be part of the Olympic torch nominations process” Sir Chris Hoy, Olympic Gold Medallist and Lloyds TSB (Bank of Scotland) Ambassador for the London 2012 Games said “It’s great that Lloyds TSB (Bank of Scotland) is bringing the Games closer to local communities and inviting the public to nominate someone to carry the Olympic Flame. I urge everyone to nominate and recognise the people who’ve made a difference to their local community.” Inspirational Nominations To inspire the public to nominate, Sir Chris has made public his own Torch Relay nominations. The first is for 94 year-old Andy Coogan, a World War II veteran and former champion middle distance runner from Carnoustie, Scotland who missed the chance to fulfil his athletics potential because of the war, but who still supports and coaches runners today. The second is for an unsung hero from British Cycling, Geoff Cooke, whose competitive career spans six decades and who was the National coach for ten years. Both demonstrate making a difference to their local communities and inspiring the people they meet. Local youth cycling league organiser, Dot Tilbury will be one of many Islanders attending on the day to cast her nomination. Dot is best known for her work with young cyclists on the Isle of Man. She was one of the first members to be inducted into the British Cycling Hall of fame and was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List in 2006 for her services to junior cyclists on the Isle of Man. Dot commented on the importance of making nominations on the 17th June: “Sport is a very important aspect of personal development. We all strive to achieve key goals in our lives and sport is one vehicle where we find the passion to do this. There are so many inspirational stories that come out of the sports and community heroes on this Island and this is the perfect opportunity to really honour those people who have made a difference. I will be down there on the day nominating the various people I think truly deserve this honour and encourage everybody to do the same. I look forward to seeing our Island’s heroes proudly bearing the torch next June.” One of Britain’s most successful swimmers and Lloyds TSB ambassador, Mark Foster, shared his nomination at today’s launch. Reminiscing about who inspired him to become a swimmer, Mark nominated swimming instructor, Mrs Hardcastle, who spotted his talent when he was just five years old. Not only did Mrs Hardcastle create many elite swimming champions (daughter Sarah Hardcastle is an Olympic Silver Medallist), but she has saved countless lives through teaching young children to swim. Mark encouraged everyone to think about who had inspired them or made a difference to their communities “There are unsung heroes across all corners of the UK, whether it’s your neighbour who is always helping others in the community, the teacher who runs the after school clubs or the mum who runs a marathon to raise money for charity. We all know someone who has made a difference and who deserves this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame. Make sure you give them that chance by nominating them.” Online nominations can be made at www.lloydstsb.com/carrytheflame until 12 September 2011 and selected Torchbearers will be announced in December 2011. Lloyds TSB Olympic Torch Tour Sally Hancock, Director, 2012 Partnership and Group Sponsorship at Lloyds TSB, said. “As the only National Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, Lloyds TSB is bringing the Olympic Flame closer to communities across the UK. We are inviting everybody to share the journey and nominate someone who has made a difference to their local community to carry the Olympic Flame. Schools and young people will have the chance to carry the Flame through National School Sport Week and our Local Heroes programme, and everybody is invited to celebrate the Relay with Lloyds TSB when it comes to their town in 2012.’ The Torch Tour launches today in Manchester’s Exchange Square and will visit the majority of the Olympic Torch Relay Celebration Sites during an 80-day period, finishing at the Great Scottish Run in Glasgow on 4th September 2011. Video nominations can be made at the Olympic Torch Tour, via the bespoke London cab-cam. Nominations can also be made online at www.lloydstsb.com/carrytheflame which also features the full schedule for the Olympic Torch Tour. The Nomination Process Lloyds TSB is providing everyone across the British Isles with the opportunity to nominate somebody who has made a difference to their local community and who inspires others. Nominations can be made online via www.lloydstsb.com/carrytheflame from today 09 June 2011 through to 12 September 2011. People will be asked to tell, in less than 150 words, about the difference the person they are nominating has made in their community. Nominations will be posted on the Lloyds TSB website where they can be viewed by the public and shared via Facebook, Twitter or email to inspire others to nominate. The nominee must approve their nomination before it is posted online and shared. The winning 800 Torchbearers from the Lloyds TSB campaign will be selected once nominations have been reviewed. A shortlist will then be created with the final Torchbearers selected at random from that shortlist. Successful nominees will be informed in December 2011 once LOCOG has reviewed all submissions. -ENDS -