If you are considering nominating somebody with disabilities as an Olympic Torchbearer, take a look at the following tips.
1. Be Positive – if you are nominating someone you are obviously inspired by them, so make that passion come across by highlighting personal qualities such as determination, enthusiasm or generosity of spirit
2. Do The Homework – nominations close on June 29th 2011, so visit the official site and read the organisers’ terms and conditions thoroughly, making sure that you and your nominee understand how it all works
3. Make An Impact – nominations should be around 150 words. Those which are much longer may stand a lower chance of being included. Stick to the limit and make every single word count
4. Focus On Ability – London 2012 has made it clear that they do need people to be able to “carry the flame” for 300 metres, but they don’t need people to “run” and can provide adaptations for wheelchair users. Show judges what your nominee is capable of
5. Inspire – nominees should have done “extraordinary things”, so make this clear to the judges. Extraordinary things can mean sporting achievements or heroics – and many disabled people have indeed achieved such feats – but finding a job despite being told that you would never be able to work is also extraordinary
6. Break Down Barriers – if your nominee has faced major challenges in their life, describe them, so that the judges can understand what makes them special
7. Tell A Story – perhaps bring your nomination to life by recounting a brief true life story which shows your nominee at their best, something they said or did which amazed you
8. Think Local – the torch relay will touch local communities across the country. Write about what your nominee contributes to their local community, whether that be in their work, their personal life, their volunteering or simply being someone who is always ready with a friendly smile
9. Involve Your Nominee – while you might like the idea of surprising the person you are nominating, the organisers require them to be informed beforehand. Not only is this sensible but it can make your nomination entry better – two heads are usually better than one
10. Understand The Odds – there are 60 million people in our country and only 8000 places for Torchbearers, which means that thousands of remarkable nominees will not be successful. However, they should still feel very proud of their achievements and the fact that they were nominated.
