OLYMPIC fever has captured Torfaen, with the torchbearers gearing up for their moment of fame, and the council pulling out all the stops to celebrate a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’.

Torfaen council’s head of business transformation and leisure, Sally Church, said: “The council has been very active both in planning and promoting this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to the Torfaen community and hope that thousands of people will join in the celebrations and make this a day to remember.”

Eric Whitlock is just one of a few Torfaen residents nominated to carry the Olympic Flame.

Mr Whitlock, 50, runs his own business – Severnside First Aid Training and Consultancy – and works as part of the pitchside medical team for Wembley Stadium, Bristol Rovers and Newport Gwent Dragons as well as acting as a volunteer community first responder.

He said: “It’s very humbling and I keep questioning if I’m even worthy, as thousands of people who do inspirational things applied.”

Mr Whitlock is also a founder member of the Torfaen Community First responder group and is a volunteer with St John Ambulance, covering public events.

Events to celebrate occasion

TORFAEN council has organised a number of events to mark the occasion including:

● Best of Blaenavon at the World Heritage Centre that will showcase local food and craft producers, visitor attractions and sport clubs.

There will also be street entertainers, live jazz and a performance from the Blaenavon Ladies Choir.

● Pupils from Blaenavon VC Heritage School have been invited to attend a special event at Big Pit, when the torch begins its journey through Torfaen.

● World Sports Day at Pontypool Active Living Centre, will see more than 700 children from the borough involved in sporting activity.

● The Relay Challenge is being run by the council’s youth service to encourage people to carry out activities that total 8,000 miles – the length of the UK torch relay.

● On the day itself there will up-to-the-minute information through the Facebook page, facebook.com/torfaen Twitter users can use the #torfaentorch hashtag and follow @torfaencouncil