2012 Summer Olympics torch relay

Last updated
London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Emblem.svg
Host city London, United Kingdom
Countries visitedGreece, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man
Distance12,800 km (8,000 miles)
Torch bearers8,000
Start date10 May 2012
End date27 July 2012
Torch designerEdward Barber and Jay Osgerby
Simplified 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay route map. The curve does not follow the actual route but merely shows the progress of the torch through the places labelled as follows: Legend England 1. Land's End Day 1, Sat 19 May 2. Plymouth Day 1, Sat 19 May 3. Exeter Day 2, Sun 20 May 4. Taunton Day 3, Mon 21 May 5. Bristol Day 4, Tue 22 May 6. Cheltenham Day 5, Wed 23 May 7. Worcester Day 6, Thu 24 May 8. Malvern, Worcestershire Day 7, Fri 25 May Wales 9. Cardiff Day 7, Fri 25 May 10. Swansea Day 8, Sat 26 May 11. Aberystwyth Day 9, Sun 27 May 12. Bangor, Gwynedd Day 10, Mon 28 May England 13. Chester Day 11, Tue 29 May 14. Stoke-on-Trent Day 12, Wed 30 May 15. Bolton Day 13, Thu 31 May 16. Liverpool Day 14, Fri 1 June Crown Dependency 17. Isle of Man Day 15, Sat 2 June Northern Ireland 18. Portrush Day 16, Sun 3 June 19. Derry Day 17, Mon 4 June 20. Newry Day 18, Tue 5 June Republic of Ireland 21. Dublin Day 19, Wed 6 June Northern Ireland 22. Belfast Day 19, Wed 6 June Scotland 23. Glasgow Day 21, Fri 8 June 24. Inverness Day 22, Sat 9 June 25. Orkney Day 23, Sun 10 June 26. Shetland Day 23, Sun 10 June 27. Isle of Lewis Day 24, Mon 11 June 28. Aberdeen Day 24, Mon 11 June 29. Dundee Day 25, Tue 12 June 30. Edinburgh Day 26, Wed 13 June England 31. Alnwick Day 27, Thu 14 June 32. Newcastle upon Tyne Day 28, Fri 15 June 33. Durham, England Day 29, Sat 16 June 34. Middlesbrough Day 30, Sun 17 June 35. Kingston-upon-Hull Day 31, Mon 18 June 36. York Day 32, Tue 19 June 37. Carlisle, Cumbria Day 33, Wed 20 June 38. Bowness-on-Windermere Day 34, Thu 21 June 39. Blackpool Day 35, Fri 22 June 40. Manchester Day 36, Sat 23 June 41. Leeds Day 37, Sun 24 June 42. Sheffield Day 38, Mon 25 June 43. Cleethorpes Day 39, Tue 26 June 44. Lincoln, England Day 40, Wed 27 June 45. Nottingham Day 41, Thu 28 June 46. Derby Day 42, Fri 29 June 47. Birmingham Day 43, Sat 30 June 48. Coventry Day 44, Sun 1 July 49. Leicester Day 45, Mon 2 July 50. Peterborough Day 46, Tue 3 July 51. Norwich Day 47, Wed 4 July 52. Ipswich Day 48, Thu 5 July 53. Chelmsford Day 49, Fri 6 July 54. Cambridge Day 50, Sat 7 July 55. Luton Day 51, Sun 8 July 56. Oxford Day 52, Mon 9 July 57. Reading, Berkshire Day 53, Tue 10 July 58. Basingstoke Day 54, Wed 11 July 59. Winchester Day 54, Wed 11 July 60. Salisbury Day 54, Wed 11 July 61. Weymouth and Portland Day 55, Thu 12 July 62. Bournemouth Day 56, Fri 13 July 63. Southampton Day 57, Sat 14 July Crown Dependencies 64. Guernsey Day 58, Sun 15 July 65. Jersey Day 58, Sun 15 July England 66. Portsmouth Day 58, Sun 15 July 67. Brighton and Hove Day 59, Mon 16 July 68. Hastings Day 60, Tue 17 July 69. Dover Day 61, Wed 18 July 70. Maidstone Day 62, Thu 19 July 71. Guildford Day 63, Fri 20 July 72. Waltham Forest Day 64, Sat 21 July 73. Bexley Day 65, Sun 22 July 74. Wandsworth Day 66, Mon 23 July 75. Ealing Day 67, Tue 24 July 76. Haringey Day 68, Wed 25 July 77. Westminster Day 69, Thu 26 July 78. Olympic Stadium Day 70, Fri 27 July 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay map.svg
Simplified 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay route map. The curve does not follow the actual route but merely shows the progress of the torch through the places labelled as follows:

The 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay was run from 19 May until 27 July, prior to the London 2012 Summer Olympics. The torch bearer selection process was announced on 18 May 2011. [1]

Contents

As well as touring the United Kingdom the schedule included the three crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, and also the Republic of Ireland.

Organization

The traditional lighting ceremony took place on 10 May at the Temple of Hera, Olympia, home of the Ancient Olympic Games. [2] The torch travelled around Greece, arriving at the Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens on 17 May for the handover ceremony.

The UK torch relay lasted 70 days, with 66 evening celebrations. About 8,000 people carried the torch a total distance of about 8,000 miles (12,800 km), starting from Land's End in Cornwall. The route was widely reported as designed in such a way as to ensure that the Torch came within 10 miles of 95% of the UK population. A wide range of people carried the torch around the country, mostly sports men and women, military figures and other local heroes from towns and cities across the UK. A number of celebrities also held the flame on its journey, including Matt Smith, Patrick Stewart, Jamie Oliver, Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders (jointly), Rupert Grint, James McAvoy, Melanie C from Spice Girls, boy band The Wanted, dance troupe and Britain's Got Talent winners Diversity and Sir Bruce Forsyth. [3] The torch had a day outside of the United Kingdom in Dublin on 6 June [4] (as well as visits to the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man). The relay focused on national heritage sites, locations with sporting significance, key sporting events, schools registered with the Get Set School Network, green spaces, biodiversity, 'Live Sites' (locations with large screens), local festivals, and other events. [5]

Following a three-month tour by LOCOG, local authorities submitted ideas to regional government and LOCOG by May 2010. [6] However some counties such as Somerset declined to put forward ideas citing potential costs of up to £300,000. [7]

The start date for the Relay was announced on 26 May 2010, as were the three presenting partners: Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung. The nomination campaign for torchbearers was announced on 18 May 2011 and called 'Moment to Shine'. [8]

Journey to the UK

The specially painted British Airways Airbus A319 carried the flame from Greece to the United Kingdom British Airways A319-131 G-EUPC by Marc Van Loo.jpg
The specially painted British Airways Airbus A319 carried the flame from Greece to the United Kingdom

On 16 May a British Airways Airbus A319, with custom gold livery and named "The Firefly", flew from Heathrow to Athens to collect the flame. [9] On 18 May the aircraft flew as flight BA2012 from Athens to RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall. The flame was not extinguished during flight, having been classified as a 'ceremonial flame' by the Civil Aviation Authority, but was kept in four Davy lamps secured in a cradle firmly fixed to seats in Row 1. There was enough smokeless fuel to last 30 hours. [10] [11] [12]

The Princess Royal, Mayor of London Boris Johnson, Lord Coe, and David Beckham were among 80 invited guests, along with a group of teenagers: rugby player Dennis Coles from East Ayrshire representing Scotland, hockey player Chloe Brown from Bangor representing Northern Ireland, athlete Sean White from Swansea representing Wales, hockey player Georgia Higgs from Cornwall, and Sakinah Muhammad from Hackney representing London. [13] [14]

After an overnight stay at RNAS Culdrose, members of 771 Naval Air Squadron took the Flame to Land's End by Sea King helicopter. There the Olympic Cauldron was lit. Olympic sailing star Ben Ainslie ran the first leg of the relay. [15]

The Torches

2012 Summer Olympics torch
2012 Summer Olympics torch @ Cardiff.jpg
The Olympic torch on display in Cardiff, Wales

In the summer of 2010, the Design Council were commissioned to prepare the design brief and begin the search for a design for the Torch and related relay artifacts. With more than 800 designers interested in the project, a short list of 22 was presented to Locog. 6 were selected to present designs the selection being made a few months later. The winning design came from Barber Osgerby, led by Edward Barder and Jay Osgerby.

Their design of the 2012 Olympic Torches was made of two aluminium alloy skin, perforated by 8,000 holes to represent the 8,000 torchbearers who would carry the flame. Technically the holes also helped to dissipate heat without it being conducted down the handle, and provided extra grip.

The triangular shape of torches represented:

The gold of the torches represented the qualities of the Olympic flame – brightness and warmth. The torch stands 80 centimetres (31 in) high, weighing 800 grams (1.8 lb). [16] To realise this award-winning design, TECOSIM (an engineering company) was responsible for the research, engineering and technical development of the torch and associated relay items including the celebration cauldrons. Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) was used to simulate various scenarios that the torch might encounter during the relay, from environmental conditions to physical damage. Torch bearer safety was of prime importance at all times, so TECOSIM completed rigorous physical testing to validate the design. It was tested to withstand all likely weather conditions, from high winds to rain and snow at altitude utilizing the BMW Climatic Windtunnel in Munich as well as in field-testing. Production of the torches started towards the end of 2011.

Fuel

LOCOG, together with sustainability partner and sponsor EDF Energy, committed in 2009 to provide a "low-carbon fuel solution for the flames of the Olympic torch and the cauldron". [17] When the torch was unveiled on 8 June 2011, London 2012's chairman Sebastian Coe admitted the failure of the initiative, as "In simple terms, we didn't quite get there ... We just ran [out] of time and we tried very hard to do it". The final design of the torch used a "tried and tested formula" of butane and propane. [18]

Turnout

Around 3,000 people were said to have been at Land's End to send the Torch on its way on Day 1, while Day 2 saw police deliberately limit crowds at the Shaldon Bridge at Teignmouth, Devon, to around 7,000, while the various stages through Plymouth were said to have attracted 55,000. [19] Photographs similarly show crowds up to 10 deep on each side of the road in central Falmouth (Day 1). Arriving in Wales for the first time on Day 8, the torch was reported as being greeted by 25,000 in Caerphilly. Numbers lining the route in no way abated as the days passed, with Bowness by Lake Windermere, for example, mustering 5,000 on Day 34; Skegness, Lincolnshire (a town of less than 20,000 people) featuring 5-deep crowds along both sides of its streets on Day 40; and Maidstone on Day 62 playing host to an estimated 40,000-strong crowd. As the relay reached London, the numbers of people turning out were still more exceptional, with much of Oxford Street featuring crowds 13-deep on both sides (on Day 69). That day ended with a 60,000-strong crowd for the evening events in Hyde Park. The Police Service gave an estimate for the UK as a whole of some 12 million people lining the route for the torch.

Controversy

In early June, as the torch relay entered its third week, it was revealed that many of those selected to carry torches on the relay were corporate executives with commercial ties to Olympic sponsors. [20] [21]

Security

The torch relay crossing Monnow Bridge, Monmouth, Wales, the Torch Security Team are seen jogging either side the torch bearer.

The torch was escorted by a team of trained officers from the Metropolitan Police Service known as the Torch Security Team. These were chosen from 644 initial applications through an eight-month selection process. Their primary role was to protect the Olympic and Paralympic Flames as well as ensuring the safety of the torchbearer. These "runners" formed part of a wider torch security team which consisted of motorcyclists, pedal cyclists, senior officers and operational planners.

Incidents

Near Land's End, one man broke past the pace car but was swiftly tackled to the ground by the Torch Security Team, as he was thought to be trying to reach the torchbearer. [22]

In Derry, Northern Ireland, scuffles broke out between police and republican protesters, as they blocked the planned route near the Guildhall. Consequently, the relay was forced to divert in order to reach the Peace Bridge. [23]

At Bishop Auckland in County Durham, the torchbearer was Kieran Maxwell, a 13-year-old from Newton Aycliffe. He had been diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma in 2010 and lost part of his left leg. He fell whilst carrying the torch but was quickly helped to his feet by the Torch Security Team. [24]

As the torch was leaving Headingley towards Leeds, a man with a bucket of water was seen in the crowd. He was swiftly tackled by the security team before he could empty the contents. [25]

On 25 June UK Uncut staged protests against changes to the National Health Service as the torch travelled past the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield. [26]

A male streaker with 'Free Tibet' written on his back was arrested on 10 July, after running in front of the torch as it passed through Henley-on-Thames. [27] [28]

A 17-year-old was arrested on 20 July in Gravesend, Kent after unsuccessfully attempting to grab the torch while screaming 'Allahu Akbar'. [29]

Modes of transport

As well as road runners, the Flame was conveyed on other modes of transport, sometimes kept in Davy lamps.

The Olympic torch being punted down the River Cam during the Cambridge leg of the 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay. Cambridge Olympic torch on punt.jpg
The Olympic torch being punted down the River Cam during the Cambridge leg of the 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay.

On water, the torch rode in a power boat in Bristol Harbour, [30] [31] in an RNLI lifeboat along the Menai Strait, [32] by ferry on the Mersey Ferry, [33] and by the steamboat MV Tern across Windermere. [34] [35] In unpowered watercraft, it was punted along the River Cam in Cambridge, [36] and rowed along the River Medway in Maidstone. [37] Its final journey to the Olympic Stadium on 27 July was by speedboat, piloted by footballer David Beckham along the River Thames. [38]

Over rail the torch was hauled by steam locomotives of various gauges. The LMS Royal Scot Class locomotive No. 6115 Scots Guardsman conveyed it on the East Coast Main Line between York and Thirsk. [39] Scots Guardsman was used as a substitute for No. 4472 Flying Scotsman. It was discovered soon after returning from a long overhaul that Flying Scotsman had many unnoticed cracks on it that needed repairing urgently and as a result, the iconic and famous 'Scotsman' was unable to return to service in time to haul the Olympic Torch. [40] Trips were also taken on standard gauge heritage railways at the Great Central Railway, [41] North Yorkshire Moors Railway [42] and Severn Valley Railway [43] On smaller gauges the torch visited the Ffestiniog Railway [32] and a miniature railway Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway. [44] It was taken up funicular railways the Aberystwyth Cliff Railway, [32] Hastings East Hill Cliff Railway, [45] and Great Orme Tramway, [34] as well as the narrow gauge rack railway the Snowdon Mountain Railway. [32] Electric trams carried the torch on the Blackpool tramway [46] and Manx Electric Railway. [47] After it arrived in London the torch took a trip on the London Underground between Wimbledon and Wimbledon Park. [48]

By road, the torch would complete 80% of its tour, in a security van. A road train was used in the Mumbles [32] and it rode on an open top bus through the Cumbrian countryside. [49] The torch was transported on three wheels by a TT motorcycle sidecar on the Isle of Man, [47] by a Paralympic road cycle around Brands Hatch motor racing circuit [50] and by mountain bike at the Hadleigh Farm course in Essex. [51]

Horses were used when the torch was carried at the Cheltenham and Chester [34] racecourses. It was carried on a Cob horse in Aberaeron [32] and hauled by horse-drawn tram on the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway. [34]

Journeys by air were taken when the torch travelled by zip wire from the top of the Tyne Bridge to the Gateshead riverside[ needs update ], [52] and when conveyed by cable car up the Heights of Abraham. [53] It was also suspended over water as it was transported by the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge over the River Tees. [54]

Route in Greece

Olympic Torch Relay in Greece 2012-greece-olympic-torch-route.jpg
Olympic Torch Relay in Greece
Day 3 Patra Ceremony Torch 2012 in Patra.JPG
Day 3 Patra Ceremony
Date [55]
May 14

Route in the UK

Day 1: Olympic Torch Relay leaves Land's End. The first leg of the Olympic Flame Relay - geograph.org.uk - 2966042.jpg
Day 1: Olympic Torch Relay leaves Land's End.
Day 3: Olympic Torch Relay reaches the County Ground in Taunton. Taunton Olympic Torch Relay reaches the County Ground.jpg
Day 3: Olympic Torch Relay reaches the County Ground in Taunton.
Day 14: The flame passing between two torches in Burscough, Lancashire. 2012 Olympic Torch Burscough changeover.JPG
Day 14: The flame passing between two torches in Burscough, Lancashire.
Day 15: The torch being carried through Onchan, Isle of Man. London 2012 Torch Relay - Isle of Man Day 15.JPG
Day 15: The torch being carried through Onchan, Isle of Man.
Day 19: The torch in Dublin, Ireland. Flame Olympique 2012 Dublin.JPG
Day 19: The torch in Dublin, Ireland.
Day 37: Torch relay handover in Oldham, Greater Manchester. Torch relay handover, Oldham.JPG
Day 37: Torch relay handover in Oldham, Greater Manchester.
Day 46: A warning sign for traffic in Stamford, Lincolnshire ahead of the flame passing through the town Stamford Olympic Event.jpg
Day 46: A warning sign for traffic in Stamford, Lincolnshire ahead of the flame passing through the town
Day 50: The Olympic flame being transferred into a lantern in Cambridge for safe-keeping overnight. Cambridge Olympic cauldron to lantern.jpg
Day 50: The Olympic flame being transferred into a lantern in Cambridge for safe-keeping overnight.
Day 54: Torchbearer Damien Davis from Team Wayne carries the Olympic Flame through Ludgershall in Wiltshire. Wiki damien davis.JPG
Day 54: Torchbearer Damien Davis from Team Wayne carries the Olympic Flame through Ludgershall in Wiltshire.
Day 66: Lucy Caslon founder and director of the charity Msizi Africa waits to receive the Olympic Flame in Sutton, South London LucyCaslonTorchCropped.jpg
Day 66: Lucy Caslon founder and director of the charity Msizi Africa waits to receive the Olympic Flame in Sutton, South London
Day 68: Gold medalist Beckie Scott being handed the torch in Brent, North West London. Beckie Scott torch relay handover 2012.jpg
Day 68: Gold medalist Beckie Scott being handed the torch in Brent, North West London.
In the week preceding the Olympics, the National Theatre in London set up a 'Fire Garden' to celebrate the torch relay. London 2012 Olympics - Fire Garden.jpg
In the week preceding the Olympics, the National Theatre in London set up a 'Fire Garden' to celebrate the torch relay.
Date [56] Map
2 June (day 15): Liverpool to Castletown
6 June (day 19): Dublin to Belfast
10 June (day 23): Kirkwall to Lerwick
15 July (day 58): Southampton to Portsmouth
18 July (day 61): Hastings to Dover
21 July (day 64): Greenwich to Waltham Forest
22 July (day 65): Redbridge to Bexley
23 July (day 66): Lewisham to Wandsworth
24 July (day 67): Kingston to Ealing
25 July (day 68): Harrow to Haringey
27 July (day 70): Hampton Court Palace to Olympic Park

End of relay

The end of the relay took place in the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.

The torch arrived aboard a speedboat piloted by David Beckham, via the Limehouse Cut. Steve Redgrave received the flame from young footballer Jade Bailey, [58] [59] the torchbearer on the boat, and carried it into the Olympic Stadium. [38] Then Redgrave handed the torch to the seven young athletes, each one nominated by an athlete. The athletes then each applied their torch to one of the 204 petals, which then lit and converged to create the cauldron, which was designed by Thomas Heatherwick.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Magnay, Jacquelin (17 May 2011). "London 2012 torch relay should focus on youth". The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  2. ↑ "London 2012 Olympic Flame is lit in Greece". LOCOG. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  3. ↑ "London 2012 Olympic torch relay route revealed". BBC News. 18 May 2011. Archived from the original on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  4. ↑ "Dublin to host Olympic Torch'". Irish Times. 8 December 2011. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  5. ↑ "London Culture and 2012 Open Meeting" (PDF). london.gov.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  6. ↑ "Oxfordshire's Torch Relay for London 2012". Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  7. ↑ "Somerset says no to Olympic torch". The Daily Telegraph. London. 5 April 2010. Archived from the original on 8 April 2010.
  8. ↑ "Search begins for 8,000 inspirational people to carry the Olympic Flame". 18 May 2011. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  9. ↑ Athens Airport Aviation News 16 May 2012.
  10. ↑ RNAS Culdrose to welcome Olympic Flame into UK, MoD Press Release, 1 February 2012.
  11. ↑ "Olympic Flame for the London 2012 Games is lit in Ancient Olympia". LOCOG. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  12. ↑ "The Olympic Torch Relay". LOCOG. 18 May 2011. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  13. ↑ David Beckham to collect Olympic flame, BBC News, 16 May 2012.
  14. ↑ Clapton collects Olympic Flame Archived 2012-08-28 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ↑ Naval fliers to get the Olympic flame going on its epic journey Archived 2014-03-16 at the Wayback Machine (Navy News)
  16. ↑ Olympic Torch Relay ... The Torch Archived 2012-05-01 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ↑ "London 2012 Sustainability Plan 2nd Edition, December 2009" (PDF). London 2012. 2 December 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  18. ↑ Gibson, Owen (8 June 2011). "2012 Olympic torch ignites row over Games' green credentials". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  19. ↑ "Huge crowds turn out to cheer flame". bbc.com. 2012-05-19. Retrieved 2012-05-19.
  20. ↑ Ball, James (6 June 2012). "London 2012: torchbearers picked by sponsors keep flame of commerce alive". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  21. ↑ Peck, Tom (4 June 2016). "Seb Coe promised an 'uplifting torch relay to inspire a generation'. So are these really the role models to do it?". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  22. ↑ "BBC News – Olympic torch tackle man near Land's End". Bbc.co.uk. 2012-05-19. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
  23. ↑ Olympic torch trouble in Londonderry
  24. ↑ "Boy continues after fall with torch". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  25. ↑ "Olympic torch in Leeds: Owzat for a welcome on the sunshine streets". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  26. ↑ "UK Uncut stage torch protests in Sheffield". UK Uncut. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  27. ↑ "Olympic torch: Man charged after 'Free Tibet' streak". BBC News. BBC. 10 July 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  28. ↑ "Streaker Flies the Flag for Free Tibet". Free Tibet Campaign . Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  29. ↑ "Teen arrested after Olympic torch grab attempt in Gravesend". 20 July 2012. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  30. ↑ "Bristol Sailability". Aiming High. Archived from the original on 2013-06-12. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  31. ↑ "The Olympic Torch Relay in Bristol". Visit Bristol. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  32. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hutchinson, Claire (19 March 2012). "Olympic torch's street-by-street route through Wales revealed". Wales Online. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  33. ↑ "London 2012: Liverpool's Olympic torch route revealed". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  34. 1 2 3 4 "Highlight moments". london2012.com. Archived from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  35. ↑ "London 2012: Olympic torch set for Windermere steamer ride". BBC News. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  36. ↑ "London 2012: Cambridgeshire Olympic torch route revealed". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  37. ↑ "Kent's street-by-street Olympic Torch relay route". Kent News. 19 March 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-06-18. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  38. 1 2 Dillman, Lisa (27 July 2012). "London Olympics: Message is unity as youngsters light the torch". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  39. ↑ "Olympic Torch: Flame boards steam train for York to Carlisle leg". BBC News. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  40. ↑ "London 2012: Flying Scotsman out of Olympic torch relay". BBC News. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  41. ↑ Ache, Isaac (19 March 2012). "Charnwood's Olympic Torch Relay route revealed". Loughborough Echo. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  42. ↑ "London 2012: North Yorkshire torch relay route revealed". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  43. ↑ Tomaney, William (19 March 2012). "Olympic Torch relay route announced". The Shuttle. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  44. ↑ "London 2012: Humber Olympic torch relay route revealed". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  45. ↑ "London 2012: Sussex Olympic torch relay route announced". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  46. ↑ "Fylde coast Olympic torch route revealed". The Gazette. 19 March 2012. Archived from the original on 17 June 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  47. 1 2 "London 2012: Olympic torch to be carried in TT sidecar". BBC News. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  48. ↑ "Olympic torch: Flame rides on London Underground train". BBC News. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  49. ↑ "London 2012: Cumbria Olympic torch relay route revealed". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  50. ↑ "Olympic torch to lap Brands Hatch this summer!". BrandsHatch. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
  51. ↑ "London 2012: Essex Olympic torch relay route details revealed". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  52. ↑ "London 2012: Olympic flame to zip-wire from Tyne Bridge in Newcastle". BBC News. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  53. ↑ "London 2012: Olympic torch to ride Derbyshire cable car during relay". BBC News. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  54. ↑ "London 2012: Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge hosts torch relay". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  55. ↑ "London 2012: The 1,018 communities which the torch will visit". BBC. BBC.com. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  56. ↑ "London 2012: The 1,018 communities which the torch will visit". BBC. BBC.com. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  57. ↑ "Torchbearer Street Route - Day 37" (PDF). news.bbc.co.uk. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  58. ↑ "Footballer Jade Bailey, who travelled with the Olympic Torch in a speedboat driven by David Beckham, was among dozens of Waltham Forest residents who starred in the opening ceremony". Waltham Forest Guardian. Archived from the original on 2013-12-02. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  59. ↑ "David Beckham did drive the speed boat during ceremony". BBC. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay - Olympia Lighting Ceremony on YouTube
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg London Receives The Olympic Flame - Handover Ceremony on YouTube
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Olympic Cauldron is lit for London 2012 on YouTube
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