University News Last updated 17 October 2011
Young athletes from Birmingham City University will welcome the iconic Olympic torch when it makes an early visit to the city as part of a quest to find inspirational students who make a difference.
Members of ‘Team BCU’ will be supporting The Coca-Cola Olympic Torch Tour when it visits Birmingham City Students’ Union on from 12pm – 6pm on Tuesday 18 October at Millennium Point, Eastside, Birmingham. The University ‘tiger’ mascot will be available for photographs and interviews with ‘Team BCU’ from 12pm.
The tour is part of a dedicated search to find inspirational students – Future Flames – to carry the Olympic Flame during the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay across the UK.
The group of Birmingham City University athletes are looking forward to competing in a UK ‘Student Olympics’ next year, as part of the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Outdoor Championships 2012, to be staged in London’s Olympic Stadium next May.
Nominate Future Flames
It’s fantastic that the Coca Cola Olympic Torch is coming to Birmingham City Students’ Union and specifically to Millennium Point – at the heart of the city and central to our student community."
Robin Eves, Birmingham City Students’ Union President.
To recognise and reward the positive contributions made by many students every day, Coca-Cola, a Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, will be calling on the public to nominate Future Flames they know who use their passion in areas like:
- sport and physical activity
- music and dance
- community and the environment
- “to spread happiness at their institution or in their local communities”
“The day itself is highly exciting with the opportunity to have your photo taken with the Olympic torch and receive Coca Cola goodies, " said Robin Eves, Birmingham City Students' Union President.
“Live entertainment will be provided by the student-run Scratch Radio and other student groups so it should be a fantastic day for all. Birmingham City Students’ Union fully supports the NUS ‘Be a Champion’ programme and the Coca Cola ‘Future Flames’ campaign and we will be fully embracing both in the lead-up to the Olympic Games in 2012.
“We encouraging everyone to come down to Millennium Point on Tuesday 18 October, to nominate inspirational students who they believe should be celebrated with the once in a lifetime opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame.
“Nominations are open until 20 December and the dedicated campaign, run in association with NUS, gives the UK’s students a special chance to be celebrated as Olympic Torchbearers next summer.”
Rapper and Future Flames campaign supporter Dizzee Rascal added: “It’s time to recognise young people in this country and Coke’s Future Flames campaign does just that. See the person, not the age. I see young people judged all the time and there’s negativity about them.
“But people should look at reality – many young people are making a positive difference but no one hears about it. We can change that by nominating the Future Flames we know.”
The lit Olympic torch will return to Birmingham on Saturday 30 June 2012