Emma Fletcher and Dr Rachelle Stretch have devised an Olympic themed urban walk around Cambridge

A NEW series of Olympic walks in Cambridge will have crowds running rings round the city.

And YOU could be choosing the routes.

The mastermind behind the walks – one for each of the Olympic rings – is calling on Cambridge First readers to suggest what landmarks, hidden gems, cafes, pubs, historic sites or even city anecdotes should map out the walks.

Emma Fletcher, a land economy graduate from Fitzwilliam College, believes the walks will showcase all the Olympians related to the city and who people might not know about. Guildhall is expected to be at the centre for highlighting the city’s Olympic links.

More than 110 Olympians and 40 medal winners descend from the university including Max Woosnam, considered one of this country’s greatest sporting all-rounders, and Eric Bevan, Olympic rowing gold medallist in the men’s coxless fours in 1928 who had a medical practice in Cambridge.

Now, as the idea looks set to take off, Mrs Fletcher sees it as a chance to bring the city together and highlight everything Cambridge has to offer.

“We want to hear about the stories no one has heard before and that is why we want readers to suggest where they want the walks to go,” she said.

“This is not just about past Olympians but also about supporting the Olympians of the future.

“We want the city to be shown off to its full potential.”

The walks could also leave a 
lasting legacy as barcode readers could be introduced to each stop on the routes so people could scan 
their phone and find out more about each site.

Each walk will be a different length and be a circuit to represent one of the Olympic rings.

Rachelle Stretch, from the Cambridge Colleges Development Group, has been researching each college’s Olympic history.

She said: “A lot of people who don’t want to stay in London for the Olympics will be staying here.

“It’s a great opportunity to show them the city’s involvement with the Olympics in the past.”

Helen Robbins, sports development officer at Cambridge City Council, said the city council is looking to work with Emma to provide the walks.

She added: “Not only will the walks be beneficial for participants’ health but they will celebrate the cultural and sporting history of the city.”

l Send your suggestions for stops on one of the five Olympic walks to 
hugh.morris@archant.co.uk and you could be walking them next summer.