HAVING the Olympic torch coming through the city and the county in the lead up to the 2012 Games would be a big boost. However, we hope there will be more than that.

It would be almost inconceivable that the torch will not pass through the city given its international standing, particularly the way the torch run has mushroomed into something more of a marathon than a relay over recent Games.

Hopefully it will only be a small part of Olympics-related events and business the county feels the benefit of.

An increase in tourism is guaranteed.

But we are so close to London that it would be the worst of seats on the sidelines to watch the Games without hosting any of the teams or reaping any other Olympics benefits.