Torch Relay
The Torch Relay area is responsible for the planning and activities related to the passage of the Olympic flame from Olympia in Greece to and around the host country, up to the Olympic stadium. The OCOG may establish a functional area dealing with Torch Relay aspects.
The introduction of London Torch Relay
The traditional lighting ceremony took place on 10 May 2012 at the Temple of Hera, Olympia, home of the Ancient Olympic Games.The torch relay travelled around Greece, and arriving at the Panathinaiko Stadium, in Athens on 17 May for the handover ceremony.
The torch relay will last 70 days, with 66 evening celebrations, six island visits with about 8,000 people carrying the torch a total distance of about 8,000 miles (12,800 km), starting from Land's End in Cornwall. The torch had one day outside of the United Kingdom when it visited Dublin on 6 June.[4] The relay will focus on national heritage sites, locations with sporting significance, key sporting events, schools registered with the Get Set School Network, green spaces and biodiversity, Live Sites (city locations with large screens), festivals and other events.
The torch relay will bring the Olympics to within 1 hour of 95% of the UK population. It is intended to help the London 2012 Olympic Legacy by getting school children, local celebrities and local people involved.
Following a three month tour by LOCOG, local authorities submitted ideas to regional government and LOCOG by May 2010, such as Oxfordshire. However some counties such as Somerset declined to enter ideas on grounds of costs such as road closures, citing costs of up to £300,000.
On 26 May, 2010 the start date of the Torch Relay was announced, along with three presenting partners – Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung. The torchbearer public nomination campaign, announced on 18 May 2011, called 'Moment to Shine', gave people across the UK the chance to be involved in the countdown to the start of the London 2012 Games.