Well, if you're one of the many doing your best to ignore the Olympics, then you have much to thank Lord Coe for. He has carefully engineered the Olympic torch route so that it will come no closer to Herne Bay than Upstreet and Sturry (on 19th July).
Looking at the map of the route, it does seem rather odd that they're happy to make a diversion after Faversham to visit Challock (pop. 843), but didn't divert to Herne Bay and Whitstable (combined pop. 65,383) on their way to Canterbury. Hey, ho.
Communities across Kent now know the exact street-by-street route the iconic Olympic Torch will take through their towns - for the full details and national route see the Olympic 2012 site.
Hundreds of people are expected to line the county’s streets to welcome the Olympic flame as it passes through Kent between July 17 and 20. Celebrations are planned for overnight stopovers in Dover on July 18 and Maidstone on July 19.
Chair of LOCOG Sebastian Coe said:
“Today we bring the Olympic Torch Relay to life. The flame symbolises the Olympic spirit and its journey around the UK will bring the excitement of the Games to our streets. Now the people know the route the Olympic flame will be carried along and the Torchbearers for their community, they can start planning how they might celebrate and make it Kent’s moment to shine.”
yourcanterbury 19th Mar 2012