THE Olympic Torch celebrations in Darley Park will get an additional hour of television coverage around the world.

The 80-acre green space is just one of 65 sites outside of London hosting an official celebration to welcome the 2012 Olympic Flame.

Of those, just five have been chosen for additional television coverage – including Darley Park.

According to Derby City Council, it is because London 2012 organisers Locog believe it is one of the "most beautiful" parks in the country.

As such, it is among only 10 places hosting the Olympic Torch on a Friday night – and it will host Locog's largest party.

Claire Davenport, director of leisure and culture, said: "The feedback that we received from Locog was that Darley Park was one of the most beautiful locations in the country for one of their evening celebrations.

"They said Darley Park had one of the most dramatic entrances for the arrival of the torch on to the stage.

"Furthermore, they confirmed that out of the four categories assigned to evening celebration sites, Darley Park was allocated as a category one.

"This means that it will get the largest of the evening celebration packages available."

Ms Davenport said she was thrilled Derby would get extra television coverage across the world.

She said: "We hope this will encourage people to visit the area as tourists and explore some of the other fantastic attractions on offer in the area, as well as raise the city's profile and reputation.

"It's our moment to shine and we want to make the light on Derby shine as bright as possible."

More detail has now been released for how Derby will be celebrating the Olympic Torch's arrival on June 29.

Road closures will allow torchbearers to run the flame into the Market Place for a "warm-up" party.

It will then go on to Derby Cathedral for a civic service.

Then, it will be on to Darley Park for the official London 2012 two-hour celebration.

The opening and closing ten minutes of the show will showcase "the past, present and future of Derby" and will be organised by the city council and its partners.

The rest of the show will be put on by Locog and its sponsors, with the lighting of the cauldron the most anticipated part of the night.

The fun will not end there, said Ms Davenport. "It's a Friday night – we want to carry on the partying," she said. "There will be a procession back into the city centre with a South American theme, recognising the 2016 Olympics is in Brazil."

Early the next morning, a Shakespearean aerobatics session will take place as the torch waved off on its way to Birmingham, via Burton.

Derby's celebrations will continue that weekend. On the Saturday night, the Darley Park Concert – the UK's largest free outdoor classical show – will be held. It usually takes place in September but has been brought forward.

On the Sunday, Derby's Big Screen could show the Euro 2012 football final to stretch the party even further.

"We're in discussions with the police on that one," confirmed Ms Davenport."

Rory Slater, Derbyshire's 2012 legacy co-ordinator, said that giving the park category one status meant Derby "was not playing second fiddle to anyone".