Council leader hails inspirational torchbearers

Jodie is a member of Oldbury Swimming and Triathlon Club and has regularly trained at Sandwell Leisure Trust-run Langley Swimming Centre.

She was among several high profile torchbearers across the region announced yesterday.

She will carry the Flame in Birmingham tomorrow (Saturday 30 June) evening.

Jodie, aged 23, was nominated for her determination and the way she inspires and encourages other triathletes of all levels to believe in themselves.

Wolverhampton gymnast and GB squad team captain Kristian Thomas and TV and radio celebrity and charity fundraiser Kate Lawler were two high profile names announced for Sandwell.

Kristian is due to carry the torch in Smethwick and Kate in Oldbury.

Sandwell's oldest torchbearer Jessica Gripton, aged 81, from Cradley Heath, will be among seven people carrying the torch in West Bromwich.

And Juanita Williams, from Oldbury, is due to carry the Flame along the final Black Country leg down Cape Hill and pass the torch over to Birmingham on the Dudley Road.

The torch is due to arrive in Oldbury town centre, by Sainsbury's around 5.45pm. This is the first place in Sandwell where people can see the torch being carried by torchbearers.

The torch will be in the borough for around an hour, travelling from Oldbury to West Bromwich and being carried again by torchbearers in Smethwick, from the junction of High Street / Regent Street past Victoria Park and down Cape Hill. It will leave the borough at around 6.50pm when Juanita hands over the torch to Birmingham.

You can check exactly where you can and cannot see the torch along the Torch Relay route in Sandwell at our website.

Sandwell Council leader Councillor Darren Cooper said: "We are extemely proud to have 13 inspirational Sandwell people carrying the Olympic Flame this summer - and 10 of them are carrying it this weekend around the Black Country and Birmingham area.

"They are all ambassadors for Sandwell and I wish them all well as they enjoy their very well deserved 'moment to shine' and hope they and their friends and family have a great experience.

"We will also have torchbearers from around the world carrying the torch in Sandwell, including one from as far as South Africa.

"All of these torchbearers have a story of either fundraising work, overcoming adversity to help other people or inspiring others, and we look forward to cheering everyone on and giving them a big Sandwell welcome."

Torchbearers in Oldbury:

John Ovis, Kate Lawler, Elisabeth Powell, Jan Malatesta

Torchbearers in West Bromwich:

Jonathan Brittle, Doug Chamberlain, Matt Bridge, Adele Lassu, Jessica Gripton, Carl Douglas, David Cranwell

Torchbearers in Smethwick:

Kristian Thomas, Pete Moss, Dave Waldron, Juanita Williams

All positions may be subject to last minute changes beyond the council's control.

Sandwell residents carrying the torch in other parts of the Black Country and Birmingham this weekend:

Saturday 30 June

Ron Nicholls, from Yew Tree, carrying torch in Willenhall

Ravendar Kumar Bangar, from Wednesbury, carrying torch in Willenhall

Lewis Leone, from Rowley Regis, carrying torch in Wolverhampton

Dennis Sanders, from Great Barr, carrying torch in Dudley

Jodie Stimpson, from Oldbury, carrying torch in Birmingham

Sunday 1 July

Ryan Cockbill, from Great Barr, carrying torch in Birmingham

Beth Broadhead, from Great Barr, carrying torch in Birmingham

Karl Hinett, from Tipton, carrying torch in Solihull

More information can be found at our Sandwell resident torchbearers page and our torchbearers in Sandwell website.

Lisa Higgins from Rowley Regis carried the torch in Worcester on 25 May and Blind Dave Heeley, from West Bromwich, and Graham Howell, from Rowley Regis, carried the torch in Stoke and Bolton respectively on 31 May.

You can also get regular updates at the Sandwell for 2012 website and frequently asked questions page about the Olympic Torch Relay. You can also follow the council on Twitter with the hashtags #TorchRelay and #Day43.