Stoke boss to carry torch

Stoke City boss Tony Pulis will carry the Olympic Torch through the City on Thursday.

He'll set out from the Potteries Museum around 7am.

Tony said: "I am extremely honoured to be given the privilege of representing Stoke-on-Trent and to be among those offered this most prestigious of opportunities.

"This is an historic event for the whole of Britain and it is an immensely proud feeling to be able to say that you are carrying the Olympic Torch as part of that build-up.

"The body may well be a little weary due to the fact that we will be two days into our sponsored bike ride from John O’Groats and Land’s End, but the amazing feeling of being part of this very special occasion will certainly carry me along the streets of the city.”

"What a summer it’s going to be. This honour comes on top of my son getting married and our first grandchild due to be born very soon as well.”

The announcement comes following the unexpected withdrawal by Trentham sprinter and Olympic hopeful Emma Jackson, who has been invited to race at the Diamond League Athletics meeting in Rome.

Emma said: "I am so disappointed that I can no longer carry the torch in Stoke-on-Trent. It is such a great honour and a privilege and something I was looking forward to so much. But for the same date I have received an invitation to race in the Diamond League Athletics meeting in Rome. Apart from the Olympics themselves this is one of the biggest meetings of 2012 and I have to take the opportunity to compete in such a world class event.

"I recognise that it is a great honour to carry the torch but I am now very close to actually competing in the Olympics, which would be a dream come true for me. My event, 800m, is very competitive in the UK and I have to seize every opportunity to impress the GB selectors. The only way that I can do this is to race against the best in the world and prove myself.

"I know the event in Stoke-on-Trent will be incredible and I just wish I could be in two places at once but the race in Rome is a massively vital step in my career.”

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