8000 Holes: How the 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Lost its Way
Last updated on 2012-08-30
About the Book
For 70 days in 2012 8,000 people carried the Olympic torch across the UK. Every one was supposed to have an inspirational tale, with 90% of places available to the general public. But as the website Help Me Investigate analysed the data, names and documents behind the relay, a picture emerged which suggested the Olympic Torch Relay was far from an occasion "for everyone". At almost every stage of the allocation process torchbearer places were given to executives at sponsors and their commercial partners, awarded to staff for sales performance, to diplomats, journalists and media bosses - while the organisers failed to enforce their own guidelines.
This is the story of how one inspirational wheelchair racer, and tens of thousands of others with inspirational stories, missed out on the opportunity to carry the Olympic torch - and how key promises made by the Olympic torch relay organisers LOCOG were not met.
All proceeds from the book go to the Brittle Bone Society. Or you can donate to Jack Binstead's fundraising page directly at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=JackBinstead2016Paralympics
Table of Contents
- Part 1: Where did the torchbearer places go?
- A moment to shine - for some
- Part 2: Getting your money’s worth
- Coca Cola: “A host of new ambassadors”
- Samsung: “Everyone’s Olympic Games”
- Part 3: A very specific “general” public
- Part 4: The 21%
- Tarred with the same brush
- The journalists and media bosses
- Mystery torchbearers
- Part 5: 8,000 Holes
- Hi, we’re the replacements
- Afterword
- Acknowledgements
- How the story unfolded
- About Help Me Investigate
Causes Supported

Brittle Bone Society
http://www.brittlebone.org/The Brittle Bone Society is the only charity working with people who live with Osteogenesis Imperfecta(OI) and supports over 820 members and their families across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Our work involves addressing isolation and facilitating networking opportunities.
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