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| London 2012 Olympic torch relay route revealed | London 2012 Olympic torch relay route revealed |
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| The first 74 locations on the London 2012 Olympic torch relay route, which will start at Land's End, have been revealed. | The first 74 locations on the London 2012 Olympic torch relay route, which will start at Land's End, have been revealed. |
| The route, which covers every nation and region in the UK and includes island visits, will see the Olympic torch travel 8,000 miles (12,800 km). | The route, which covers every nation and region in the UK and includes island visits, will see the Olympic torch travel 8,000 miles (12,800 km). |
| A search for 8,000 "inspirational torchbearers" will begin at 1100 BST, the London Olympics' organisers said. | A search for 8,000 "inspirational torchbearers" will begin at 1100 BST, the London Olympics' organisers said. |
| They plan to publicise further route details later this year. | They plan to publicise further route details later this year. |
| The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Locog) said the Olympic Flame would come within a one-hour journey of 95% of people in the UK. | The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Locog) said the Olympic Flame would come within a one-hour journey of 95% of people in the UK. |
| The torch will leave Land's End, Cornwall, on the morning of Saturday 19 May 2012 - the day after it arrives in the UK from Greece. | The torch will leave Land's End, Cornwall, on the morning of Saturday 19 May 2012 - the day after it arrives in the UK from Greece. |
| During the 70-day torch relay, it is expected to pass through towns and cities including Bristol, Cardiff, Liverpool, Belfast, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham, Oxford, Southampton and Dover. | During the 70-day torch relay, it is expected to pass through towns and cities including Bristol, Cardiff, Liverpool, Belfast, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham, Oxford, Southampton and Dover. |
| The 2012 torch - which is being created by east London designers Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby and is due to be unveiled in June - will travel for about 12 hours a day, arriving at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony. | The 2012 torch - which is being created by east London designers Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby and is due to be unveiled in June - will travel for about 12 hours a day, arriving at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony. |
| Locog said the route would also include six island visits - to the Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey, Shetland, Orkney and the Isle of Lewis. | Locog said the route would also include six island visits - to the Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey, Shetland, Orkney and the Isle of Lewis. |
| Meanwhile, the feasibility of taking the Olympic Flame on a short visit to Dublin is still being explored. | Meanwhile, the feasibility of taking the Olympic Flame on a short visit to Dublin is still being explored. |
| Thousands of people are expected to celebrate along the route, with shows and concerts planned on 66 of the 70 days. | Thousands of people are expected to celebrate along the route, with shows and concerts planned on 66 of the 70 days. |
| "It's a 70-day journey of celebration," said Lord Sebastian Coe, chairman of Locog. | |
| He told BBC Breakfast: "I think the thing we have learned from other relays is it's releasing that creativity, the excitement, in people's backyards. I have seen that from relays around the world and I really do want to replicate that." | |
| He added: "The stopovers at night, there will be a party atmosphere, there will be stageshows, there will be the opportunity to showcase local talent. | |
| "Then of course later on this morning we are going to start talking about the nomination process as well, because we want that to inspire young people but we want local communities to be inspired by young people." | |
| Details of the nomination process for potential torchbearers would be revealed later on Wednesday and could be found on the London 2012 website, Lord Coe said. | |
| Hugh Robertson, minister for sport and the Olympics, said the relay would "bring London 2012 to the doorsteps of the UK giving everybody the chance to celebrate the London Games". | Hugh Robertson, minister for sport and the Olympics, said the relay would "bring London 2012 to the doorsteps of the UK giving everybody the chance to celebrate the London Games". |
| "It's a magnificent showcase for the country and a chance to mark the achievements of inspirational people in our communities," he said. | "It's a magnificent showcase for the country and a chance to mark the achievements of inspirational people in our communities," he said. |
| A second, more detailed route will be revealed later this year. | A second, more detailed route will be revealed later this year. |
| In addition to the 74 locations already revealed, Locog said the torch would also pass through many cities, towns, villages and places of outstanding natural beauty - as well as sports venues and community hubs. | In addition to the 74 locations already revealed, Locog said the torch would also pass through many cities, towns, villages and places of outstanding natural beauty - as well as sports venues and community hubs. |
| The origins of the Olympic torch relay look back to ancient Greece, when messengers were sent out from Olympia to announce the competition dates and call for a halt to all wars during the Games. | The origins of the Olympic torch relay look back to ancient Greece, when messengers were sent out from Olympia to announce the competition dates and call for a halt to all wars during the Games. |
| The relay was revived for modern times at the 1936 Berlin Games, and since then has grown into a popular curtain-raiser to the sporting events. | The relay was revived for modern times at the 1936 Berlin Games, and since then has grown into a popular curtain-raiser to the sporting events. |
| The design of the torch has changed with each Games, sometimes reflecting classical torches, at other times taking on a contemporary look. | The design of the torch has changed with each Games, sometimes reflecting classical torches, at other times taking on a contemporary look. |
| The 2012 torch's designers, Barber and Osgerby, won a competitive tender launched last year for the torch design role. They are also working on designs around the Paralympic torch relay. | The 2012 torch's designers, Barber and Osgerby, won a competitive tender launched last year for the torch design role. They are also working on designs around the Paralympic torch relay. |
| For the modern Olympic Games, the flame is lit in Olympia from the sun's rays using a parabolic mirror and then taken on a relay around Greece. | For the modern Olympic Games, the flame is lit in Olympia from the sun's rays using a parabolic mirror and then taken on a relay around Greece. |
| Unlike some previous relays, the 2012 torch will not go round the world. | Unlike some previous relays, the 2012 torch will not go round the world. |
| At the end of the Greek tour, the flame will be taken straight to the UK. | At the end of the Greek tour, the flame will be taken straight to the UK. |