LETTERS : Olympic Torch Mess Up On Toll Gavel

[HU17.net]

Dear HU17,

I was one of thousands of people lined up in Toll Gavel and Butcher Row in Beverley to witness the Olympic Torch.

The atmosphere was electric with people laughing, smiling, waving flags and cheering. Suddenly from Saturday Market we heard applause and looked up to see the Torch bearer entering Toll Gavel flanked by an official person and accompanying car.

With his torch raised, he smiled and waved to the crowd milking the applause and everyone assumed this was the Olympic Torch. As he continued down Toll Gavel the noise intensified to a crescendo and then it was past. Short and sweet. Security allowed people through the barriers .

The BBC stopped filming and moved to on to take up a new position and many hundreds of people left happy in the knowledge that they had seen the Olympic Torch pass through Beverley.

However roughly 8- 10 minutes later with only a few hundred people remaining and wondering up and down the centre of Toll Gavel the Real Olympic Torch and its entourage started to pass through. Panicked security tried quickly to move people to the sides.

Upwards of a thousand people missed this historic event and there were gasps of genuine shock as it dawned on people what was happening. Many people are still unclear whether it was a fake runner or an Olympic Torch bearer moving to his position.

It ruined what should have been a memorable day for the people in this area and raises some serious questions.

Where were the police and senior security down the main pedestrianized area?
Why was it not relayed promptly that the torch was still on its way?
Why was the first torch bearer allowed to raise his torch and act in a way that made people think he was the Official Torch bearer?
Why did his security not remind him of the protocol when moving to his start position?
Why was the first torch bearer allowed to take the same path as the official route?

(Name and Address Supplied)

[HU17.net]

[HU17.net]

Paul
This is the photo which accompanies my comment on your website re the Olympic torch. Sorry if you think I am being pedantic about this but I and many others have missed out on a once in a lifetime experience because of this mix up.
Sarah