Kwami Sefa Kayi: First Ghanaian To Participate In An Olympic Torch Relay - Video

Ghana and Peace FM’s finest broadcaster and versatile radio presenter, Kwami Sefa Kayi, achieved another first when he made history on July 1st, Republic Day, by being the first Ghanaian to participate in an Olympic Torch Relay. 

On Day 44 of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, the Flame visited Shakespeare's birthplace on its journey to Coventry; and incredible as it may sound, Ghana was represented on that day through Kwami Sefa Kayi.

Lit in Greece, the Olympic Flame arrived in the UK on 18 May 2012 before setting out the next day on a 70-day Olympic Torch Relay, bringing the excitement of the Games to everyone. 

The Olympic Flame stands for peace, unity and friendship. 

The Flame travelled 95.95 miles from Birmingham to Coventry on Day 44 of the Torch Relay. 

It travelled through 17 communities - Birmingham, Solihull, Earlswood, Redditch, Astwood Banks, Alcester, Evesham, Wickhamford, Broadway, Chipping Campden, Newbold-on-Stour, Alderminster, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick, Royal Leamington Spa, Kenilworth and Coventry - and the Flame was carried by 157 Torchbearers including 2011 Ghana’s Radio and Television Personality Award winner, Kwami Sefa Kayi; twice African Player of the Year recipient and Captain of Nigeria’s Olympic gold medal-winning team; Nwankwo Kanu and the youngest Torchbearer in the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, 12-year-old Dominic Macgowan.

When the Flame visited Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon, it was greeted by ‘William Shakespeare’ and young people involved in the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s education programme. 

During the day, the Flame was also carried by Georgina Harland who won a bronze medal in the Modern Pentathlon at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. 

However, the most momentous aspect of its Day 44 journey was when 51 year old Steve Sanday, who has devoted 25 years of his life to the cubs and scouts in the local community in Kenilworth, handed the flame to Ghana’s ace broadcaster and King of Morning Shows, Kwami Sefa Kayi.

With his shining bald-head, the indefatigable Sefa Kayi, who was nominated by Samsung, one of the Presenting Partners of this year’s Olympics to share in this once-in-a-lifetime experience, shed some pounds off when he carried the Flame through Kenilworth on the Coventry road with crowds of people eagerly cheering him on.

According to the BBCs live coverage of Day 44 of the Torch Relay on the internet, before he (Kayi) handed the Flame to the next Torchbearer, Jonathan Heald, there was a fancy water-sprinkler dance-off between torchbearers Kwami and Heald. 

26 year old Heald has coach cricket in Uzbekistan, football in Mongolia, athletics to children in Bolivia and has started a foundation which will put up a school in Africa.

Day 44 of the Torch Relay ended at the War Memorial Park in Coventry where the Flame lit up a cauldron, and thus began an evening of celebrations. 

Celebrations travelled into the wee hours of the next day with music - from the Morning Parade, a dance troupe, who provided a unique fusion of street performance, theatre and sport - and dance act by Twist and Pulse.

The Olympic Flame is being carried by 8,000 truly inspirational Torchbearers. 

It will travel to within an hour of 95 per cent of people in the UK, the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey during the 70-day Torch Relay. It will enable local communities to shine a light on the best their area has to offer. 

The Presenting Partners are Samsung, Coca Cola and Lloyds TSB.

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