2012年伦敦奥运会(London Olympics 2012)

　　5月18日上午，郎平前往北医三院，看望了正在那里恢复治疗的中国女排主攻手王一梅。 “大梅恢复得不错，情绪也非常好。”郎平介绍说。

　　4月底，正在宁波北仑随中国女排备战伦敦奥运会的王一梅不慎在训练中伤及右脚脚踝。 5月2日，王一梅在北医三院顺利完成手术，但术后恢复需要6至8周时间。

　　从恢复时间来看，只要不出意外，王一梅完全可以出战伦敦奥运会。尽管在奥运会前不慎染伤，但王一梅却比较乐观，她自信自己可以及时康复，如愿出战伦敦奥运会。

　　据了解，王一梅已于本月12日进行了术后拆线，这意味着大梅已经进入康复阶段。此前，中国女排主教练俞觉敏向记者介绍说，王一梅受伤后，中国女排随即派出了专门的康复小组，全程陪同和帮助王一梅进行恢复治疗。而现在，王一梅已在康复小组的指导下，开始进行专项体能训练。

　　自受伤以来，王一梅的伤势恢复情况成了圈内外关注的焦点。昨天上午，郎平亲赴北医三院探望，并透露了大梅的恢复情况，“今天上午我去医院看望了受伤的王一梅，她恢复得不错，情绪也非常好。真心希望我们的 ‘重炮手’快点回到球场，赶上伦敦奥运会的脚步。 ”

　　郎平亲赴医院探望，王一梅很是开心。“郎指导来看我，让我很开心，加油、努力！ ”王一梅在自己的微博中写道。

范特西篮球激战季后赛活动上线
| 体坛一球成名炫目风暴来袭

Article source: http://sports.titan24.com/volleyball/2012-05-19/215613.html

Article source: http://www.jmnews.com.cn/c/2012/05/19/14/c_6684660.shtml

　　新华社多伦多5月18日体育专电(记者马丹)加拿大奥委会18日宣布，提名4名羽毛球(微博)运动员加入加拿大伦敦奥运会代表团。这4名选手中有3名是华裔，他们是高博、吴骏义、李文珊，另一位是亚历山德拉·布鲁斯。

　　李文珊今年21岁，多次获得加拿大全国女子单打冠军。她幼年自香港移民加拿大，目前还是多伦多大学学生，但为了备战伦敦奥运会暂时休学两年。她将参加奥运会女子单打比赛，并与亚历山德拉·布鲁斯配对，参加双打比赛。她说，能代表加拿大出征奥运会，对她来说是梦想成真。

　　23岁的高博是混双选手，曾获加拿大全国冠军和泛美运动会冠军。她2004年从北京移居加拿大后才正式接受羽毛球训练。她表示，取得现在的成绩是艰辛努力的结果，伦敦奥运会之前还有很多准备工作要做，但她已经迫不及待。

　　与高博搭档的是27岁的吴骏义。这位出生在加拿大温哥华的华裔曾几次入选加拿大国家队，他和高博获得过2011年秘鲁国际挑战赛混双冠军。他表示将在伦敦奥运会全力以赴。

　　加拿大伦敦奥运会代表团团长马克·图克斯伯里对几名羽毛球选手的加盟表示欢迎。他说，在奥运会之前看到加拿大代表团日益壮大令人兴奋，这个团队将在今年夏天鼓舞人心。(完)

Article source: http://sports.sina.com.cn/o/2012-05-19/09586067004.shtml

　　5月10日，法国JEUX公司推出了一项新型即开彩票游戏，所销售的部分款项用于支持参加2012伦敦奥运会的法国代表队。

　　此款即开彩票面值5欧元，共有4种比赛项目图案设计，四种奥运项目分别由法国民众所喜欢的百米短跑(田径)、手球、柔道及游泳比赛项目组成。奖池奖金设置从2.5万欧元至10万欧元不等。

　　这种奥运题材的即开彩票是由JEUX彩票公司同法国国家奥林匹克体育委员会(CNOSF)在2000年悉尼奥运会时首次推出，并经历了2004年的雅典奥运会及2008年的北京奥运会。本次2012年伦敦奥运会到来之际，双方共同合作又推出了新一期的奥运特殊即开彩票。

　　JEUX彩票公司设立了一项专项基金，拿出5000欧元用于奖励获得奥运奖牌的法国运动员们。在2008年北京奥运会时，法国共获得了23枚奥运奖牌。

Article source: http://www.hkwb.net/nrpd/content/2012-05/19/content_751269.htm?node=663

　　2008年北京奥运会主火炬手李宁(左)和希腊举重世界冠军迪马斯共同点燃交接仪式现场的圣火盆。新华社发

　　本报综合消息

　　昨天，世界的目光聚焦在2012年伦敦奥运会圣火传递希腊段交接仪式上，一个熟悉的身影出现在希腊首都雅典的泛雅典体育场。中国前“体操王子”李宁英姿飒爽、步伐矫健，高举奥运圣火，顺利完成了伦敦奥运会圣火在希腊境内的极具象征意义的最后一棒火炬传递并点燃圣火台。这是李宁继2008年北京奥运会开幕式上点燃奥运主火炬之后，再次与奥运圣火结缘，并在奥运发源地再次传递奥运梦想。这一刻，全体国人心中的奥运激情被再次点燃——2012伦敦奥运已越来越近了。

　　嘉宾到位后，国际奥委会会旗、希腊国旗以及英国国旗入场，奏IOC会歌以及两国国歌之后，希腊境内最后一站火炬传递开始。第一棒是希腊赛艇世界冠军吉亚茨吉多(女)，第二棒是希腊体操世界冠军索拉吉迪斯，第三棒同样是希腊赛艇世界冠军斯亚沃(女)。最后一棒，由中国体操名宿李宁和希腊举重奥运冠军迪马斯共同传递，最终两人一起点燃了圣火盆。

　　据了解，李宁是作为北京奥运会的代表受邀参加本次圣火交接仪式，他是唯一一个在泛雅典体育场参加此次雅典火炬传递的中国人，也是中国唯一一位四次参加奥运火炬传递、一次与亚运火炬结缘的伟大运动员。24年之间，奥运圣火见证了李宁由一名体操运动员到企业家的成功转变，李宁也用自己的方式书写着传奇，通过自身行动完美地诠释着奥林匹克精神。

　　圣火交接仪式结束后，李宁在接受记者采访时表示：“我是运动员出身，奥林匹克精神激励着我，一步一步迈向世界冠军与奥运冠军，并在退役后创立了自己的体育事业。这次能够作为北京奥运会的代表，在雅典与奥运圣火再次结缘，我感到责任和意义的重大。我作为一个中国人，我肩负着强烈的民族使命感和荣誉感，同时感到无比骄傲和自豪。能在奥林匹克运动的发源地手持奥运火炬，传递奥运梦想，我感到非常荣幸。希望圣火的传递，让人们充分体会到奥林匹克精神的伟大力量。”

　　当地时间5月10日奥运圣火在古奥林匹亚竞技场成功采集，就此拉开了伦敦奥运火炬传递的序幕。经过8天3000公里，500名火炬手在34个城市的传递，圣火终于来到了雅典著名的帕纳蒂纳科斯体育场(大理石体育场)，即1896年首届现代奥林匹克运动会的主场馆。

　　前来迎接奥运圣火的英国嘉宾有奥组委主席塞巴斯蒂安·科、伦敦市长约翰逊、安妮公主以及国际足坛巨星贝克汉姆。

Article source: http://news.enorth.com.cn/system/2012/05/19/009259308.shtml

<!–enpproperty 37813912012-05-19 14:40:37.0 ,,,,14819/enpproperty–>

    新华社北京5月19日体育专电　新华社记者马向菲　公兵

    奥林匹克圣火是奥运会永恒的主题，它连接着古奥林匹克的光荣与现代运动盛会的梦想。1936年，一支点燃的火炬将太阳之火从奥林匹克诞生地

希腊带到柏林，火炬传递被正式纳入奥运仪式。火炬传递，是光明、友谊、团结、和平理想的全球传播之旅。而火炬到达的地方，也总有感人或有趣的故事发生。

    1936年火炬传递开始

    普罗米修斯给人类带来文明最需要的火种。人们又用火祭祀奥林匹亚众神，并在四年一次的奥林匹克运动会燃起圣火敬奉天神领袖宙斯。就这样，火与奥运会结下不解之缘。

    1928年，阿姆斯特丹奥运会就曾点燃主会场火炬。但直到1936年的柏林奥运会，火炬传递才被正式纳入奥运仪式。

    自此，火炬接力和点燃圣火成为奥运会上十分隆重的仪式，传播着、体现着人类美好的理想与价值。火炬传递中许多难忘的场景至今还感动人心。

    高位截瘫的少年罗伊在亚特兰大奥运会火炬传递中要求把“火炬放在我头顶，让我感受一下重量”，当人们满足他的请求后，罗伊的笑容比火焰还明亮；希腊标枪运动员克里斯托斯传递墨西哥奥运会火炬时遭遇燃料泄漏，火焰烧到他的手。但克里斯托斯忍着剧痛跑完全程，将圣火传递到墨西哥人手上。这位颇有实力的标枪手付出的代价，是放弃那届奥运会争金夺银的机会。

    赫拉神庙“石柱”点燃奥运火炬

    希腊时间5月10日中午，最高女祭司扮演者伊诺·梅尼佳奇通过反射的阳光引燃奥运圣火，用取火火炬点燃32岁的希腊游泳选手斯·扬尼奥蒂斯手中的伦敦奥运会火炬，标志着历史上第18次夏季奥运会火炬传递开始。

    梅尼佳奇手中的火炬酷似赫拉神庙的石柱，这也是希腊著名珠宝设计师伊利亚斯·拉拉欧尼斯的灵感来源。1992年巴塞罗那奥运会前，取火火炬都由各个主办地提供，与火炬传递用的火炬一样。但巴塞罗那奥运会时，希腊人认为取火火炬应该与众不同，于是拉拉欧尼斯制作了外形像倒置的神庙石柱的银质火炬。梅尼佳奇正是用它引燃伦敦奥运火炬。

    伦敦奥运火炬呈三角形，火炬从头到尾的金色象征奥运圣火的光芒，表面8000个圆圈则象征8000名奥运火炬手。虽然伦敦奥组委之前发布的奥运会标志与吉祥物饱受外界批评，但火炬设计却受到普遍赞誉。两名设计师还为此获得伦敦设计博物馆年度设计大奖。

    火炬的三角形有多重寓意：首先是奥林匹克运动追求的三个理念——尊重、卓越、友谊；其次是组成奥林匹克口号的三个词——更快、更高 、更强；第三是英国在1908年、1948年和2012年三次主办奥运会；第四是2012年伦敦奥运会倡导融为一体的三种活动——运动、教育和文化。

    皇家海军欢迎火炬抵达

    经过希腊的传递，奥运火炬18日在英国落脚，首站选在皇家海军基地，海军搜救队隆重欢迎它的到来。在海军基地停留一夜后，火炬搭乘搜救直升机飞往英国最西南端的“天涯海角”兰兹角，正式启动英国的火炬传递，首棒火炬手是三届奥运会帆船金牌得主本·安斯利。他跑的地方，正是他出生的地方。

    火炬搭乘直升机并不新鲜，在奥运历史上，传递火炬的方式五花八门：意大利军舰参与了火炬从雅典到西西里的罗马奥运火炬传递；慕尼黑火炬首次由残疾人用轮椅进行传递；悉尼火炬在澳大利亚大堡礁海底进行了3分钟水下遨游；蒙特利尔奥运会上，更有人造卫星充当临时火炬，将圣火热能转换成的电波传至加拿大，然后使用激光点燃了蒙特利尔的火炬。

    尽管人造卫星传递圣火的方式别出心裁，但国际奥委会依然表示“人”才是火炬传递的最佳选择，而伦敦奥运火炬上8000个代表火炬手的圆圈，首次将火炬手的元素融入火炬，正与国际奥委会的想法丝丝入扣。

    规模“缩水”诚意不打折

    伦敦奥运会火炬传递将是历史上比较特别的一次，仅在希腊、英国和爱尔兰举行，人员规模从近几届奥运会的超过万人缩减到8000人，除了国际奥委会新规之外，还因为英国经济被欧债危机拖累陷入低谷，伦敦奥组委资金吃紧，必须厉行节约，削减开支。

    不过这并非意味着英国人要怠慢火炬传递。恰恰相反，英国人早就跃跃欲试，上个月就进行了彩排。几乎所有的媒体都详细报道了英国国内火炬接力的路线，英国广播公司还制作了专门的网页，届时只要点击具体日期，网民就可以看到火炬接力的现场画面。

    在火炬接力的画面中，民众们不仅可以看到社会名流，更能见到普通人的身影，比如英国两届奥运选手德里克·雷德蒙德的父亲。这位父亲在巴塞罗那奥运会上不顾阻拦冲进赛场，用肩膀撑着受伤的儿子，共同完成了400米半决赛，引得全场观众起立致敬。

    当奥运火炬在英国土地上传递时，它带去的爱与温情、友谊与团结也许能够帮助提振英国人的信心，走出金融危机的阴影。和1948年奥运会在二战后的残垣断壁中举办相比，本届伦敦奥运会面临的困难还属小巫见大巫，至少火炬手们不用依靠说明书才知道怎样传递圣火。（完）

Article source: http://news.shm.com.cn/2012-05/19/content_3781391.htm

Three-time Olympic champion Ben Ainslie launched the London 2012 Olympic torch on its 8000-mile journey around Britain on Saturday.

The Olympic flame arrived in Cornwall on Friday night, where David Beckham lit the cauldron before the 70-day relay began, with Ainslie the first of 8000 torchbearers.

Ainslie, who had the honour of being the first athlete to be formally selected for Team GB, underlined his status as favourite to win a fourth Olympic gold medal this summer after winning the Finn world title for a sixth time this week.

“It’s amazing,” Ainslie said. “For me, growing up in this part of the world, in Cornwall, for the Olympic Torch to set off from here around the nation, is a fantastic moment for the UK, for London 2012. Very exciting.”

Ainslie, who will compete in his fifth Olympics this summer, claims his role as the first torchbearer was more nerve-wracking than competing in the Games.

“Probably more nervous to be the first one here,” he said. “It’s a great moment but it’s also a great moment for our country to have the Olympics here and we are all very excited.”

Lord Sebastian Coe, who travelled to Greece for the handover ceremony said: “It’s just suddenly come home that this is the first time this has happened in this country for 64 years.”

The torch relay travels nationwide and will arrive in London’s Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony on July 27.

© ESPN EMEA Ltd

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Article source: http://www.espn.co.uk/london-olympics-2012/sport/story/151506.html

Ben Ainslie: carried the flame 300 metres

Three-time Olympic sailing champion Ben Ainslie started the London 2012 Olympic torch relay from Land’s End on Saturday.

The 35-year-old is the first of 8,000 torchbearers who will carry the Olympic flame around the country, with its final destination the Olympic Stadium in East London for the opening ceremony on 27 July.

The flame arrived in Britain from Greece on Friday and was flown to Land’s End, the southwesterly tip of England, on Saturday by a Royal Navy helicopter.

Ainslie, wearing the number 001 on his T-shirt as the first torchbearer, carried the flame 300 metres, allowing some of the hundreds of spectators who were lining the route to touch the gold-coloured torch.

He said: “It’s amazing. For me, growing up in this part of the world, in Cornwall, for the Olympic Torch to set off from here around the nation, is a fantastic moment for the UK, for London 2012. Very exciting.”

Ainslie said being the first torchbearer was more nerve wracking than competiting in the actual Games.

“Probably more nervous to be the first one here,” he said. “It’s a great moment but its also a great moment for our country to have the Olympics here and we are all very excited.”

Ainslie passed the flame on to the second torchbearer, 18 year-old Anastassia Swallow from St Ives.

She has represented Britain four times as a member of the junior British surf team and is hoping to become the first woman to compete in both surfing and snowboarding for her country.

The torch relay travels nationwide and aims to bring the Olympic Flame to within 95% of the UK population.

• Who will light the 2012 Olympic Flame? Win Outright: Dame Kelly Holmes 7/1

Article source: http://www1.skysports.com/olympics/story/15234/7765288

09.26: Nice photo from Land’s End which illustrates just how busy it
was:

09.24: Convoy over and we’re back under way. Torchbearer with a steady
jog routine which hasn’t been as popular as you’d imagine. Most people
deciding to go with the brisk walk or light jog option.

09.17: This is what convoy mode looks like on the BBC video feed:

09.15: The torch relay is about inspiring a generation, but it’s also
about promoting a product, as Jacquelin Magnay reminds us:

09.11: We’re in convoy mode again. With Marazion the next
destination at 09.26am.

09.08: Sir Keith Mills, the London 2012 deputy chairman, has spoken:

This has been an amazing journey. For me this is the start of the Games and
when the whole country starts to get excited. You have many milestones in
this like winning the bid, the lighting of the flame and its arrival
yesterday was a special moment. This is clearly another big moment.

09.06: We’re still in Penzance where a torchbearer, aided by a carer,
is making good ground down the road. A French flag waves from the crowd to
show our European neighbours are not bitter about London beating Paris.

09.00: I think we have our youngest torchbearer to date with the flame
now. He was at RNAS Culdrose last night and was incredibly well-briefed when
questioned by The One Show’s Chris Evans. On message and handy with a
torch in his hand. This kid will go far.

08.56: A sign from the crowd reads “Torch of Peace”… Tell
that to the Nazis who
thought up the idea….

08.52: The story of the day so far has to be the crowds. Here’s the
latest bulletin from Jacquelin Magnay:

08.50: A woman and her shopping just got awfully close to the
torchbearer. She was right alongside him for a while. Is it his wife? Either
way she’s done a good job of creeping under the radar. The Met would be well
advised to pin up photos of her around the Olympic Park this summer.
Trouble.

08.49: We’re expecting the torch to reach Marazion by 09.01. Right now
it’s still going through Penzance, where the crowds continue to be large.
Lots of flag waving and lots of cheering. It feels like the Jubilee has come
early.

08.45: Our torchbearer columnist happy with her day’s work:

08.40: Is it the sea air? New etiquette rules seem to have been
established on the hoof, which mean the two torchbearers must kiss as they
pass over the flame. A cheeky peck between 17 and 18, there.

08.39: Lighting a torch is not
the only similiarity this London Games shares with the ancient
version, says Paul Kelso:

As Tony Perrottet’s The Naked Olympics describes, a visitor from
pre-Christian Olympia would recognise London 2012 as a descendant of the
ancient Games – and not always for the most welcome reasons.

08.37: Here’s a picture of our girl Bryony with her torch earlier:

08.35: A heck of a lot of people in Penzance too. Cynical types (myself
included) might just get sucked up by all this goodwill and smiling.

08.32: Devon and Cornwall Police said around 3,500 people were at
Land’s End to see the start of the relay.

08.27: Big smiles from Bryony and a competitive jogging pace. Here’s a
pic:

08.26: BIG MOMENT for the Telegraph. Our very own Bryony
Gordon has “kissed” flames, and literally kissed the previous
torchbearer, and is on her way.

08.22: Huge crowds in what I believe is Penzance. Lots of Union Flags
being waved. And lots of work for the security to do as they try and keep
excitement levels down from FRANTIC WAVE to sensible grin.

08.20: DRAMA! BBC say there has already been a hedgerow incident:

08.16: We have a torchbearer with very pink hair. The
first sign of anti-establishment behaviour on the torch relay?

08.13: The current torchbearer is a real waver. Stopping short of
blowing kisses. But only just.

08.08: And she’s off! NO! SLEEP!…….’TILL PENZANCE!

08.07: The convoy has ended and the next torchbearer, surrounded by the
aforementioned security hulks, is ready and waiting to light her torch from
the lantern.

08.06: Security on the torch relay is a big concern. The Met have 70
officers on duty to make sure no protests or assaults disrupt the relay. “If
anybody is thinking of protesting they should come and talk to us, but you
don’t have the right to stop the torchbearer carrying the torch,”
says National Olympic Security Coordinator Assistant Commissioner Chris
Allison. Read
more…

07.59: Here’s another nice shot of Ainslie with the torch. He
looks happy and the flame looks bright:

07.57: Some children are being interviewed on BBC Breakfast. Not really
talkative.

Did you get to touch the torch? Nooooo.

Do you have Olympics tickets? Noooo.

Right, well that’s that then.

07.54: The flame is now in “convoy mode”, which means it has
been transported to a lantern and put in a van on the way to Newlyn when it
will start again. Throughout the relay the torch will be transported a
number of ways, including a zip wire from the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle and a
chairlift at the Needles on the Isle of Wight.

07.51: Every torchbearer seems to have handled their nerves pretty well
so far. But what happens if they drop the torch, I hear you ask. Well, Locog
and the torch’s designers say it has been tested to keep the flame burning
even if it is dropped from up to a height of 3m. That said, the damage to
the body of the torch would probably merit a replacement one being lit.

07.48: Locog chairman Seb Coe has spoken:

A huge thank you to all those who have been involved in the planning
process who have helped the London 2012 Olympic torch relay come to
life. Everyone has played their part in giving thousands of inspirational
people and hundreds of communities their moment to shine.

07.42: The BBC video feed appears to be encountering some difficulties
(understandable given the remote location) but if you want to follow the
whereabouts of the torch you can do so with our nifty
interactive map.

07.39: The torch is now somewhere between Sennen and Newlyn, before it
hits Penzance at 8.20am.

07.34: Our man Ben Ainslie with his reaction after beginning the
torch relay earlier this morning.

I’m very proud for the whole nation. It’s a fantastic moment. The torch is
actually quite heavy – believe it or not. It was pretty emotional. So much
effort has gone into getting the Olympics over to London and I’m very proud
for everyone involved. This is great for Cornwall. This is such an exciting
period in the run-up to the Olympics. The world championships went very well
yesterday but this year is all about the Olympics. The atmosphere here shows
what strong home support athletes are going to receive.

07.31: A serious question from Jacquelin Magnay:

07.28: We’re on to torchbearer No 4.

07.27: British triple jump legend and ever-present London 2012
cheerleader Jonathan Edwards says Ainslie taking the torch was his
best moment so far in the never-ending Olympic build-up. “I had a
proper tear,” he says.

07.24: A Locog torch official talking on BBC News is tip-toeing gently
around the fact that the torch’s
origins stem from Nazi Germany. He just references “a
1930s German professor”.

07.23: In today’s Daily Telegraph there is a fantastic torch
relay supplement. I’ll feed through some of the best bits throughout this
morning’s live coverage. To start with Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby explain
how they designed
the London 2012 Olympic torch.

07.20: Swallow is handy on a wave, but she’s not a bad jogger either. I
think she was on 9-minute mile pace for her leg of the relay. Now the flame
is being ‘kissed’ between the two torches and the third torchbearer is off.

07.17: Ainslie has handed the flame over to the second torchbearer,
Tassy Swallow, a local surf champion who yearns for the sport to be adopted
by the IOC for future Games.

07.15: Ainslie is playing up to the crowd, letting them all touch the
torch. Showman. Oh, now he’s broken into a jog in what is a more familliar
torch relay pace.

07.12: There’s a fair amount of wind but that flame is still burning
brightly. Organisers are confident it will stay alight in winds of 35mph and
even gusts of up to 50mph. Tests have shown it to handle 50mm an hour of
rain or snow and temperatures from -5C and up to 40C.

07.10: Richard Full, who handed over the torch to Ainslie:

I was shaking a bit. It was a real honour to hand it over.

07.09: Ainslie is off! Still a slow walk, with much waving, at the
moment, but I trust he’ll break into a jog shortly.

07.07: It’s lit! Ainslie is just so damn good at everything, isn’t he?

07.05: Ainslie, torchbearer 001, is posing for a few pictures before
the lantern is used to light his torch.

07.03: The flame is being transported in a lantern towards Ainslie who
is standing underneath the famous Land’s End sign.

07.01: The chopper has landed! The Duke of Cambridge Prince William
will not be involved in the torch relay this morning. Sources say he didn’t
want to take focus off his Royal Navy colleagues involved in the Sea King
search and rescue chopper.

06.57: We’re about three minutes away from this Royal Navy rescue
chopper landing.

06.55: Ainslie seems intensely relaxed ahead of his big moment. A bit
like a groom preparing to wed his third wife.

06.51: An update from our Olympics Editor Jacquelin Magnay who is at
Land’s End

Paul Deighton says people are lined ten deep on the route into Lands End. “This
confirms the optimism I have always had. Response from localcommunities and
the inspirational stories behind the torchbearer have been fantastic. The
local pub had a “torch-tastic” night last night”

06.48: A helicopter is delivering the flame to Land’s End. It will be
handed over to London 2012 officials who will then light the torch and hand
it to today’s first torchbearer, three-time Olympic gold medallist and Telegraph
Sport columnist Ben Ainslie.

06.46: Our decorated Olympian Sir Steve Redgrave believes this is the
start of the real
Olympic countdown.

There is no doubt now: the Olympics have truly arrived in Britain. The
arrival of the Olympic torch on British soil on Friday night and the start
of the relay on Saturday has made the whole event seem that much more real.
Maybe not so much for the athletes, who are mainly overseas or locked down
in training camps, but for the spectators it’s the moment when they can
really start to appreciate the enormity and significance of this crazy,
chaotic, wonderful festival of sport hurtling towards us.

06.43 Good morning and thanks for joining us for live coverage of the
start of the torch relay. We’re at Land’s End in Cornwall for the beginning
of a 70-day journey that will end with the torch lighting the cauldron in
the Olympic Stadium. The relay begins in just over 15 minutes, so let’s get
going shall we?

Article source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/torch-relay/9276578/London-2012-Olympics-torch-relay-begins-at-Lands-End-live-updates.html

Sailor Ben Ainslie was the first torchbearer as the Olympic flame began its 70-day journey around Britain and Ireland on Saturday ahead of the 2012 London Games.

The flame arrived in Britain from Greece on Friday and was flown to Land’s End, the southwesterly tip of England, on Saturday by a Royal Navy helicopter before it was used to light the torch for the start of the 8,000 mile (12,875-kilometre) relay.

Ainslie, who has won gold medals in sailing at the last three Olympics, then walked just 300 metres, allowing some of the 3,500 spectators lining the route in the morning sunshine to touch the gold-coloured torch.

The yachtsman, wearing the number 001 on his T-shirt as the first torchbearer, then passed on the torch to 18-year-old Anastassia Swallow, a surfer who is hoping that her sport will one day become an Olympic discipline.

Ainslie, who on Friday won a sixth world title in the Finn class as he prepares for an attempt to win a fourth Olympic gold, said it had been a special moment for him to start the relay in his home county of Cornwall.

“It was pretty emotional, so much effort has gone into getting the Olympics in London and it means so much to everyone involved,” he said.

On its first day, the torch will be carried through Cornwall to the city of Plymouth.

Over the next 10 weeks, 8,000 people will carry the torch as it makes its way around the United Kingdom and heads for the Olympic Stadium in east London for the opening ceremony on July 27.

It will travel through 1,019 cities, towns and villages and visit landmarks such as Stonehenge.

From June 3-7, it will go to Northern Ireland and then the Republic of Ireland — the only country outside the United Kingdom on the torch route.

No overseas legs of the relay have been planned this year after those before the 2008 Beijing Games was hit by protests against China.

The flame was lit in Ancient Olympia in Greece on May 10 and was handed over to the British delegation in Athens in a rain-blighted ceremony on Thursday.

It was flown to Britain encased in a special lantern on board a British Airways plane renamed The Firefly for the occasion, accompanied by football star David Beckham and Princess Anne, the daughter of Queen Elizabeth II.

Beckham had the honour of lighting the first torch at the Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall on Friday.

In contrast to the shoestring operation when Britain last hosted the Olympics in 1948, this year’s relay is a big-budget affair, with parties and public events at each of its stops.

The oldest runner will be a 100-year-old woman, while Olympians past and present and soldiers injured in Afghanistan will also take part.

The chief organiser of the London Olympics, Sebastian Coe, said on Friday its arrival in Britain was “a magical moment for any host country”.

The torch relay “will connect millions of people around the UK to the Games in a unique way and allows us to celebrate the best of the UK and its people,” he said.

Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/london-2012-olympic-torch-relay-starts-britain-065614656--oly.html