THE DAY we have all been waiting for is finally here. After months of preparation and organisation, the thousands of people will finally get to embrace the legacy of the Olympics as the torch arrives in the county.
The eyes of the nation will be on Ipswich today, as towns, cities and villages around the country watch on in awe at the spectacular display of entertainment right on our doorsteps.
Fourteen people from Suffolk and another from Beijing will be carrying the iconic torch through the county town
Representatives from LOCOG and the borough council met earlier this week to discuss the route, which sets off from Norwich at 6.50am, heading for Suffolk.
It will arrive in Ness Point, Lowestoft at 10.29am and will then start its journey along the coast arriving in Southwold at 11.40am, with Karen Booth set to carry the flame in front of the famous beach huts.
Today is day 48 of the torch relay which has united all corners of the UK.
After making its way down to Foxs Marina on the Orwell, a speed boat will take the torch to Ipswich Waterfront where it will make its way through the streets to Christchurch Park.
In total, 120 miles will be covered today as the torch and the 115 torchbearers make the journey along the coast to Suffolk’s county town.
The last torchbearer of the day will be Nicola Hunt, 27, who is one of the UK’s best archers and is currently in training to represent Team GB.
There will be celebrations going on throughout the town, including a an Olympics-themes poetry session set to take place in the Unitarian Meeting House on Friars Street. Poetry by Pindar, John Betjemen, Maya Angelou and Mark O’Connor will be read.
Claudine Ratnayake, LOCOG advance manager, said it is set to be a once in a lifetime opportunity for excitable town residents.
She said: “There is a real buzz around the torch relay which is amazing to see. Throughout our journey around the UK we have been welcomed by thousands upon thousands of people
“Those people will be able to watch the Olympics and know they have been part of it all. They will be part of the Olympics legacy.”
Send us your pictures from the torch relay. Log on to www.iwitness24.co.uk and uploads your snaps. See our Olympic Torch section for full coverage.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here