Following a request from the Cumbrian Newspapers Group, we’ve been cleaning and mapping data on torchbearers from Cumbria. One map showing where the torchbearers from the area are concentrated is shown above – click the image to explore the interactive … Continue reading →
French energy company EDF were given 71 places on the Olympic torch relay – including the group’s former director of HR and communications, Yann Laroche. As part of our process of trying to identify how spaces were allocated by sponsors, … Continue reading →
One of the more curious inclusions among the Olympic torchbearers are two diplomats with a Korean connection: the former British ambassador to Korea and the Korean ambassador to the UK (pictured above). Martin Uden carried the torch in Knotty Ash. He writes that he … Continue reading →
The following is cross-posted from the Telegraph’s new Olympics data blog: How many stories can a set of data hold? When it comes to Olympic torchbearer data, after three weeks I’m still counting. From company bosses exchanging ‘torch kisses’ and … Continue reading →
A cluster of Chinese torchbearers with stories of business success have been identified by Stansted resident David Morgan. The Herts and Essex Observer reports on his findings, and includes a reaction from LOCOG who say “the Chinese nationals were nominated through … Continue reading →
Updates follow original post below The commonly-quoted figure that 90% of torchbearer slots were “available to the public” is wrong, an analysis of official figures suggests. According to LOCOG statistics published by ITV News, torchbearer allocations were distributed as follows: “33% of … Continue reading →
This Is Staffordshire’s digital publisher David Elks has written about Help Me Investigate in the Stoke Sentinel’s ’DaviddotElks’ column following his involvement in our investigation into corporate torchbearers. He writes: “Collaboration is such an obvious idea because it allows people to focus … Continue reading →
The photo and story we published last week on the ‘torch kiss’ of two retail bosses has been picked up by the Daily Mail. The newspaper combines the story with one previously reported in This Is Staffordshire (but not credited): … Continue reading →
Cross-posted from The Guardian Datablog: Our investigation into Olympic torchbearer stories has unearthed some surprising choices by sponsor organisations. But how did we get to that point? The answer is a combination of curiosity, cynicism and knowing when to ask … Continue reading →
A week after Help Me Investigate the Olympics first revealed how sponsors were choosing executives and partners to carry the Olympic torch, The Independent has picked up the story. Tom Peck contrasts promises made by Sebastian Coe and Boris Johnson … Continue reading →