The Olympic Flame comes to Ipswich on the evening of Thursday 5th July and will form the centre-piece of an entertainment extravaganza set in Christchurch Park.
The flame will travel by river to Ipswich, pausing close to the Orwell Bridge for a brief photo opportunity. The convoy will then arrive at the Ipswich Waterfront shortly before 6.20pm close to UCS. It will then by carried by torch bearers along the Waterfront and up into the town centre via St Peters Street, St Nicholas Street and Princes Street, across the Cornhill onto Tavern Street, and then travelling to Christchurch Park via Northgate Street. The flame will enter the park through the Soane Street entrance, passing the Mansion and through the park, where it will appear on stage at approximately 6.44pm.
Rolling road closures will be in place to manage traffic around the convoy, which will feature several vehicles from LOCOG (the London Organising Committee of the Olympic & Paralympic Games) and their Presenting Partners Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung. These vehicles will be giving away souvenirs to the crowd.
The Ipswich evening torch route will feature five entertainment ‘hotspots’ including; The Old Customs House, Jerwood Dance House, Cromwell Square and the lower part of Christchurch Park, outside of the evening celebration site itself. These hotspots will feature local entertainment and will be visited by the Presenting Partners advance activation vehicles providing entertainment and giveaways. The lower half of Christchurch Park will also feature a ‘Sports Village’ with sporting and voluntary organisations present.
At the evening celebration site LOCOG and its Presenting Partners will stage a variety of entertainment shows, culminating in a cauldron being lit from the flame itself. The evening celebration will also incorporate a twenty-minute community-led performance with DanceEast and Aldebrugh Music. This performance element will be designed and managed by Ipswich Borough Council and it’s partners, to demonstrate the spirit of Ipswich and it’s people. The evening celebration site will be a strictly ticketed event using wristbands and will feature stands from each of the Presenting Partners with such opportunities as having your photo taken with a torch and free giveaways.
On the morning of Friday 6th July the torch will appear on Christchurch Mansion balcony for a five-minute photo opportunity at 6.35am. The torch will then be carried from the park by torch bearers, through the town centre and past Ipswich Town Football club. The flame will convert to convoy mode at Commercial Road at approximately 7.03am, where it will then leave Ipswich.
Approximate timings
5th July
17:34 Fox’s Marina
18:09 Lock Gates
18:19 Ipswich Waterside Marina
18:23 Customs House
18:31 Cromwell Square
18:35 Cornhill
18:39 Christchurch Park gates
18:44 Flame arrives On-stage
6th July
06:35 Christchurch Mansion balcony
06:43 Departs Christchurch Park gates
06:49 Cornhill
06:57 ITFC – Portman Road Car Park
07:03 Commercial Road – changes to convoy mode
