Coca-Cola Future Flame has once in a lifetime experience of running with the Olympic Flame

On Monday Aymen McGonigle, 16 from Upperlands joined Jamie McClelland, Jane Jones, Paul Meikle, Ryan O’Connor and Timothy Shiels – six of Coca-Cola’s 40 Future Flames honoured with the chance to carry the Olympic Flame on part of its journey through Northern Ireland. These inspiring individuals were chosen as an official London 2012 Olympic Torchbearer via Coca-Cola’s Future Flames campaign, which recognises and rewards the positive contributions young people make every day in their local communities by giving them the once in a lifetime opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame.

Aymen was chosen to carry the Olympic Torch in Derry~Londonderry because of his enthusiasm for downhill mountain bike racing. In 2010 he  sold everything he owned in order to build his own bike from scratch built a track in his village of Upperlands and repairs friends bikes.

Other inspirational Torchbearers who ran through Derry~Londonderry today are:

Timothy Shiels 30 from Waterside – chosen because of his works with children as a motivational speaker in primary schools across Ireland. He is a great athlete and runs for charity.

Jamie McClelland 17 from Ballygowan – chosen for his contribution to performing arts in his local area. Jamie has been acting and producing shows for his local community from a young age.

These Torchbearers were cheered on by huge crowds of local people who lined the streets of Derry~Londonderry, joining Coca-Cola and it’s ‘Beat Fleet’ in creating a euphoric procession of music and dancing as the Olympic Flame passed through on its journey around the UK. The ‘Beat Fleet’ encouraged everyone in Derry~Londonderry to ‘Move to the Beat’ in celebration of the fantastic achievements of all their Future Flames.

To further celebrate the thousands of inspirational Torchbearers running the 8,000 mile route of the Olympic Torch Relay, Coca-Cola is helping the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and host Local Authorities to bring music and celebration to every corner of the UK with 66 nights of celebrations during the Olympic Torch Relay.  This comprises 61 Evening Celebrations plus four Special City Celebrations in Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds and Birmingham, and a finale concert in London’s Hyde Park, presented by Coca-Cola.  Each night features incredible performances from some of the nation’s best loved stars, including Dizzee Rascal, Emeli Sandé, Eliza Doolittle, Friendly Fires, General Fiasco, Katy B, Kids In Glass Houses, Labrinth, Little Comets, Loick Essien, Morning Parade, Mark Ronson, Rizzle Kicks, Tribes, Wombats, The Wanted, Wretch 32, You Me At Six and Young Guns.

James Williams, Director, Olympic Torch Relay, The Coca-Cola Company, said:

“I’m delighted we’ve been able to give these amazing young people – our Future Flames – the once in a lifetime opportunity of running with the Olympic Flame in recognition of the outstanding contributions they make to their local communities. It was great to see so many people in Derry~Londonderry out in force to join in the spectacular celebrations along the route of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. I hope everyone enjoyed being part of London 2012.”

Details of the full line up of the evening celebrations can be found at: www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay

Tickets for the event in London’s Hyde Park cost £15 (plus order processing fee) and are still available via http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/coca-colacelebrations