Town chief executive Simon Clegg has hailed running a leg of the Olympic torch relay in Keswick in the Lake District earlier today as an “almost spiritual experience”.
Prior to joining Town in 2009, Clegg spent 20 years and 12 summer and winter Games with the British Olympic Association as deputy general secretary and then chief executive and for six years led the political and media campaign to bring the Games to London.
Clegg, who hadn't previously run with the torch at any previous Games, said: "This was a particularly special almost spiritual experience for me.
"The Olympic flame is highly symbolic and I’m proud that the project that we started in 1997 has brought communities together throughout the UK to celebrate this ‘once in a generation’ experience.
"The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London will be an awesome display of physical ability and will have a lasting impact on so many people who will be directly or indirectly involved.”
Clegg will be an official attaché for the Pacific island of Guam during London 2012.