Richard Parks prepares to carry Olympic Torch

23rd May 2012

Richard Parks will carry the Olympic Torch on Saturday through Swansea at 5.45pm.  The former Wales rugby international turned mountaineer and adventurer will carry the torch on Saturday 26^th May at 5.45pm carrying the flame on Langdon Road near Norwegian Church to Sail Bridge near riverside path in Swansea.

Richard was nominated to carry the torch by hundreds of people after he became the first ever person to climb the highest mountain on each of the world's 7 continents and stand on all 3 poles within 7 months, creating a new world record as well as raising hundreds of thousands of pounds in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Richard will carry the torch just over a year since he summited Mount Everest.  This time last year Richard was on the highest mountain in the world on the 7^th leg of his incredible 737 Challenge and he finally stood on the summit of Mount Everest at 7.24am local time on the 25^th May 2011.

Richard then went on to complete his 737 Challenge and set a new benchmark in the climbing of the 7 summits.

After a whirlwind 18 months, Richard looks ahead to the proud day when he will be carrying the Olympic Flame in his home country Wales, he stated;  “I am really excited now.  From the day that London won the bid to host the Olympics I have been genuinely excited about the prospect of the Olympics coming to Britain and to have been nominated by the general public to be one of the lucky torchbearers is just incredible”.

The Samsung torchbearer tweeted pictures when his Olympic Relay uniform arrived in the post and has been like “a bottle of pop” looking ahead to carrying the Olympic Flame.  Since completing his 737 Challenge, life has been non-stop for Richard with an intense media and appearance schedule and endless fundraising in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care. 

There have been some fantastic moments from the hero’s welcome home in Cardiff to winning awards such as Celebrity Fundraiser of the Year.  Carrying the Olympic Flame will be another unforgettable experience, he added; “The last 18 months have been just an incredible journey for me, however being a small part of the Olympics in Britain is a moment that I and my family will cherish forever.  With only days to go I am genuinely like a young child at Christmas!  I can’t wait until Saturday, I hope the sun stays out and everyone can come along and cheer me along the route, I know it will be an awesome day”.

LINE THE STREETS & CHEER RICHARD AS HE CARRIES THE TORCH

Please come down to Swansea and cheer Richard on Saturday at 5.45pm as he carries the torch on Langdon Road near Norwegian Church to Sail Bridge near riverside path in Swansea.

WATCH AND HEAR RICHARD TALKING ABOUT THE OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY

Richard will also be looking ahead to carrying the torch this Friday, when the torch relay arrives in Cardiff and a year since he summited Mount Everest.  Richard will be at Cooper’s Field and Cardiff Castle to join in the Torch Relay celebrations and look ahead to his big day on Saturday.

Catch Richard on Friday on:

Radio – Real Radio Wales 1pm

Radio - BBC Wales - Good Evening Wales 5pm – 5.45pm

TV - ITV 1 Wales - Wales Tonight – 6pm – 6.15pm

TV - BBC One Wales – Wales Today live with Sian Lloyd 6.30pm – 7.30pm