So, who are the Torchbearers?
Torch relay organisers LOCOG stated that 90 per cent of relay places would go to the public - and that all torchbearers including those nominated by corporate sponsors should have stories meeting the criteria of “youth”, “personal bests and/or contribution to the community”.
The London 2012 website says: "London 2012 has found 8,000 truly inspirational people from across the UK to carry the Olympic Flame – a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
So who are the people chosen? The Echo decided to do some digging inspired by Help Me Investigate who have been researching torchbearers since the list was revealed. Here's a breakdown - including where they're from, what their nomination story said, and any connections with Olympic partners that we could identify. If you can help email sam.shepherd@bournemouthecho.co.uk
This page will be updated with profiles of Dorset's own torchbearers as the week goes on - if you know anyone who deserves to be highlighted, let us know!
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The sponsor-nominated, the overseas and the Olympic staff | ||
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Thursday | ||
Lorna Perry, 44Hometown: Bray Nominated because: Single mother, bringing up two daughters, one autistic. I've been told I'm always happy, joking & positive. Running in Iwerne Minster |
Andy Vittles, 40Hometown: Yeovil Nominated because: As recognition by Vodafone of being a brand embassador, key team player and demonstrating over target performance. Running in Wyke Regis | Alex Bright, 23Hometown: Whitchurch Nominated because: aim to assist the Metropolitan Police Service with policing the Olympics, and other major events to keep London safe. Running in Wyke Regis |
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Friday | ||
Annamaria Fleck, 27Hometown: Budapest Nominated because: Orphan who founded a dance school to teach underprivileged children for free Running in Portland Bill |
Barnabas Hardi, 14Hometown: Siofok, Hungary Nominated because: Hungarian boxing bronze medalist who saved a mother and child from drowning in a river Running in Weston |
Lousie Makin, 47Hometown: Gloucester Nominated because: One of relay sponsor Lloyds' runners; a champion fundraiser famous for her cake sales Running in Weston |
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Vickie Mattock, 39Hometown: Gloucester Nominated because: Lloyds nominee who has motivated and supported her team to raise money for Acorns Running in Portland |
Chantel Cockle, 38Hometown: Gloucester Nominated because: Lloyds nominee and running coach who raised £1200 for Get Kids Going by running the London Marathon Running in Portland |
Andrea Snow, 44Hometown: Budapest Nominated because: Founder of the Seedling Trust, which helps Hungarian orphans Running in Weymouth |
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Mira Kiss, 36Hometown: Budapest Nominated because: Paralysed by a disease in 2008, since overcome the illness to run three marathons Running in Weymouth |
Ranil Jayawardena, 25Hometown: Bramley Nominated because: No official nomination story, but is a councillor in Basingstoke and a senior manager for relay sponsors LloydsTSB. Running in Preston |
Edina Toman, 30Hometown: Ipolydamásd, Hungary Nominated because: Recovered from a pulmonary embolism and wrote a book encouraging sick people not to give up Running in Preston |
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Anoojan Nithiyanantharajah, 23Hometown: Enfield Nominated because: No official info, and Daily Echo investigations have drawn a blank Running in Swanage |
Balázs Várkonyi, 33Hometown: Budapest Nominated because: No official info, and Daily Echo investigations have drawn a blank Running in Swanage |
Mohammed Akram, 30Hometown: Newport Nominated because: No official info, and Daily Echo investigations have drawn a blank Running in Swanage |
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Eva Steinbach, 52Hometown: Budapest Nominated because: Since the death of her Downs Syndrome child she has campaigned to support parents of Downs Syndrome babies. Running in Swanage |
Zita Vajagel, 19Hometown: Battonya, Hungary Nominated because: Zita grew up in an SOS children's village for orphans. Her dream is to be a physical education teacher to be able to teach kids and give them a better future. Running in Swanage |
Janos Vadon, 42Hometown: Budapest Nominated because: Radio presenter at Hungary's biggest commercial radio channel with 1 million daily listeners. He is a great environmentalist and helped raise money for Hungary's sludge victims. Running in Stoborough |
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Mohsen Roshan, 48Hometown: Forton Nominated because: No official info, and Daily Echo investigations have drawn a blank Running in Sandford |
Peter Dr Fazekas, 36Hometown: Veszprem, Hungary Nominated because: No official info, and Daily Echo investigations have drawn a blank Running in Sandford |
Imre Mazsa, 36Hometown: Zalagerszeg, Hungary Nominated because: No official info, and Daily Echo investigations have drawn a blank Running in Upton |
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Balazs Kunos, 38Hometown: Budapest Nominated because: No official info, and Daily Echo investigations have drawn a blank Running in Upton |
Maria Naxaki, 35Hometown: Madrid Nominated because: No official info, but her Facebook page describes her as working for the Olympic Broadcasting Service Running in Poole |
Reece Best, 21Hometown: Bracknell Nominated because: No official info, but he runs a YouTube channel called Bestology Running in Poole |
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Marian Berger, 39Hometown: Zilina, Slovakia Nominated because: EDF Energy nominee who is 90 per cent disabled thanks to Addison's disease and adrenomyeloneuropathy. She will need two crutches to walk the 300m distance Running in Poole |
Attila Varkonyi, 48Hometown: Budapest Nominated because: No official info, and Daily Echo investigations have drawn a blank Running in Poole |
Steve Gregory, 63Hometown: Epping Nominated because: No official info, but his LinkedIn account describes him as a Venue Safety Officer for London 2012 Running in Bournemouth |
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Bobby Wang, 36Hometown: Madrid Nominated because: Chinese sports television producer working for the Olympic Broadcasting Service Running in Bournemouth |
Sebastien Otten, 34, 36Hometown: Lierneux Nominated because: "Sebastian's personal commitment to sustainable development doesn't rest on colossal buildings and pompous declarations but modest actions that, in the end, bear fruit." reads his nomination story Running in Bournemouth |
Steve Goodey, 59Hometown: Essex Nominated because: Worked for BBC Outside Broadcasts for nearly 40 years covering many major sporting events including every Summer Olympics since Seoul in 1988, now works for the Olympic Broadcasting Service Running in Bournemouth |
Saturday |
Alimjan Halik, 41Hometown: Bijie City Nominated because: Street seller who established the Alimu Fund using by his two thirds of his income. More than one hundred college students who come from rural areas are supported by this fund Running in Bournemouth |
Chenbing Mao, 25,Hometown: Aojiang, China Nominated because: "She is an ordinary company employee and she has the most rare blood type. She had saved several critical patients with her unique blood" Running in Boscombe |
Lei Ge, 30Hometown: Beijing Nominated because: his volunteering work over the last ten years and his influence in getting other young people to volunteer Running in Boscombe |
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Xiaoting Pen, 26Hometown: Jinan, China Nominated because: No official info, and Daily Echo investigations have drawn a blank Running in Christchurch |
Tao Wen, 30Hometown: Shanghai Nominated because: A football player whose career was ended by injury, he became a taxi driver and did free services for children and the elderly. Now a professional racing driver Running in Lyndhurst |
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Xuerui Wang, 41Hometown: Zhuhai City, China Nominated because: No official info, and Daily Echo investigations have drawn a blank Running in Brockenhurst |
Hengju Yu, 30Hometown: Xingtai, China Nominated because: Volunteer from China Running in Lymington |
Xingfen Wu, 25Hometown: Jiangsu Gaoyou, China Nominated because: Founded a children's home to help those whose parents have left to work in the cities. Running in Lyndhurst |
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Corfe Castle and Swanage | |||||
Dean Lightwood, 43Hometown: Brighton Nominated because: Dean has helped at his local football club and raised £10,000 to build a new a mini-soccer facility. Running in Corfe Castle |
Richard Veres, 20Hometown: Budapest Nominated because: Great sportsman, he has been 4×Junior World Champion, 2× Adult World Champion, 3× European Champion in Kick Boxing Running in Corfe Castle |
Sam Cousins, 18Hometown: Wareham Nominated because: Sargent at both Wareham and Swanage Air Training Core units Running in Corfe Castle | |
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Val Mylechreest, 49Hometown: Bournemouth Nominated because: Co-pastor a local church working with the most vulnerable and needy in the Bournemouth Area Running in Corfe Castle |
Anoojan |
Balázs Várkonyi, 33Hometown: Budapest Nominated because: No profile given Running in Swanage | |
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Mohammed Akram, 32Hometown: Newport Nominated because: No profile given Running in Swanage |
Anton James, 44Hometown: Fareham Nominated because: Marathon runner has raised over £7k for breast cancer charities Running in Swanage |
Ben Ridd, 20Hometown: Fareham Nominated because: College student who was hospitalised for many months after a speed boat accident and it was believed that he would never walk again Running in Swanage | |
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Emma Knight, 25Hometown: Dorset Nominated because: Volunteer crew member for Poole RNLI Running in Swanage |
Emma Willis, 35Hometown: Poole Nominated because: Breast cancer survivor who runs a voluntary organisation for young adults with cancer Running in Swanage |
Éva Steinbach, 52Hometown: Budapest Nominated because: Since the death of her Downs Syndrome child she has campaigned to support parents of Downs Syndrome babies Running in Swanage | |
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Frank Roberts, 51Hometown: Swanage Nominated because: Ex-army sergeant and Swanage Railway volunteer who has previously completed sponsored walks to raise money for Swanage's Heroes Haven and The Baton Trust. Running in Swanage |
Geoff Holt, 46Hometown: Southampton Nominated because: disabled yachtsman from Hampshire who became the first disabled person to sail single-handed around the UK in a trimaran dinghy in 2007. In 2009 he became the first quadriplegic to sail unassisted across the Atlantic Ocean which won him the title of 2010 Yachsman of the Year and an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list. Running in Swanage |
Gill Whitfield, 45Hometown: Portsmouth Nominated because: Previously raised money for the Katherine Hospice. Running in Swanage | |
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Jordan Cook, 14Hometown: Poole Nominated because: Competitive trampolinist who coaches others Running in Swanage |
Robert Whittington, 50Hometown: Winchester Nominated because: Has completed 4 Winchester 10k runs, 3 Great South runs and the London Marathon where he has raised over £7k for breast cancer. Running in Swanage |
Roger Wilcox, 64Hometown: Swanage Nominated because: Former football referee, has coached juniors at Swanage cricket club. Running in Swanage | |
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Zita Vajgel, 19Hometown: Battonya Nominated because: Zita grew up in an SOS children's village for orphans. Her dream is to be a physical education teacher to be able to teach kids and give them a better future Running in Swanage |
Ady Rhodes, 45Hometown: Wareham Nominated because: Soldier for 22 years in 9/12 Royal Lancers and volunteer for Weymouth sea and marine cadet unit Running in Stoborough |
Guy Brown, 45Hometown: Southampton Nominated because: Control room supervisor at BP Hamble has previously completed the Great South Run and the London Marathon, raising thousands for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Running in Stoborough | |
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Janos Brown, 42Hometown: Budapest Nominated because: Radio presenter helped raise money for sludge victims Running in Stoborough | Tom Brophy, 18Hometown: Dorset Nominated because: Sailor and qualified RYA dinghy instructor Running in Stoborough | |
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Jon Gill, 48Hometown: Poole Nominated because: Suffered a severe stoke at the age of 44, set up the local branch of Different Strokes in Dorset Running in Wareham |
Sue Gillingham, 51Hometown: Poole Nominated because: Sports coach at Branksome Heath Middle School Running in Wareham |
Mohsen Roshan, 48Hometown: Forton, Hampshire Nominated because: No profile given Running in Sandford | |
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Peter Dr. Fazekas, 36Hometown: Veszprem, Hungary Nominated because: No profile given Running in Sandford |
Hayley Finch, 31Hometown: Bournemouth Nominated because: Helps those involved in sport in Dorset reach their potential Running in Sandford |
Steve Cliffen, 58Hometown: Christchurch Nominated because: Co-creator of the Charitable Trust, which helps support various charities including those that help the disabled and disadvantaged as well as a school in Tanzania Running in Sandford | |||
John Bolt, 57Hometown: Wimborne Nominated because:No profile given Running in Lytchett Minster |
Nikila Newman, 32Hometown: Wimborne Nominated because:Set up the Infectious Street Dance Academy Running in Lytchett Minster |
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Poole |
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Imre Mázsa, 36Hometown: Zalaegerszeg Nominated because: No profile given Running in Upton |
Andy Howe, 18Hometown: Poole Nominated because: Started club for young children to learn football skills Running in Upton |
Eva Reichardt, 25Hometown: Poole Nominated because: PhD student at Bournemouth University involved in fundraising for various charities Running in Upton | |
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Mo Constantine, 59Hometown: Dorset Nominated because: Contributor of various animal and wildlife charities Running in Upton |
Wendy Morrell, 53Hometown: Broadstone Nominated because: Independent Disability Advisor to the Metropolitan Police, she started advocacy on behalf of disabled people for better inclusion; formed a local access group, became a Vice President of IAADP and has advised the UK government on transport needs of disabled people via DPTAC. Running in Upton |
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Balázs Kunos, 38Hometown: Budapest Nominated because: No reason given Running in Hamworthy |
Joy Edkins, 56Hometown: West Parley Nominated because: No reason given Running in Hamworthy |
Barry Light, 60Hometown: Bournemouth Nominated because: Running 60 marathons in 60 weeks to raise £60k for charity. Running in Hamworthy | |
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David Taylor, 61Hometown: Shaftesbury Nominated because:President of the Local Lions Club and on the national board. Also chairman of the Local Cancer Research Society Running in Hamworthy |
Helen Sansom, 27Hometown: Poole Nominated because:Social worker and regularly raises money for Leukaemia charities Running in Hamworthy |
Joe Arundel, 15Hometown: Poole Nominated because:Keen sportsman Running in Hamworthy | |
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Richard Walker, 16Hometown: Wimborne Nominated because:Competes in national disability athletic events Running in Hamworthy |
Trevor Chambers, 69Hometown: Bridport Nominated because:Raised funds to secure and refurbish Morcombelake village hall and organises a monthly lunch club Running in Hamworthy |
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Maria Naxaki, 35Hometown: London Nominated because:No profile given Running in Poole |
Matt Bitfield, 26Hometown: Poole Nominated because:No profile given Running in Poole |
Reece Best, 21Hometown: Bracknell Nominated because:No profile given Running in Poole | |
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Adam Douglas, 49Hometown: Chippenham Nominated because:Head of PE department at school in Wiltshire Running in Poole |
Andy Clutton, 46Hometown: Gosport Nominated because:103 mile endurance runner and marathon coach Running in Poole |
Andy Mckenna, 17Hometown: Aldershot Nominated because:Going through recruitment process to become a Royal Marine Officer Running in Poole | |
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Claire Moyle, 52Hometown: Littlehampton Nominated because:Runs Worthing Harriers Special Olympics group Running in Poole |
Daisy Brookman, 27Hometown: Eastleigh Nominated because:Set up the Activity Buddy Scheme to train volunteers to support disabled people access sports and leisure activities, also runs dance, film and drama classes for those with physical and learning disabilities Running in Poole |
Drew Mcmahon, 34Hometown: Poole Nominated because:Staff Sergeant and serves with the Royal Signals, for the past 3 years he has been running marathons across the globe for Help for Heroes, TroopAID and cancer charities Running in Poole | |
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Iain Weaver, 21Hometown: Ferndown Nominated because:Professional boxer Running in Poole |
Irene Taylor, 47Hometown: Poole Nominated because:BT worker, survived complete lung failure Running in Poole |
Judge Keeping, 12Hometown: Poole Nominated because:Keen sports player Running in Poole | |
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Karen Ruddlesden, 43Hometown: Broadstone Nominated because:Addison's Disease sufferer who works raising awareness of the disease and helping others who have Addison's Disease alert dogs Running in Poole |
Lewie Lett, 23Hometown: Poole Nominated because:Runs the U14s boys' session at Wessex Volleyball Club and the 15-18 beach sessions Running in Poole |
Marián Berger, 39Hometown: Žilina, Slovakia Nominated because:EDF Energy nominee who is 90 per cent disabled thanks to Addison's disease and adrenomyeloneuropathy. She will need two crutches to walk the 300m distance Running in Poole | |
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Peter Roscoe, 67Hometown: Bournemouth Nominated because:Volunteer athletics coach Running in Poole |
Scott Norman, 66Hometown: Stourpaine Nominated because:Chair of the Parish Council, North Dorset CAB, CEPEND- the community partnership for North Dorset, and DT11 Forum Running in Poole | |
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Liz Rose, 47Hometown: Gillingham Nominated because:Community psychiatric nurse dealing with elderly dementia Running in Ashley Cross |
Robyn Smith, 18Hometown: Hythe Nominated because:Wheelchair basketball coach, on the Youth Sport Trust Steering Group and community volunteer with her local Disability Multi sport Club Running in Ashley Cross | ||||