News that the Olympic flame will pass through Raglan on May 25th next year was greeted with joy by the children of the village school this week.
Four pupils gathered with Monmouthshire County Council chairman, Cllr Brian Hood MBE to issue a welcome to the Olympic Torch Relay as it enters Wales at Monmouth and passes through Raglan on the way to Abergavenny.
Cllr Hood MBE, said: “I’m proud that the Olympic Torch will come into Wales through our beautiful county. It is a real honour that Raglan will be among the first places in Wales that the Torch will visit. We have always seen Monmouthshire as the Gateway to Wales, and next year it certainly will be. The eyes of the world will be on Monmouthshire that day. But primarily, we see this as an event for all of our communities. The flame marks the countdown to the start of the London Olympics. We want to use the focus and symbolism of the Games as a springboard to encourage all of the people in the county, young and old, to take up and try out activities.”
Monmouthshire will host a range of events and promotions both sporting and cultural leading up to and after the Olympics themselves. These include working closely with schools through the Olympics GET SET programme, encouraging people to try a new or existing activity and increasing attendance at leisure centres, sports and activity clubs.
Head girl of Raglan VC Junior and Infants School Anna Thomas said: “Welcoming the flame to Raglan will be our little part of the Olympics and it’s like taking part!” The school’s head boy, Thomas Michel added: “Seeing the torch coming through the village will be a great experience for both young and old and one that we are unlikely to see again”.
