London 2012 Olympics:Map of Olympic torch relay route revealed

The precise details of the London 2012 Olympic torch relay route have been revealed.

London 2012 Olympics:Map of Olympic torch relay route revealed
Proposed start times of when and where the Olympic Flame will travel across Britain are released, although the details of the final two days of its journey have been kept secret until the beginning of the relay at Land's End on May 19.

London 2012 Olympics:Map of Olympic torch relay route revealed
London 2012 chairman Lord Coe declared "today we bring the Olympic Torch Relay to life" as organisers hope the 8,000-mile relay involving 8,000 torchbearers will be the point when enthusiasm for the Games ignites across the country.

- Highlights of Olympic torch relay route
- Street-by-street map of torch relay route (external site)

Around 7,000 people, many of whom are members of the public who have shown community spirit, courage and sporting determination, have been named as torchbearers.
The youngest unsung hero is 12 and each torchbearer will wear a white-and-gold uniform which been designed by adidas.

An average of 115 torchbearers a day will carry the flame during the nationwide relay, from May 19 to July 27, to the opening ceremony in Stratford, east London.

Unusual ways have been found for some of them to complete their relay leg.
A torchbearer will carry the flame on a chair lift at the Needles on the Isle of Wight, another will skate with it at the Nottingham Ice Centre and it will be rowed at Henley-on-Thames and on the River Bann in Coleraine, Northern Ireland.

London 2012 Olympics:Map of Olympic torch relay route revealed
High-flying activities await some torchbearers as the flame will abseil down the Dock Tower at Grimsby and swoop off the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle Gateshead on a zip wire.
Restoration work to the Flying Scotsman means that the Scots Guardsman train will now take the flame on its journey between York and Thirsk.

It will also be taken on a skywalk at Croke Park as it visits Dublin on June 6 in its only stop outside of the UK.
After protests that marred the international leg of the torch relay before the Beijing Games, the International Olympic Committee ruled that future relays would be restricted to the host country.
The overall route has been designed to also take in cultural institutions such as the Turner Gallery in Margate and Cass Sculpture Foundation at Goodwood as well as many of sporting stadiums and racecourses.

Lord Coe said: "The flame symbolises the Olympic spirit and its journey around the UK will bring the excitement of the Games to our streets.

"Now the people know the route the Olympic Flame will be carried along and the torchbearers for their community, they can start planning how they might celebrate."
The detailed information means that crowds of cheering supporters and onlookers will be able to plan where to be when the flame and its' torchbearer pass along their nearest high street, through their town square or past their local village shop.

Lord Coe hopes the different regions will take the chance to make it "a moment to shine".
The aim is the flame is brought to within 10 miles of 95 per cent of the population.
The torchbearers were chosen through the nomination schemes run by London 2012 and sponsors Samsung, Lloyds TSB and Coca-Cola.

Background checks are being run on all the nominees before the final line-up is confirmed.
London 2012 Olympics:Map of Olympic torch relay route revealed

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