THE OLYMPIC torch touched down at the University of Edinburgh last week as part of the Coca-Cola Torch tour. Hundreds of students queued for their chance to hold the iconic ‘golden cheese grater’ in Bristo Square last Monday.

The torch was also presented to several sports figures at the University in Potterrow. Fresh Air radio station provided the musical entertainment during theafternoon, by broadcasting from the top of a traditional double-decker bus.

Sam Trett, President of Edinburgh University Sports Union told The Student: “The torch coming to the University highlights the key role that sports play at the University of Edinburgh. We cater for 24 of the 26 Olympic sporting disciplines and we have a long history of athletes coming to the University andgoing on to conquer the sporting world.”

He added, “Hopefully, the torch coming to Edinburgh will help push theUniversity's sporting stars to win medals in the future.” Coca Cola, a key Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Torch Relay, have been touring the country’s student unions in a bid to find ‘Future Flames’; inspirational young people who could carry the torch in the 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.

Students were encouraged to nominate their peers to be in with a chance ofbeing one of the 8,000 torchbearers. The official Olympic Torch Relay will start at Land's End on Saturday 19 May 2012.
The Flame will then visit locations across the UK before reaching London on Saturday 21 July. It will have travelled more than 8,000 miles in 70 days by the time it arrives atthe Olympic stadium on the 27 July.

Mary-Monica Kamel, a volunteer for Coca-cola at the event said:
“We had a great turn out, hundreds of people came along. It just goes to show that bringing the Olympic torch to the University of Edinburgh is great because it really unites everyone – such a wide variety of people all come together insupport of this event.“

James Williams, Director, Olympic Torch Relay, Coca-Cola commented: “We are delighted to be taking the Coca-Cola Olympic Torch Tour to students’unions across the UK, so that everyone can celebrate all the amazing thingsbeing done by students.

“We want students’ unions across the country to nominate the inspirational people to give them the once in a lifetime chance to run with the Olympic Flame next summer.”