Seconds out round 2012 as 1948 Olympic hero hands torch to UEL student
Wednesday 18 July 2012
In the week when the Olympic Torch Relay will finally reach the streets of the capital, the University of East London (UEL) has staged a symbolic handover ceremony in which an official torch from the 1948 London Olympics was handed over by an East End boxing legend, who competed in those very games.
Ron Cooper, who represented Great Britain as a lightweight boxer at the 1948 Olympics, passed on the torch to Astijus Kazlauskas, a UEL law student and up-and-coming boxer at West Ham Boys Amateur Boxing Club. During the ceremony, held at the University’s SportsDock, Ron was joined by West Ham Boys Head Coach, Mickey May, and Wes Barnett who is a two-time United States Olympic team member in the sport of weightlifting. Barnett reigned over the United States heavyweight division of USA weightlifting for 10 years, eight of those as national champion. Team USA is using SportsDock as its strength and conditioning training centre during the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Fittingly, Ron Cooper and Mickey May are also official London 2012 Torchbearers for Newham and Greenwich respectively, and will pound the streets of their home boroughs this Saturday to a rapturous reception from their local communities.
Speaking at today’s ceremony, Ron Cooper regaled his experiences of the 1948 London Olympics and spoke of his hopes for this summer’s Olympic Games. He said: “I think the London 2012 Games will be fantastic. If you were to compare this Olympic Games with the one in 1948, there is an old saying that comes to mind to mind – chalk and cheese.
“I feel proud to pass on this torch today to the University of East London and I can’t wait to take part in the Olympic Torch Relay this Saturday. There is no better feeling then representing your country.”
Astijus Kazlauskas said: “It was a big honour to accept the 1948 Olympic Torch from Ron Cooper on behalf of the University. He has been to the Olympics and competed. That would be a dream come true for me and I just hope that I can follow in his footsteps one day.”
The Olympic Torch Relay will be passing by all three UEL campuses this Saturday. The torch will disembark the Woolwich Ferry at 10.20am and make its way along Albert Road and Woolwich Manor Way towards UEL’s Docklands Campus, passing by SportsDock. The torch will then head towards Tower Hamlets, passing Stratford Campus on the Romford Road side of University House at approximately 12.25pm.
If people want to see what we UEL is saying on the day of the relay and throughout the Olympic period, please follow @UEL2012 and @UEL_News or become a fan at facebook.com/universityofeastlondon
Notes to Editors
The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.
