Scotland relay 'resounding success'

Jun 14 2012

The Olympic Flame's marathon seven-day tour of Scotland has been hailed a resounding success as it makes its way south of the border.

Around 400,000 people are estimated to have lined the streets to cheer on the torch as it wound its way through mainland and island communities and dropped in on some of the UK's most recognisable landmarks.

People in Scotland were praised for their "fantastic" response to the Torch Relay which has travelled hundreds of miles over the past week, from Stranraer to the Borders via all corners of the country.

Crowds lined Edinburgh's Royal Mile as the torch was carried past the Scottish Parliament on its 140-mile journey from the city to Northumberland.

Many schoolchildren waited in the heart of the Old Town for a glimpse of the flame as it was carried by wheelchair-user Sally Hyder, along with her assistance dog Harmony, from Canongate Kirk to Holyrood. The 49-year-old, from Edinburgh, has multiple sclerosis and promotes the charity Canine Partners.

Later in the day, Olympian Allan Wells, 60, carried the flame in the Borders town of Selkirk. He won gold in the 100m at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow.

In nearby Galashiels, the torch was held aloft by Chris Paterson, Scotland's most-capped rugby player. He confessed to having some pre-event nerves but said it was an "amazing feeling" taking part in the relay in his home town where hundreds of schoolchildren waved the torch on its way to England.

"Hopefully bringing the flame spreads the Olympic spirit and inspires these kids to go on and be the athletes of the future," he said. "I've been all the way through the Borders today and the enthusiasm and the support for it is fantastic. And I think it really does bring the whole Games alive."

The torch also visited Musselburgh in East Lothian; the Midlothian towns of Dalkeith, Lasswade, Loanhead, Bilston, Milton Bridge and Penicuik; and the Borders towns of Peebles, Innerleithen and Walkerburn.

The Olympic Torch arrived in Scotland on June 7 by ferry from Northern Ireland and set off the next day. Its journey began in Stranraer and headed to Stornoway, Orkney, Shetland and down the east coast, taking in Loch Ness, the Falkirk Wheel, the Forth Road Bridge, Stirling Castle and St Andrews.