Olympic Torch comes to Hackney

posted by: Administrator

It's one of those moments when you'll be able to say... I was there...  the Olympic Torch arrived in Hackney, and Hackney showed the world how we like to party! Over 100,000 people turned out to cheer the torchbearers as they carried the flame through Shoreditch, Stoke Newington, Clapton and on to Mabley Green.

Torchbearers on the day included Takashi Bailey, 24, who volunteers at the Wilton Estate youth club; Alpha Kamara, 18; Sean Glendinning, 16; Jonty Wareing, 28; and Olive Lycett, 40. The 2012 Ambassadors were among a lucky group of young people given centre stage as the torch paused for a photo-op in Clissold Park.

Earlier in the day, the One Hackney Festival rocked up to Clissold, starting out from Shoreditch Park. Starring 1,500 performers the Parade included young people from Daymer, Biggafish, Young Hackney, the Vietnamese and Laos Community Centre and Tropical Isles.

The celebration spilled over into squares and neighbourhoods... at Shoreditch, Mabley Green and Gillett Square, where the Dance Nations Festival went down a storm.

The day was a multicoloured celebration for every community.

Four hundred carnival performers from Rio also joined the cavalcade, which featured 6 different soundscapes telling the story of Hackney from Victorian grandeur through to urban and afro beat.

And of course there were the spectacular costumes ... the main Carnival parade featured nearly a hundred drummers in bearskin hats and red regalia; a huge silver dragon topped by St George; and two giant puppets who did a manic samba all the way down the A10. 

Youth Ambassadors Callum and Lilian said: "We're dancing today and handing out whistles. We're promoting Hackney and showing people how much fun the borough is. We love Hackney because it's very vibrant and always evolving." 

See more pictures from Saturday

• Hackney One Carnival
• Dalston Dance Festival
• The Torch Relay arriving in the Town Square
• The Hackney Village Fete
• Mabley Green Fun Day.