London Part of 2008 Olympic Torch Relay Route
26 Apr 2007
The Olympic flame will come to London on 6 April 2008. This was announced at a launching ceremony today in China, when the Beijing 2008 Organising Committee (BOCOG) presented the 2008 torch design and Torch Relay route to the world.
Under the slogan ‘Light the Passion, Share the Dream’, the flame will travel to 22 cities from the five inhabited continents, all 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities on the mainland of China as well as the top of the world – Mt. Qomolangma.
London is one of the 22 cities that will have the privilege of hosting the Olympic flame in 2008. The Torch Relay route, which will be the longest in history, has the flame arriving to London from St. Petersburg and continuing to Paris.
Featuring the theme ‘Journey of Harmony’, the Torch Relay is centred around the Silk Road, which connected the East and the West for the first time in history, with 11 cities selected along this ancient route.
Commented BOA Chief Executive Simon Clegg:
“It is an honour to play host to an important part of the 2008 Torch Relay, which will once again see the Olympic flame in London on 6 April 2008. In the next couple of months, we will work closely with BOCOG, the London 2012 Organising Committee and the Greater London Authority to ensure the British public have the opportunity to enjoy the inspiration of the Olympic flame. We are currently working on the programme and we will release further details about the UK route and it’s torch bearers later in the year. We anticipate building on the huge success of the 2004 Olympic Torch Relay, which resulted in over 1 million people watching the flame pass through the streets of London and which culminated at a pop concert in front of 70,000 spectators in the Mall.”
Said Mayor of London Ken Livingstone:
“This will be a great opportunity for Londoners to take part in the excitement of the Olympic spirit, in the lead up to the Beijing Olympic Games next year, through to when London formally becomes the next host city. We thank Beijing for inviting London to take part in this historic relay and I have no doubt it will be a great day for all Londoners and visitors alike. It will kick off the Olympic year in style and we look forward to strengthening the links, business and leisure, between ourselves and Beijing.”
Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee, added:
"The Torch Relay is a symbol that invites everyone to the Beijing Games and we look forward to welcoming it to London. The Torch was a great success when it was last in London in 2004, and I was lucky enough to run a leg with it. It was a fabulous experience and I look forward to running with it again. This is a major milestone for us because the London Games will follow Beijing."
Notes to Editors
About the 2004 London Torch Relay: London was the 23rd city on the world route. The Torch Relay took place on Saturday 26 June 2004, a date chosen by the BOA to coincide with Wimbledon and a weekend ensuring as many of the public as a possible were able to see it.
London was in the bidding process for the 2012 Games and it was important that the best possible showcase of London was presented, as a result a major concert was organised at the end of the Torch Relay as well as numerous events along the route through London, in conjunction with many London Boroughs.
The Torch Relay in London covered 40km involving 147 Torch Bearers, 30 escort runners and over one hundred volunteers. There were 17 celebration events across London; the Relay included five boats, three horses, 1 helicopter, 1 bicycle, 1 black taxi, 1 red bus and numerous wheelchairs. Over 1 million people watched the Relay pass through the streets of London, 70,000 people took part in the Torch Concert in The Mall and viewing figures on BBC television peaked at 6.5 million.
For further information please contact:
BOA Press office, Miriam Wilkens, tel: 020 8871 2677 ext. 227.
Mayor of London's Press Office, Megan Woithe, tel: 020 7983 4020.
London 2012 Press Office, tel. 0203 2012 100.
For images of the 2008 Olympic Torch or further info on the Torch Relay route contact BOCOG, tel. +86 10 6236 2008 or email mediadesk@beijing2008.cn, or go to http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn.
About the British Olympic Association: The British Olympic Association (BOA) is the National Olympic Committee for Great Britain and Northern Ireland, formed in 1905 and recognised by the International Olympic Committee. Our role is to prepare our nation’s finest athletes for and lead them at the summer and winter Olympic Games and youth Olympic festivals. In the United Kingdom, we are responsible for the development and protection of the Olympic Movement, whose vision is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport. We are the strong independent voice for British Olympic Sport – we are not funded or controlled by government and have no political interests.
For tickets and tours to the Beijing 2008 Olympics: The BOA has appointed Sportsworld as Official Ticket and Tour Operator for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: website www.sportsworld.co.uk/beijing2008 , tel. 0870 385 0808, email beijing2008@sportsworld.co.uk