London's Torch Security Team accompanies the flame throughout the route. Photograph by Flickr user Sum_of_Marc.ĭay's end ceremony photograph by Flickr user Sum_of_Marc. It continued north and looped through Northern Ireland early in June.Īnd through Handbridge, Chester, England, on May 28. The torch relay passed through Pontypridd, Wales on May 25, and was photographed by Flickr user Kristi Herbert. In the picture above, the torch is traveling through Cardiff, Wales on May 25. Soccer icon David Beckham had the honor of lighting the first torch from the flame that was carried on the plane. The torch relay in Britain began May 18 at Land's End in Cornwall. Around 15,000 torches are manufactured, and each torchbearer has the opportunity to purchase their torch after the run. It's not just one torch passed from runner to runner. The outer surface contains 8,000 circles, to signify the 8,000 mile route through the UK and the 8,000 runners who are relaying it. The 2012 Olympic torch was designed by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby. Torch photographer by Flickr user Adam Kerfoot-Roberts. The Civil Aviation Authority gave a special waiver for carrying an open flame on an aircraft. The torch was relayed around Greece for a week in honor of the ancient Olympics before being flown to Britain on May 18 on a chartered Airbus A319 nicknamed The Firefly. This year's flame was lit on May 10, ignited by the sun's rays hitting a parabolic mirror at the ruins of the Temple of Hera in Olympia, Greece, near the site of the ancient games.Īirbus photograph by Marc Van Loo via Wikipedia. Photograph of the origin ceremony by Flickr user Kokotron. The torch relay was introduced to the modern (summer) games in 1936, and was added to the winter games in 1952. The ancient Greeks also kept the flame burning for the duration of the games. The torch relay commemorates how Prometheus stole fire from Zeus and presented it to humans. The Olympic flame was part of the ancient games in Greece. Photograph of the Olympic torch passing through Dunfermline, Scotland, by Flickr user Grant Adamson. The route covers 8,000 miles and involves 8,000 relay runners. Less than a month to go before the opening of the London Olympics, and we are halfway through the 70-day Olympic Torch Relay that takes the Olympic Flame through all four countries of the United Kingdom.

London olympic torch