Hurdling star James Taylor demands answers over Olympic torch relay ban
TOP Olympic officials will be contacted in an attempt to clear the name of an athlete banned from being a torchbearer.
Medal-winning hurdler James Taylor was picked to carry the flame through Stafford but was kicked off the relay days later after organisers said he failed Home Office checks.
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James Taylor
The 17-year-old claims he does not have a criminal record and his family have paid for their own Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check to prove it.
His parents Dave and Julie plan to write to Sebastian Coe, head of Olympic Games organisers Locog.
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Tristram Hunt, MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central, has added his support by writing to Jeremy Hunt MP, the secretary of state for culture, Olympics, media and sport.
James, from Stoke, who won a silver medal in the 4x100m at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Turkey last year, said: "I still feel gutted about what's happened as I felt like I deserved the chance to be able to carry the torch.
"I feel like I have to tell people that I have done nothing wrong."
His mum Julie, aged 47, said: "We're still very upset about what has happened.
"The moment has gone for James but it has left him with a tainted name.
"People assume he has done something wrong when he hasn't.
"We'll keep fighting to know what has gone on.
"We did a CRB check through the internet and that came back clear.
"We knew it would but we wanted to check nothing had been put on there accidentally."
James was nominated to be a torchbearer by UK Athletics.
The Newcastle College student also reached the top of the UK under-17 rankings for 60m hurdles, and was named Junior Individual of the Year at this year's Sentinel Sports Awards.
Checks by Locog cover immigration, security and criminal records.
The organisation has said applicants can fail for various reasons but would not discuss individual cases.
Tristram Hunt said: "I just think that we want some clarity about his status. He wants to continue with athletics and he doesn't want something like this hanging over him.
"He wants to know if there is any other information being held about him.
"This could be a case of a bureaucratic blunder and they don't want to admit it."
Thousands turned out across the region to welcome the torch being carried through Staffordshire.
The MP added: "The people of the area have really supported this event and I was very impressed with the celebration in Stoke-on-Trent."
Comments
by manesprit
Thursday, June 28 2012, 3:05PM
“Please keep us informed about any progress (or otherwise) being made with regards to 'TORCHGATE'. If there's anything we can do to help, let us know. A silver lining around this dark cloud - James has become a pretty well known athlete and his fan base will be interested in how his career develops, even from down here in London. Best wishes.”
by Focus386
Sunday, June 17 2012, 6:38PM
“First my apologies for the bad spelling in my last, not easy writing on a phone. The whole idea of the torch been carried by worthy people who have been nominated by their communities has been over taken by the corporate greed of bossiness. It is no longer a reward for the unsung work that some people do in the back ground, the work they do is not for monetary gain or for recognition, but for the love of what they do.
The Council and the Olympic committee who sat down and made these decision's should be held to account for the choices they made and reasons behind their choices, I will take a guess that all this will be covered by an archaic law that says they don't have to tell the public anything.
In Stoke it was a clear that the decision to use a Welshman with a criminal record. employed by a huge betting company was a decision made by money and political gain. Why else would the selected torch bearer be stood in the City museum with the leader of the council for a photo call?
Clear to me this lads place in history was bought for by money and he has been cast aside for profit.”
by Mr_Jingles
Sunday, June 17 2012, 6:24PM
“Yes an enhanced check will give you all criminal and police records, for example if a person has been cautioned but not charged etc. It will also provide a check if a person has been on the ISA Children's and Vulnerable Adults banned lists. (a former 99 check)
I feel it is highly unlikely that James is mentioned on an enhanced check without this family or friends knowing.
As I have said before, this whole episode stinks. There seems to have been a conspiracy in stopping James a supposed nobody from Stoke on Trent to run with the Olympic torch, for a more commercial person and organisation with "loads of money." Well I for one am proud of North Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent, and its people. We should be given a full explanation as to why one of the city's up and coming athletic stars was treated in such a derogatory manner.
Good luck to James and his parents in their endeavours of finding the truth, it's the least they deserve.”
by Focus386
Sunday, June 17 2012, 5:52PM
“I would wish the young mad all the best in finding out what the black mark against him is, if at all it exists. I have an enhanced crb being a governor at a local school and I know that go into everything.
I have a horrible deep down feeling that the lad was sidelined so that some "celeb" could take his place for a photo call. The amount thats being pumped into this London 2012 by big companies takes the whole games away from what they were intended.
Take a close look at what happened in Stoke / Hanley. Was there a well deserving local person carrying the torch on the first leg from Hanley? No it was a welsh man whetting companies in the o lives at the other end of the country, who has it happens has a criminal record and would not pass a crb check. So why did this man get to carry the torch? Simple....his boss owns one of the biggest betting companies in the country.
I wish you all the best in getting to the bottom of this wrong that has been done against your name, but I wont hold my breath...money talks even here in Stoke”
by zoiders
Sunday, June 17 2012, 5:25PM
“I have to interupt at this stage and ask an honest question
Not having a criminal record does not mean that you will pass an "enhanced" CRB check which is what I suspect took place.
If you have been arrested, charged, questioned in relation to an offence, if you are known to the police - it will show up, time for a bit of honesty here, it's a tragedy that he got dropped but I don't think we are getting the whole story here.
Following the incident where one of the "Olympic Ambassadors" was jailed for rioting I can see why they would be very careful indeed with the future torch bearers.”
by gray100
Sunday, June 17 2012, 11:51AM
“Its quite obvious Jamie why the did not let you carry the torch! it was because you don't have a business that could donate money to the Olympic Games. You are just young boy who they thought did not matter and that they could just wipe a way your dreams and no one would give a dam. Not only did they take away your dream they besmirched your good name while doing it. I suggest all that care write a letter or send an Email to Coe and ask for why this young man had his dream taken away and a public apology from Coe would not go a miss either. or we could embarrass Coe and send a few thousand tweets on this tweet page Seb Coe (@sebcoe) on Twitter failing that you could contact him at this address Westminster
Sebastian Coe
Party
Conservative
Address as
Lord Coe
Contact details
Westminster
House of Lords, London, SW1A 0PW
Tel: 020 7219 5353”
by qtess
Sunday, June 17 2012, 9:43AM
“Add your comments, im not allowed.....
mind you if you where to publish my comments. I dare say you`d recieve a letter pritty sharpish asking for them to be removed..
catch my drift??”
by qtess
Sunday, June 17 2012, 9:30AM
“He cant carry the torch! so what, Get a life,
going by what i know, wouldnt surprise me if he dropped it after having it passed
to him,,
sad people.”
by Cooljules720
Sunday, June 17 2012, 3:09AM
“Oh and by the way I have already sent the letter along with all the contradictory emails we received about the slot James had been given, and a copy of his CLEAR CRB with a lengthy letter telling him exactly how I feel about what they have done and demanded explanations... The most laughable thing is James had the opportunity of meeting Lord Coe in person a coupe of years ago when he was in high school as St. peters high held at that time a lot of national elite athletes. He spoke a long time with James as at the time he was No.1 in the UK rankings and encouraged him to keep up the hard work and training and one day he will be rewarded and told him he had great potential. James felt at the time of been accepted for the torch that this was a gesture for all his hard work.. i guess he didnt work hard enough.”
by Cooljules720
Sunday, June 17 2012, 2:57AM
“Id just like to say to you all in the forum that i appreciate you comments and support, as for everything ive done so far to try and find out what they are holding on my son (god only knows) it must be something terrible to be rejected off the relay after been accepted for 2 months?? For now though its just a matter of playing the waiting game to see if anyone decides to reply to my letters, emails etc ive sent to the relevant people that be....but i really dont hold out much hope and im trying to stay optimistic about everything. Ive done everything I can to seek the answers to my questions, i dont expect thought they will be rushing to reply but i live in hope... once again thanks for the ongoing support.”