A plethora of sporting and cultural events will be on offer to visitors in Cornwall to celebrate next year’s Olympic spectacle.
The world’s media will be focusing their cameras on the Duchy on the first day of the Olympic Torch Relay.
The epic journey starts at Land’s End on May 19 next year as part of its 70-day journey around the UK.
Malcolm Bell, head of VisitCornwall at the Cornwall Development Company which promotes the county, said Cornwall’s rich cultural heritage and love of sport would see the celebrations go with a swing. He said: “Cornwall has a strong tradition of festivals and events and can guarantee a festival to appeal to all interests in 2012.
“Whether you are into adrenaline sports, exceptional foodie delights or want to celebrate our strong Celtic and cultural heritage with us, there will be a warm Cornish welcome waiting for you.”
High on the menu for visitors will be Cornwall’s annual food and drink festivals which demonstrate the area’s continuing reputation for top quality gastronomic delights.
The spots to head for include St Ives, Boscastle and Cornwall Food & Drink Festivals; Falmouth and Rock Oyster Festivals and Newlyn Fish Festival; Padstow and Fowey Christmas Festivals.
Sporting events include the J-Class and Pendennis Cup Regattas for super yachts as well as many sailing and gig rowing regattas.
Henri Lloyd Falmouth Week and Fowey Royal Regatta Week continue the sailing circuit, following on from Cowes Week.
Meanwhile venues on the north coast are poised to host a wealth of surfing and adrenaline sports.
Mr Bell said: “2012 will see the launch of the Cornwall Festival of Sport based in Marazion, near Penzance, that combines the triathlon and its separate disciplines with less competitive elements with the iconic backdrop of St Michael’s Mount.
“The event is expected to become a major annual sporting festival for the county.”
Top class cricket returns to Truro for the Cornish Cricket Festival with an England Women’s One Day International against West Indies or India, and a men’s Twenty20 inter-county match with Somerset.
Mr Bell said: “Cornwall is steeped in cultural heritage, evident in the vast range of Cornish festivals celebrating our unique history and people with feast days and festivals such as St Piran’s Day festivities.”
article copyright THE CORNISHMAN