London Olympic 2012: Olympic torch relay route

2011-08-09T12:21:00.000-07:00

The first 74 locations on the 2012 Olympics torch relay route, starting 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).

Organisers stress the route details are not comprehensive and more places to be visited will be named in coming months.

A search for 8,000 "inspirational torchbearers" has also been launched, half of whom will be aged 12-24.

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.

During the 70-day torch relay, it will 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.

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.

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 Coe, chairman of Locog.

He told "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 stage shows, there will be the opportunity to showcase local talent."

The flame will be carried by 8,000 torchbearers, 7,200 of whom will be members of the public, nominated by people who know them.

Olympic torch

2011-08-09T12:20:00.000-07:00

2012 olympic logo

2011-08-09T12:19:00.000-07:00