London 2012 Olympics: First Olympic torch of 2012 sold for £7,500

THE first London Olympic 2012 torch to be sold at auction has fetched £7,500. The torch, which was carried through the streets of Edinburgh on 13 June as part of the historic nationwide relay, was sold along with the official white and gold torchbearer’s uniform at Shapes Auctioneers in Edinburgh.

They were both snapped up on Olympics’ “Super Saturday” by restaurateur Jay Zhu, who now plans to display them in his Yo Coko eatery on the city’s South Bridge.

Yesterday he said: “I’m over the moon. It’s a lot of money but I love everything about the Olympics. I will be putting the torch and uniform in my 
restaurant. They will look wonderful.”

Shapes spokeswoman Charlotte Canby said the seller, who wished to remain anonymous, was also delighted at sale. The man, who ran in the torch relay, which kicked off the Olympic 
celebrations, will donate a sum from the sale to The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, in Glasgow.