West Midlands Olympic Torch

Of hope we are welcoming the Yes, it is a very special evening

here at New Road. In 20 minutes, the Olympic torch will hopefully be

year. There are thousands here. If you have just been watching

Midlands Today since 6:30pm, you will already have a sense of

excitement on basics of the Olympic torch relay. And believe me, this

is an exciting place to be. With me over the next hang up -- half hour

is a familiar face to athletics fans across the region, Olympic

medallist Katharine Merry. He picked up runs in Sydney in 2000.

What do you make of this? Awesome, and the flame has not even arrived

yet. The atmosphere is electric and I am already starting to get

emotional. It is a wonderful occasion and the people have been

coming in for hours to get a prime spot to see the Olympic flame.

sold 10,000 tickets in advance for this. If all 10,000 are here, that

is amazing. Did you see some of those pictures from the helicopter,

looking down over Worcester city centre as the runners went through?

Beautiful. All lining the streets. Imagine how it must feel for the

people who have been picked to do this.

It is an honour. I carried it myself before the Athens Games, and

it was one of the highlights of my career. I was an athlete, but for

deserving people not involved in sport, they will treasure it for

the rest of their lives. And it is great to have music in the

background to shout over by Labrinth, which has been good.

am honest, we had it so many doubters about the games beforehand

and I am sure we still have a few, but the way the torch has taken off

since it landed on our shores, the crowds have been awesome. We have

had the wonderful weather as well, which has helped, but everybody is

getting into the spirit of the Olympics. We can go into the crowd

now and find out what the atmosphere is like on the pitch. We

joined them Godfry. For good evening. What an

atmosphere here at New Road. Hundreds have been here since 4

o'clock this afternoon and the party is getting started. Let's

chat with some of the people here. How excited are you? Very excited.

Where have you come from? We live in Worcestershire. What does it

mean to have the torch come to this area? It is brilliant. Really

enjoyed it. Let's go further down. How are you getting on? What does

the family make of this? They are loving it. I am not sure they know

what the Olympic torch means, but they are loving it. Well, the party

has got started, but it does not get kick-started until we see the

torch. It will be coming in about 20 minutes. There will be a big

draw when they see it. Now it is time for some facts.

Many of you will know that over 70 days, the Olympic torch will travel

across the UK and be carried by 1000 people. But I doubt if many of

you know this. Today is the first of seven trips that the torch will

make on a steam train. We are certain it is the only time it will

meet a herd of African elephants along the way. In winters spend a

day on the Severn Valley Railway at Bewdley and met some new friends at

the West Midlands Safari Park. I'm afraid we have had problems with

that report. Hopefully, we can go back to it, because it is a very

unusual film from the West Midlands Safari Park, with elephants

charging up and waving in honour of the Queen. You have been assessing

the feeling among the crowd. Yes, there are Great Britain T-shirts,

tiaras and flags. It just shows that the public are really getting

into the Olympic spirit. Everyone is just having a wonderful time

this afternoon. They look forward to seeing the flame. As I said

previously, it really has surprised me. And I think the momentum of the

flame will continue as it goes on its journey. Those people have been

here a long time, soaking up the sunshine and the entertainment, all

to get a glimpse of the flame. music and excitement reminds me of

coming to an Elton John concert here a few years ago. The flame

itself is so symbolic. It is meant to have been stolen by Prometheus

from Zeus, the King Of the Gods, and given to us mortals. Anyway,

tonight sees a world premiere of songs to celebrate the county of

Worcestershire. It is no ordinary quiet. We are talking 1000 people

sitting in the stands. You can see them behind me. I was listening to

them earlier. Pupils at the city's college for the blind and visually

impaired helped provide the musical inspiration, and Ben will be

chatting to some of the singers in a moment after this report.

The singers arrived in their hundreds. The orchestra tuned up.

The musical director called them to order. And Worcester's Olympic

torch Community Choir sang their hearts out. I am Helen Bryant, head

of PE at Regency high school. Colin, and I am a scientist. Jackie,

and I am retired, but I do a bit of gardening. From children to

pensioners, they come from all walks of life. Four days before the

torch arrives, this was the first time they had rehearsed together.

My job is to take a million pieces of Jigsaw and make them stick

together. I hope it will work. organisers had feared they might

not get enough volunteers for the choir, but within days of the

announcement, a thousand people had come forward to take part in the

Olympic torch event. It is a momentous occasion. It is once in a

lifetime. Just the opportunity to be part of something that will only

happen once in Worcester. Six new songs which celebrate

Worcestershire were inspired by a famous local son, composer Edward

Elgar. But it was the pupils at Worcester's New College for the

blind and visually impaired children who helped bring them to

life. They advised on the local ambient sounds for the song lyrics.

To be able to attend such an event is something huge. It is an honour

for me. It is something I will always remember. That pride will be

felt by many here as the Olympic torch arrives at New Road.

Give it up for the Olympic torch choir! They are only got the words

about a week ago. Let's go and talk to the man whose responsibility it

is to get all these singing in tune. Chris, artistic director. How

artistic have you had to be? It has been an extraordinary challenge,

but there is so much talent that it has not been that hard. We have all

sorts of age groups. Tell us about the oldest and youngest?

youngest are six. All sorts of primary-school have participated.

And the older star in their eighties. Let's talk to some of

them. Linda, you have been singing your heart out today. Raise The Sky

was your big him. How did you find it? It is great. So many people

came together. It is a huge choir from Worcester. I don't know how

many we are. It was amazing to sing together. How much has it inspired

you to take an interest in the Olympic games? Has there been a big

difference? Definitely. I had not really thought about it before all

these big events are started. you are one of the older choir

members. How has it been? It has been really great for the staff and

students of New College Worcester to be involved with this. The

composers looked at how our students experience the world.

can now go back to that wonderful Severn Valley Railway experience.

Trotting along, tear to trunk, they could almost have been passing the

baton in the Elephant relay at the big game Olympics. But this is not

the African bush, it is the West Midlands Safari Park, where every

morning for the past couple of weeks, these two have been marching

up to the top of the hill to get up close and personal with a steam

locomotive. Because this afternoon, they have a unique role to play in

the journey of the Olympic torch. The elephants were found orphaned

in a national park 20 years ago. It was 1992, the same year that Nelson

Mandela attended the Games in Barcelona and the Olympic flame

made a spectacular entrance into the arena. Today, the two elephants

are flying the flag for London 2012. Apparently, an elephant's trunk

contains up to 100,000 muscles, and each of those has been training

hard for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But now the eyes of

the world are watching and this is no time for an elephant to forget.

It is 3:30pm, and the steam engine now standing at platform three is

Erlestoke manner, the Worcestershire Express. Today, for

one day only, the Olympic torch special. Calling at West Midlands

Safari Park. And arriving at Kidderminster at 4:25pm. An

afternoon off school does not get much better than this. A four mile

trip on the Severn Valley Railway, sharing this unforgettable

experience with the star of the show, the Olympic flame. On the

footplate, Chris Stokes has the job of carrying the flame back to his

home town of Kidderminster. It is protected by a special London to

stop it blowing out in the breeze. -- a special lantern. Suddenly, it

was full steam ahead, and the flame waved goodbye to Bewdley. Half a

mile down the line, the elephants were waiting. They had trained so

hard for this moment, but this time it was for real, and now they have

to deliver. Success. They have done it. The wagons rolled and the torch

trundled along in safe hands. Just one final hurdle to go before the

finishing line. It is not only dark here, it is also very draughty, so

fingers crossed that the Olympic flame will still be burning

brightly on the other side of the tunnel. In no time, the adventure

was almost over. The Worcestershire Express pulled into Kidderminster

station, Chris delivered his precious cargo and a lasting legacy

for 300 schoolchildren - great memories of an Olympic torch, an

old steam train and two African elephants. We are over the other

side of the ground now, by the stage. In a few moments, we will be

live on stage for the pivotal moment of the evening, the lighting

of the cauldron. We will also meet the woman who will be letting it.

She is a charity campaigner from Bromsgrove, Sally flood. We will

find out why she is so special to be given the honour of being the

last runner on this special occasion. Sally, 10,000 people

inside new round, thousands watching on telly. How much sleep

did you get last night? Not too bad, actually. I did think, golly, I bet

I will not slip, but it was not too bad. And great to be nominated. I

hear you helped raise �150,000 for the NSPCC. Why is that so close to

your heart? I have always been interested in the NSPCC. My mother

was on the committee in Birmingham. As a child, we supported it. I used

to put money into an egg box and I always enjoyed working with the

NSPCC. It is good fun as well. is so special about your mum,

Lucille, that made you nominate her as a torch-bearer? As a kid, she

got me and my brothers and sister out on the street, shaking tins,

and not giving up. She was so interested in it, and that got us

out on the streets. You have five grandchildren and they will be

watching you, very excited. Are you going to walk, dog or sprint?

will definitely not run. I will jog. And hopefully not trip up. So this

is what you will be wearing. Have you been wearing it around the

house already? No. I would spill blackcurrant on it and I would be

terrible. I have tried it on, but not won it. In your life, how

important an occasion is this for you? It is really brilliant. How

often do people hold the Olympic torch? Best of luck. Bless her. She

has a few friends here. Sally will be running across the bridge

towards the ground any moment now and coming in to light the flame. I

think she is about five minutes late, but we are not sure of the

exact timings. Have you got your tickets? I got mine this morning,

three for Badminton. My friends are excited. They came by special

recorded delivery. I was delighted to open them. I took a picture and

put them on Twitter. Let's look back a few years to a very special

night for you, a bit of nostalgia, from Sydney in 2000, the 400 metres.

Let's remind ourselves of how this And the bronze goes to Britain. It

is the most awesome thing I have ever done. I cannot believe the

enormous mess of the Olympics. It was deafening. I want to get on

that rostrums so badly. The bronze medal goes to Britain's Catherine

Mary. Inside 50 seconds for the first time. The Birchfield Harrier,

an international since she was 13, but now found the right event.

a fantastic memory. What happened to the hair? I was training too

hard to maintain and straighten my hair every day. I have grown it

immensely, as you can see. It was very aerodynamic. That is a good

excuse. Do you think you would have got the gold if you had one that

had? No. I was not good enough on the night. Even now, it is

emotional see you stepping onto that podium. It was for me, too.

You saw on that VT, giving a little dog before stepping up. It was such

a big race. I was delighted to be part of it. Where does the time go?

You can understand why people here are so excited that it has come to

their own country. No doubt. This is the closest people will get to

the Olympic flame. They are within touching distance, and it is going

to so many places across the UK. They are very loud behind us.

are some of the pictures from the middle of Worcester of the Olympic

torch getting ever closer. This was a few moments ago in the centre of

Worcester. I am not sure whether we The last bit is coming over the

River Severn. Some pictures from a helicopter, and they are getting

very close. I think those are live pictures. Look at the crowd lining

the streets. It is clearly not right by the cricket ground as yet.

We need to wait a few moments more. We should talk to the people behind

us and see what they feel. They look excited, Nick. Are you

excited? Yes. What have you heard about the Olympics? How old are

you? I am 12. Tell me what do you think about the Olympics. They are

awesome. Are you going to watch as much as you can? Yes, I'm going to

the full well. A you a bit of an athlete yourself? -- the football.

No, he's not an athlete. Just before you were born, this lady

here won a medal in Sydney. So there you are. Some Olympic history

right by you. How good is that? Tell us what do you think to be

here tonight. Don't be shy. It is fantastic for Worcester, the county,

really good. Brilliant. A brilliant night. I've enjoyed every minute of

it. It is fantastic for Worcester and the county. And for

Herefordshire, Shropshire, the other counties involved. And

tomorrow it is going off towards Wales and we will hear more about

that later. Let's get back to another part of the crowd and speak

to bend. -- to bend. Let's talk to some more people because the torch

is not far away now. Why is it so important that your idea at the

front of the stage? It is a once- in-a-lifetime chance to bring my

children to see the Olympic torch. We have waited all afternoon and we

cannot wait. Use a -- I see you have your own Olympic had. Let's

have a chat with some guys down here. Why is it so important to be

here today? We are celebrating Worcester. I think that says it all,

really. These guys here have been here for two or three hours in the

sunshine. 27 degrees it has been here. Lots of drinks have been

taken on. And it is all still to We are just about to be joined by

someone who has had some very good news today. Mail clerk who has

performed in a Paralympic Games before. -- Melanie Clark. Just

joining us here. Here she comes. Can we go towards her? Hello, Mel.

Can Rach relations, selected again for the archery in the Paralympic

Games. By you looking to defend the medal again? That is well in my

sights now. You have only just heard today. The official

announcement was only today, so it's been incredible. We did the

selection last weekend and it was waiting for the official

announcement in the miles today. What does it mean to you? It has

been a long journey to get here but to be representing us in the home

country is great. What happens from now on? It is just training 100%

and enjoying the experience. are from Worcester, aren't you?

am. I trained in Hartley. I have a permanent facility there, and there

is a bit in my garden, and I have the archery club as well. He do you

warned the neighbours when you are practising? The they all know well

about it. It must give you just a little bit over bit of nous in

terms of how much support you will get in London for the Paralympics -

- a little bit of nerves. It is incredible. Everybody wants to be

part of it so it's great to be in it. This is 10,000 compared with

the hundreds of millions around the world, so don't panic. Had you feel

going into the Games? You are top of the tree, so that is a pressure

in itself. I am really looking forward to it. Our home games will

be incredible and an experience and will be millions of photographs

coming. Really, really good to see you. Congratulations and all the

very best. Thanks for coming to talk to us. Right, I'm not sure

where we are going to. We will have a look at the helicopter shots. We

can see and hear the helicopter which implies it is pretty close to

the cricket ground. There is another one. Oh well. Catherine

points at one, I point to another, but the implication is that it it

is coming to the final stages of the Olympic torch journey,

finishing at the cricket ground at Worcester. It is very special for

me, this ground. I have seen some great cricket here over the year.

My father cycled here from Shrewsbury and sort Donald

Bradman's score a century before lunch and this was before the war,

so this ground has seen some special events in terms of sport,

cricket, but never anything associated with the Olympics. Can

you believe that? I think out of the corner of my eye we might get a

chance to chat to some more people later and I know we hopefully have

Mickaella Johnson who is carrying the torch tomorrow. There are so

many people with a story to tell and hopefully we will get a chance

to speak to them in a moment. In fact, I think it could be Mikaela

now. Good to see you. And well done for getting here. I tell you what,

I will come round the other side which might be easier. Excuse me.

There we are. Now, you have had an incredible life story in the last

three years because you had an awful accident, a road accident.

And you're in a coma for how long? I think it was about 10 days.

they did not think he would wake up from it all walk again or talk

again? They didn't think I would be able to eat, drink, walk, talk, do

the actions of the average person. But thankfully I have overcome it

and I'm fortunate to be in the position I'm in now. That must have

taken some will power. Yes, some big heart, through thick and thin.

The reason this happened was because of a road accident, was in

near your school? Yes, just down the road from my school. This was

in Worcester, along at London Road. Since then you have campaigned hard

to improve road safety. What have you done? So far I have done

campaign for a proper crossing to be put on London Road in the four

way system. I'm going to campaign for something else, but I'm trying

to figure that out. The point is that now you have been asked to

carry the Olympic torch. That is tomorrow, is it? I am carrying the

torch tomorrow. I think I am carrying it about half way. That

will be a bat from 8:30am. It is quite difficult to talk and

concentrate and here. How will you be able to manage? I'll just be

hobbling along. Even walking has been a problem. Yes, Bioblitz

morale will have a good day. -- hopefully tomorrow I will have a

good day. Some days I am in a wheelchair, some days I am on my

feet. Sometimes the bottom half of my legs just don't work so I go

into a wheelchair. What has this been like for your parents? It has

been hard, and I can understand that, but sometimes I tell them to

relax because I can do it. But you can understand from their point of

view they think I always need help. Sometimes I can get the help, but

I'll still do it on my own. have taken up athletics. You have

dreams of being a power Olympian, so you could like a torch and light

in the future. I could be in the Paralympics in 2016. I already have

the national gold in javelin. And national silver in the shot put.

Just a bronze in the discus. That is awesome. So you have a genuine

desire and you think you can do it by 2016? Hopefully before then.

technically, D Dooley left or right-handed? Right-handed -- how

do you do it, left or right-handed? So you can do it without a stick

for a while. How will you sleep tonight with anticipation? I won't

sleep. I'll just be putting make-up on so I can look good. It is a real

privilege to May-June and congratulations for your incredible

strength to get through to this stage -- a privilege to meet you.

And say hello to your folks, because they must be very proud of

you. Lots of luck tomorrow. Fantastic. There is still no news

of the torch come in. But it must be very close. It is a well-known

law, but I can't remember who's! Let me tell you about where the

torch is going tomorrow. It will leave Worcester, then heads on to

Malvern, then Ross-on-Wye before entering Wales for the first time.

And we will have a full report on Midlands Today tomorrow night at

6:30pm. Now we are approaching the end of the programme, and

frustratingly, we have not seen the cauldron been lit. Can we cope? But

thank you for being a Catherine and Micaela. This program can be seen

again on the iPlayer later this evening and there will be plenty

more on Midlands Today tomorrow and on BBC Hereford and Worcester. But