London 2012 Olympic torch goes out after just three days in Britain
- Para-badminton star David Follett had been carrying torch through Great Torrington, Devon when it went out
- Replacement torch was brought out and lit from ‘mother flame’
- ‘Not uncommon for flame to go out,’ says LOCOG spokesman
- But highly unofficial torch continues to burn at event 13 miles away
By Amy Oliver
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It’s been going for just three days and 115 miles but the Olympic Torch Relay has already burnt out, organisers confirmed today.
Shortly before 10am the torch that was attached to the side of Para-badminton star David Follett’s wheelchair went out during his leg of the relay in Great Torrington, Devon.
But just up the road in Hatherleigh, an extremely unofficial torch kept burning despite the wind.
Looking rather perilous against a row of thatched cottages, the flaming fireball on a stick was paraded through the small market town in the locally organised event.
Back in Great Torrington, a spokeswoman for LOCOG said: ‘The flame went out due to a malfunctioning burner.
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Relight my fire: Para-badminton star David Follett has his torch re-lit after the flames went out during his leg of the relay tour through Great Torrington, Devon
Not uncommon: A spokeswoman for LOCOG said it was not uncommon for a flame to go out and the torch is simply re-lit from the mother flame carried alongside
…Meanwhile: Just up the road in Hatherleigh, an extremely unofficial torch kept burning despite the wind
THE TORCHBEARER WHO IS 64 YEARS LATE FOR HIS DUTIES
Retired farmer Tony Hill is 64 years late for his Olympic Torch Relay duties.
The 86-year-old from Wiveliscombe, Devon, had been due to carry the flame ahead of the 1948 London Games but was struck down with appendicitis.
As the torch came through Taunton in Somerset that year he was on the operating table.
But today a healthy Mr Hill held the golden torch aloft during his leg of the relay through Barnstaple in Devon. It had been ‘an honour’ he said.
Speaking about missing out in 1948, Mr Hill added: ‘I was in the Southern Counties cross-country championships in Kent a few days before and collapsed with appendicitis.
‘I never thought I’d get another chance when I was in East Reach Hospital on the day I was meant to be carrying the torch in 1948.’
‘It is not uncommon for a flame to go out and this can happen for a number of reasons, for example, in extreme winds.
‘A replacement torch was brought out from the convoy of vehicles and was lit from the mother flame.
‘We keep the mother flame in specially designed miners’ lanterns so if the flame does go out for some reason on the relay we relight it from the source of the flame,’ the spokeswoman added.
Mr Follett was left paralysed at 19 when he was struck by a car. But after returning to college to complete his A Levels he looked at what sports were available to wheelchair athletes and helped to set up a badminton club.
With his playing partner, Follett has been unbeaten for three years in the four nations competitions and he is now the Para-badminton world No 1 in his class.
The torch relay entered its third day today and will see dozens of unsung and hard-working individuals get their moment in the spotlight as they carry the torch from Exeter to Taunton.
However, some of the Olympic torchbearers have caused a stir after cashing in on their once-in-a-lifetime privilege by selling their torches on eBay.
Before the first day of the relay was completed, the gold torches appeared on the online auction site.
A torch used during the relay on Saturday is currently attracting bids of more than £30,000.
The seller lists the item as: ‘An amazing sporting souvenir, be one of the first to have one!’ Other torchbearers have pledged to donate the proceeds from the sale to charity.
Sarah Milner Simonds, from Burnham-on-Sea, who is selling her torch to raise money for the project she represents, said she had received a bid of more than £150,000.
Ms Milner said she still needed to check if the bid was genuine. ‘It only occurred to me to do it on Saturday night,’ she told BBC Breakfast.
‘The sale closed last night at 10pm and the final bid was £153,000.’
The torchbearer, who was nominated for her work as a community gardener for the People’s Plot, said she was dismayed that people who objected to her decision had started sending her abusive emails.
Torch fever: The crowds were back today to watch Georgina Geikie carrying the Olympic Torch on the leg between Okehampton and Merton in Devon
We want the torch! School children enjoy a break from their lessons to watch the torch pass them in Okehampton, Devon
Patience: A British bulldog decked out in red, white and blue waits patiently for the touch in Bideford, left, while right, crowds gather on a bridge between Torquay and Teignmouth
‘Obviously it has really upset people but I think that it’s not something that is really me to keep my shiny trophy on a mantelpiece when it is obvious how much good one can do with the money that someone might be willing to pay for it.’
Organisers will be hoping for a repeat of the scenes on the first two days of the relay when excited people packed the streets of Cornwall and Devon to catch a glimpse of the torch.
Yesterday began at the Plymouth Life Centre with the torch in the hands of 18-year-old Jordan Anderton.
The relay travelled from Plymouth, through Totnes, Paignton and Torquay on the south Devon coast, before finishing in Exeter for an evening celebration.
More than 8,500 people filled Exeter Cathedral Gardens to watch a live show of music and dance.
Away from the official Olympic Torch Relay, residents in Hatherleigh, Devon got on with some burning of their own.
But perhaps holding a flaming fireball on a stick close to a row of pretty thatched cottages was not quite a gold medal idea.
As crowds of local residents lined the streets of the small market town clapping the unofficial torch bearers down the street, thick black smoke filled the air.
Luckily the event passed without incident. And what’s more the unofficial torch, which must have cost a fraction of the £495 price of a golden cheese grater, did not malfunction, despite the wind.
Bit close for comfort: A man bearing his own rather ambitious torch waves it close to a line of thatched cottages during an unofficial spin-off gathering in Hatherleigh, Devon
Has one been working out? Crowds lined the streets of Hatherleigh for the race run ahead of the official Olympic relay
London 2012 Olympics: Ben Ainslie begins Olympic torch relay
- Three-time Olympic sailing champion Ben Ainslie was the first of 8,000 torchbearers to lift the flame
- Huge crowds watched children take part in the relay’s opening day
- Torchbearers include some of Britain’s brightest sporting prospects
- David Beckham and Princess Anne travelled with flame as it was brought to Cornwall from Athens
By Rob Preece
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The London 2012 Olympic torch has begun its 8,000-mile relay across the UK, carried by one of Britain’s greatest athletes and cheered on by thousands.
Three-time Olympic sailing champion Ben Ainslie was the first of 8,000 torchbearers to lift the flame as it started its 70-day journey to the capital for the Games’ opening ceremony.
Some 3,500 supporters of all ages gathered at Land’s End in Cornwall to watch the 35-year-old collect the torch and take it on the first leg of its long journey.
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Ready to start: Triple Olympic champion sailor Ben Ainslie sets off from Land’s End as the torch relay gets under way
Excitement: Crowds snake across the beach at Marazion, Cornwall, as the torch is handed over with St Michael’s Mount in the distance
Many of them had got up at 4am to make the trip and Ainslie happily paused and waved so they could take photographs.
He decided to walk his relay leg, despite being in fine physical form as he prepares to try to win his fourth successive gold medal.
His feat was followed by dozens of other torchbearers, including children.
Table tennis player Vicki Smith, 16, of Plymouth, Devon, and aspiring rugby player Henry Hocking, 12, of Penzance, Cornwall, were among the lucky ones to be chosen .
After completing his relay leg, Ainslie said: ‘I did alright. At least I did not trip over.
‘I did not really want to rush it.
‘I wanted to give everyone the chance to touch the torch, it gives everyone around the country to feel part of it.
Awe: British table tennis player Vicki Smith carries the Olympic torch
Unforgettable: Torchbearer Henry Hocking takes his turn
‘It is one of those moments in your life where you are just in shock.
‘It was an amazing moment. I was very proud obviously to help kick start this period in the run-up to the Olympics.
‘It was probably one of the more nervous moments in my life but it is so special for everybody to see the Olympic torch.’
Ainslie, who went to school in Cornwall, also has the honour of being the first athlete to formally be selected for Team GB.
Can I touch it? The sailor’s supporters reached for the torch as he took it on the first leg of the relay
All smiles: Ainslie happily paused and waved so the crowd could take photographs
‘It’s amazing,’ he 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.’
A slight wind caught the flame as his torch was lit, beneath the famous Land’s End signpost which marks the extreme westerly point on the English mainland.
There was slight alarm for a moment as it looked like the flames were going to singe the sailor’s eyebrows.
Proud: Ainslie, who went to school in Cornwall, also has the honour of being the first athlete to formally be selected for Team GB
In focus: Many in the crowd wanted a picture of one of Britain’s brightest gold medal hopes
Ainslie said: ‘Initially when the gas was full up there was a bit of breeze so we had to be pretty careful.
‘The atmosphere was great. Everyone was really excited.’
After completing his mile, Ainslie passed the flame on to the second torchbearer, 18-year-old Anastassia Swallow from St Ives, Cornwall.
She has represented Britain four times as member of the junior British surf team and dreams of becoming the first woman to represent her country at both surfing and snowboarding.
Multi-talented: Surfer and snowboarder Anastassia Swallow, 18, carries the London 2012 Olympic torch on the leg between Land’s End and Sennon
Friendly wave: Nicole Martin carries the torch between the Cornish villages of Rosudgeon and Helston
The Olympic flame arrived in Cornwall last night on board a special golden liveried British Airways flight from Athens.
An RAF Sea King helicopter later brought it to Land’s End from RNAS Culdrose, near Helston.
There are 139 torchbearers carrying the flame a total of 136 miles on the first day of the relay.
It will arrive at the Hoe in Plymouth tonight for the relay’s first evening celebration.
The relay is due to travel across the country, coming to within one hour’s travelling time for 95 per cent of the UK population.
Sir Keith Mills, the London 2012 deputy chairman and a friend of Ainslie’s, described the start of a relay as a ‘historic and emotional day’ that had been nine years in the making.
Sir Keith was a key member of London’s winning bid to stage the Games.
He said: ‘This has been an amazing journey.
Delight: Torchbearer Sarah Blight gets mobbed as Olympic excitement builds
Patriotic: Torchbearer Sarah Blight wore the Union flag on her fingernails as she carried the flame
‘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.’
Sir Keith, who is a keen sailor who has worked with Ainslie on an America’s Cup, said: ‘Seeing Ben with the torch was one of the reasons that I wanted to be here.
‘He is one of our greatest Olympians and he also happens to be a friend.
‘I have spent a lot of time with him with the America’s Cup and the way that he is sailing with such passion, he is in a great position for a fourth gold medal.
‘I also know that for him being able to carry the torch on his home soil, is very special for him and his family.
‘I wanted to share in the moment with him.’
Security: A Metropolitan Police officer guards the Olympic flame onboard a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter as it travels to Land’s End
On its way: Police carried the Olympic flame to the helicopter in a lantern before its journey to Land’s End.
Ainslie made a point of wishing Miss Swallow luck as he passed the Olympic flame to her.
Miss Swallow said she wanted to take it slowly to take it all in but she got ‘a bit excited and a little crazy and ran too fast’
London 2012 wanted the bulk of people taking part in the relay to be unsung heroes who have done things to help their community, individuals involved sport and people from the younger generation.
Miss Swallow, who is hoping that surfing will soon become an Olympic event, said: ‘Ben Ainslie is definitely a role model.
‘I would love to be in his position in the future and be a role model to younger people.
‘Everyone knows that I have had to work hard to get where I am.
‘I was really surprised by the atmosphere here today. Everyone was cheering and calling my name.
‘It is something I will never forget.’
Dave Jackson, from Penzance, was nominated to carry the torch for his dedication to HM Coastguard.
Mr Jackson has been a volunteer coastguard for over 40 years and is the station officer of Land’s End Coastguard rescue team.
He has led his team during the response to many incidents, such the 1981 Penlee lifeboat disaster, in which 16 people, including eight volunteer lifeboatmen, died.
Behind the scenes Dave gives up many hours to check and maintain the rescue equipment to ensure that the team are available at anytime.
Touchdown: Thousands lined the streets as the Royal Navy Sea King helicopter carrying the flame arrived at Land’s End
‘It is a great honour to have been chosen to be one of the official torchbearers,’ he said.
‘It truly is an opportunity of a lifetime and one which I am very grateful for.
‘The Olympics is such a huge event which all the world’s media will be following as the torch makes its way from the start of its journey at Land’s End to the start of the Games in London.
‘I feel extremely proud to be a small part of it and I look forward to telling the story to my granddaughter who is just a couple of months old at the moment and is too young to understand it.
‘I would like to thank coastal safety manager Helen Hutson for nominating me and all the members of the Land’s End cliff rescue team past and present who I have had the pleasure to get to know and work with over the past 40 years.’
Other first day torchbearers included Andy Ferris, from Newquay, who was nominated for his work with surf life saving.
Keia Wardman, from St Ives, was nominated to carry the Olympic Torch because of her dedication to sport.
A keen swimmer, she is the Cornish champion at 400m and 800m freestyle and has achieved medals at regional level.
It’s arrived: David Beckham looked pleased as he carried the Olympic torch at RNAS Culdrose
The Airbus plane ‘Firefly’ Flight 2012 carrying the flame touched down at RNAS Culdrose, Cornwall at 7.25pm yesterday.
The flame was held in four different lanterns, which were fastened into specially designed cradles in seats 1A and 1B for the near four-hour flight from Athens.
It was carried down the steps of the plane by Princess Anne, who was followed by Games chairman Seb Coe, London mayor Boris Johnson and former England captain David Beckham.
A welcoming party including Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg greeted the delegation as they stepped off the plane.
The distinctive gold London 2012 torch was then lit from the lantern and was passed to Beckham.
He then climbed on to a stage and used the torch to light a cauldron at the air-sea rescue base, where it burned overnight.
The ceremony was broadcast live on the BBC’s The One Show, presented by Chris Evans.
More than 500 guests were present at Culdrose, which is home to most of the Navy’s Merlin and Sea King helicopter squadrons.
Lord Coe said: ‘The arrival of the Olympic Flame on home soil is a magical moment for any host country.
‘It 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.’
Mr Clegg said the Torch relay would allow Britain to showcase itself to the world.’
Mr Johnson said: ‘This is a fantastic moment for the London Games.
‘With every day of the Torch relay, the excitement will build around the country as we look forward to this fantastic festival of sport and culture.
‘It also signals the beginning of delivering the wonderful post Games legacy we have promised Londoners that continues to build on the jobs and economic growth that are already benefiting every corner of the capital.
May 19 – Land’s End, South West. This landmark is famed as the most south-westerly point of mainland Britain.
May 19 – Plymouth, South West. The home of Tom Daley, the teenage World diving champion and one of Britain’s hopes for success at the London 2012 Olympics.
May 20 – Exeter, South West.
May 21 – Taunton, South West.
May 22 – Bristol, South West.
May 23 – Cheltenham, South West.
May 24 – Worcester, West Midlands.
May 25 – Cardiff, Wales. The seat of the Welsh Assembly.
May 26 – Swansea, Wales. The home town of poet Dylan Thomas and Oscar-winner Catherine Zeta-Jones.
May 27 – Aberystwyth, Wales.
May 28 – Bangor, Wales.
May 29 – Chester, North West.
May 30 – Stoke on Trent, West Midlands.
May 31 – Bolton, North West. Sprint cycle star Jason Kenny, already a gold and silver medalist from the Beijing Games, looks set to be among the ones to watch at London 2012.
June 1 – Liverpool, North West. Being the birthplace of the Beatles alone gives Liverpool a place in history. It also boasts the Royal Liver Building, Liverpool FC and was the 2008 European Capital of Culture.
June 2 – Isle of Man, North West. Mark Cavendish, self-styled as the fastest man on two wheels and a 15-time Tour de France stage winner, hails from this region.
June 18 – Hull, Yorkshire and Humber.
June 19 – York, Yorkshire and Humber.
June 20 – Carlisle, North West.
June 21 – Bowness-on-Windermere, North West.
June 22 – Blackpool, North West. Heritage buffs may be familiar with the historic and Victorian sites including The Grand Theatre, Blackpool Tower and the crowd-pulling illuminations.
June 23 – Manchester, North West.
June 24 – Leeds, Yorkshire and Humber.
June 25 – Sheffield, Yorkshire and Humber. London 2012 chairman and two-time Olympic 1,500m champion Lord Coe and World champion heptathlete Jessica Ennis, who is going for gold at the the 2012 Games, are among Sheffield’s track and field famous sons and daughters.
June 26 – Cleethorpes, Yorkshire and Humber.
June 27 – Lincoln, East Midlands.
June 28 – Nottingham, East Midlands. Nottingham’s ice-skating legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, the 1984 Olympic ice dance champions, are among the Olympic ambassadors who will be helping give advice to Britain’s 2012 hopefuls. This region is also linked with the legend of Robin Hood.
June 29 – Derby, East Midlands.
June 30 – Birmingham, West Midlands.
July 1 – Coventry, West Midlands.
July 2 – Leicester, East Midlands.
July 3 – Peterborough, East of England.
July 4 – Norwich, East of England.
June 3 – Portrush, Northern Ireland.
June 4 – Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Nobel Prize-winning writer Seamus Heaney plus punk rockers The Undertones are from this region, which is the UK’s City of Culture 2013.
June 5 – Newry, Northern Ireland.
June 6 – Belfast, Northern Ireland. This is the adopted hometown of Dame Mary Peters who will be marking the 40th anniversary of her winning the 1972 Olympic pentathlon gold medal.
June 8 – Glasgow, Scotland. Charles Rennie Mackintosh is celebrated around the world as one of the most creative figures of the early 20th Century after making his mark on architecture and design.
June 9 – Inverness, Scotland.
June 10 – Orkney, Scotland. The Islands of Orkney are a group of about 70 islands and skerries situated 10km (6.2 miles) from the north-east tip of the Scottish mainland.
June 10 – Shetland, Scotland. Shetland is known as Britain’s most remote inhabited island.
June 11 – Isle of Lewis, Scotland.
June 11 – Aberdeen, Scotland.
June 12 – Dundee, Scotland.
June 13 – Edinburgh, Scotland. Arthur’s Seat is one of the must-see landmarks looming over the city which annually stages the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Sherlock Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and four-time Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy were both born in Edinburgh.
June 14 – Alnwick, North East.
June 15 – Newcastle, North East.
June 16 – Durham, North East.
June 17 – Middlesbrough, North East.
July 5 – Ipswich, East of England.
July 6 – Chelmsford, East of England.
July 7 – Cambridge, East of England.
July 8 – Luton, East of England.
July 9 – Oxford, South East.
July 10 – Reading, South East.
July 11 – Salisbury, South West.
July 12 – Weymouth & Portland, South West. The London 2012 sailing competitions will be held here.
July 13 – Bournemouth, South West.
July 14 – Southampton, South East.
July 15 – Guernsey, South East.
July 15 – Jersey, South East.
July 15 – Portsmouth, South East. Portsmouth is home to almost two-thirds of the Royal Navy’s surface ships. It is also where HMS Victory, Horatio Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar and the Royal Navy’s most famous ship, is docked.
July 16 – Brighton & Hove, South East.
July 17 – Hastings, South East.
July 18 – Dover, South East.
July 19 – Maidstone, South East.
July 20 – Guildford, South East.
July 21 – Waltham Forest, London.
July 22 – Bexley, London.
July 23 – Wandsworth, London.
July 24 – Ealing, London.
July 25 – Haringey, London.
July 26 – Westminster, London.
July 27 – Opening Ceremony, Olympic Stadium.
Now watch the video…
London 2012 Olympics: Princess Anne, Boris and Becks take the torch in Athens
- Princess Anne led London’s delegation in accepting the flame
- She was joined by Boris Johnson, David Beckham and Sebastian Coe
- Event hit by heavy rain – but the flame stayed lit
- Lord Coe thanked Greece for ‘laying on the British weather for us’
- Olympic ambassador Beckham accidentally called ‘Sir David’ twice by official announcer
- Flame will now begin 70-day, 5,000 mile relay around UK
By Eleanor Harding and Kerry Mcqueeney
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Princess Anne has admitted the Olympics could be seen as an expense the country cannot afford, but insisted the cost was making a constructive impact on people’s lives.
While the Games could be perceived as an extravagance, the Princess said, it was important to see it as an opportunity to boost skills and employment – especially for young people.
The Princess made her comments ahead of the official ceremony in Athens to hand the Olympic flame over to London.
Accepting the flame: Princess Anne raises a torch with the Olympic Flame next to Spyros Kapralos, head of the Greek Olympic Committee
London delegation: Boris Johnson, Princess Anne, David Beckham and Sebastian Coe take part in the handover ceremony
Speaking in a BBC interview before the ceremony, Anne said: ‘There’s an awful lot of people for who the torch relay is the signal, the beginning of what the Olympics is all about.’
The princess added: ‘There has been an awful lot of employment maintained and to some extent increased largely as a result of the Games taking place.
‘And for some of those they will have gained skills because people have concentrated on the apprenticeship side of the equation…’
‘So yes I understand that it looks like an extravagance but if they recognise the way a lot of that money has been spent, it’s made a constructive impact on people’s lives, particularly those setting out.’
The historic event, which featured a delegation including David Beckham, Boris Johnson and Princess Anne, took place in a rain-hit sundown ceremony at the Panathenaic stadium in Athens, venue of the first modern Olympics in 1896.
But the flame stayed lit and will now make its way back to the UK where it will start a 70-day 8,000 mile relay around Britain.
Ambassador: David Beckham shelters from the rain during a wet handover ceremony
Wet delegation: David Beckham (centre) and Mayor of London Boris Johnson (right) during the handover ceremony
Despite the buzz surrounding the last-minute news that the LA Galaxy star was flying in specially to be part of the ancient ceremony, the more formal duties came down to the Princess Royal as leader of the British delegation to Athens.
Both she and Karolos Papoulias, the Hellenic Republic president, sat in ancient thrones that are part of the stadium during the hour-long ceremony.
The flame was handed to the Princess, who was watched closely by other members of the official delegation including London 2012 chairman Lord Coe, Olympics minister Hugh Robertson, London mayor Boris Johnson, Beckham and five British sporting teenagers.
Each member of the British VIP delegation sheltered under blue umbrellas as they walked through the centre of the stadium to their front-row seats.
Everyone from the Princess Royal to Mr Robertson were named over the loudspeakers and greeted by cheers from the crowd.
There was also a chuckle from British people in the crowd as the announcer twice insisted on introducing Beckham as ‘Sir David Beckham’.
Nearly everyone will get a chance to see the Olympic flame up close
And the hosts refused to let the rain dampen proceedings, beginning the ceremony with a torch relay before some traditional dancing and music.
Afterwards, the Mayor of London joked: ‘I can’t testify to the accuracy of the music or dances but I still thought they were fantastic.’
Organisers also won over Beckham by producing a group of schoolchildren to sing God Save The Queen, to which he mouthed every word.
London Mayor Boris Johnson, meanwhile, described the event as an ‘an amazing day for us’.
He added: ‘This is the moment when we prepare to take the torch and the eyes of the world are swivelling to London. I think they will see a city that has made phenomenal progress in getting ready … by any, London is extraordinarily well prepared.
In his speech, Lord Coe thanked the damp crowd in the stadium for Greece’s warm hospitality and also for ‘laying on the British weather for us’.
The past week had linked Britain and Greece in a ‘very special way in the spirit of peace and friendship’, he said.
Princess Anne watches the handover ceremony from a ceremonial marble throne
Lighting the flame: Greek veteran weighlifter Piros Dimas and Chinese gymnast Li Ning light a cauldron with the Olympic Flame inside the Panathenaic stadium in Athens
Lord Coe added: ‘If the Olympic Games are about celebrating the best athletes in the world, the Olympic spirit is about celebrting the best in ourselves and in our communities.
‘We have found the very best torchbearers who, like Olympic athletes, will inspire a generation.
‘As we prepare to bring the flame to the UK, we are reminded of our responsiblity – like that of our predecessors in 1908 and especially 1948 – to stage Games that use the power of sport to unite the world in a celebration of achievement and inspiration in challenging times. A Games that will inspire the next generation to choose sport.’
The youngsters taking part in the handover were picked by London 2012 for displaying Olympic values. During the ceremony they exchanged symbolic olive branches to the tune of John Lennon’s Imagine.
The five, who come from different national regions, are from schools and colleges which are part of London 2012′s Get Set education network and school linking programmes run by the British Council.
The Olympic Flame has been taken on a relay around the Greek mainland and islands since it was lit by the rays of the sun in ancient Olympia last week.
Ceremonial: Greek athlete Niki Liosi lights her Olympic torch from a cauldron with the Olympic Flame atop the Athens Acropolis
Flags: The British and Greek flags are carried into the Panathenaic stadium during an Olympic Flame handover
The torchbearers have been taking it from Olympia to the Panathenaic Stadium. The Olympic flame was “laid to rest” at the Acropolis overnight before being taken on the eighth and final day of its Greek relay – taking it to the Acropolis Museum, the centre of Athens, Zappeio and to the handover ceremony.
A trio of world champions brought the flame safely to the stadium. It arrived in the hands of rower Christina Giazitzidou and was carried by gymnast Vasilis Tsolakidis and rower Alexandra Tsiavou.
Chinese gymnast Li Ning, who lit the cauldron at the opening ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Games, and Greek weightlifter Pyrros Dimas were the last torchbearers in Greece.
The ceremony also included priestesses in a performance choreographed by Artemis Ignatiou.
The British delegates fly back tomorrow evening, landing at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall, where they will attend a special ceremony welcoming the flame.
The flame has been given special clearance to travel onboard a plane. It will rest in a special cradle and be secured into its seat by a secure holding device.
When it arrives on British soil, a 70-day relay, involving 8,000 torchbearers covering 8,000 miles, will take the flame to east London’s Olympic Stadium and the opening of the Games on July 27.
Arriving in Athens: Boris Johnson stepped off the special 2012 plane in Athens on Wednesday
Holiday snaps: The London mayor poses for a photograph in front of the Acropolis
Claire Lomas: Paralysed woman completes London Marathon in bionic suit
- Heroic Claire Lomas finishes race after two weeks thanks to bionic suit
- Former chiropractor was left paralysed in 2007 in horse riding accident
- Bionic walking suit allows those with lower-limb paralysis to walk and stand
- She was given medals by other runners and cheered over line by hundreds
- Proud mother Claire has so far raised over £130,000 for Spinal Research
- Donations for Claire can be made at: www.justgiving.com/Claire-Lomas
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She was aching with pain, struggling to stay upright and battling to complete the biggest challenge of her life.
But with a beaming smile and a few tears, Claire Lomas finally crossed the finish line of the London Marathon yesterday.
It took 16 days, several hours and a few minutes longer than the longest time recorded on the day.
Scroll down to hear from Claire as she crosses the line
Over the line: Claire, accompanied by her husband Dan, crossing the finishing line after her heroic marathon effort in her bionic suit
Medal winner: A beaming and exhausted Claire was not eligible for a medal as she did not finish the race the same day, but was kindly given one by another runner
Great effort: Claire’s marathon feat helped raise over £130,000 for Spinal Research – and she was congratulated at the finish line by her husband Dan and daughter Maisie.
Event rider: Claire Lomas in action on horseback before her accident
Final stretch: The former chiropractor, supported by friends and family, makes the turn past Buckingham Palace today as she neared the London Marathon finishing line
Walking tall: Claire’s £43,000 suit allows people with lower-limb paralysis to stand, walk and climb stairs
But step by step, on an extraordinary wave of public support, the paralysed 32-year-old they nicknamed the bionic woman earned a place in history – and a massive boost for charity.
In a mechanical suit to control her legs, she conquered the 26.2 mile course that more than 36,000 ran last month. But one thing was missing – her medal.
For despite her remarkable endeavour, marathon organisers have resolutely refused to mark it with an official medal, or to include her in the list of successful competitors.
So yesterday, in a collective gesture that perfectly reflected a nation’s pride in her achievement, other runners donated theirs.
By the time she recovered her breath in The Mall yesterday, after completing the last stretch of the course in the shadow of Buckingham Palace, she had a dozen to hang round her neck – with more on the way.
Claire lost the use of her legs after breaking her spine when she was thrown from her horse in competitive trials five years ago.
Since then she has been liberated from a wheelchair by a pioneering suit that straps to her limbs and torso, giving her mobility through motion sensors, battery operated motors and an onboard computer system.
The former chiropractor and her 13-month-old daughter Maisie learned to walk together – one for the first time, the other for the second time around.
Celebration time: The emotion of finishing the London Marathon after over 16 days was clearly a lot for Claire to take in when she crossed the line this lunchtime
Mark of respect: Claire, who was paralysed in 2007, stops near the finish line of the marathon to pay her respect to Claire Squires, who died during this year’s event
Yesterday, Maisie and Claire’s husband Dan, whom she met after the accident, accompanied her to the finish line.
Wiping away tears as she was applauded by scores of onlookers, she told me: ‘I really didn’t expect all this. It’s breathtaking.
‘People have been fantastic and the support I’ve been given has been a huge help.’
MARATHON MAN SMASHES RECORD
A marathon man has smashed the world record for the longest distance covered within a week – by running an incredible 450 miles.
Inspirational John Reynolds, 50, covered more than 18 marathons in six-and-a-half days at an average rate of 69 miles per day.
He set off from his home in Radstock, Somerset, last Tuesday and passed the previous world record of 408 miles in nearby Chilcompton at 11am on Monday (7/5) with 21 hours to spare.
John continued running and crossed the finish line at Bath Abbey, Somerset, later on Monday after covering a staggering 450 miles in less than one week.
His achievement was all the more remarkable because eight years ago he could not even walk – after being struck down by a thyroid condition.
He has notched up half-marathons, marathons and supermarathons before tackling his latest week-long challenge, which has so far raised £50,000 for charity.
Claire, who lives near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, began the race with everyone else on April 22. She has since averaged between a mile and 2.5 miles a day.
Ask her what the biggest challenge was and you might expect her to tell you it’s the pain . . . the appalling weather . . . the mental determination required to keep going . . . or accidentally pressing the suit’s ‘sit’ button when there was nowhere to sit. It was none of those.
‘It’s the pavements,’ she said, raising her voice. ‘They’re so broken up and uneven, and every little bump is a hurdle for me. If everything had been flat and even, I’d have finished days ago!
‘There were times when I questioned whether I would make it . . . but once I started, I just took each day as it came. Once I got out there and saw people cheering me on, it really raised my spirits.’
Tourists, supporters and family followed in her wake and clapped her along the way.
Among the voices were former Olympic rower Sir Matthew Pinsent, TV presenter Gaby Roslin, adventurer Ben Fogle and three mounted members of the Household Cavalry, riding in an unofficial guard of honour.
She had raised more than £130,000 for the Spinal Research charity when she finished, with the total still rising. And the medal?
‘This was never about me,’ she said with genuine selflessness. ‘I didn’t do it for a medal, I did it to raise awareness and raise money.’
Claire’s entry was not officially timed, and she stayed overnight in a hotel before being driven back to the course each morning.
There may have been a red tape stretched across the makeshift finish line yesterday but no one, in another sense, was prepared to cut through it.
Marathon organisers insisted competitors must complete the course the same day to qualify for a medal.
Others were less formal. Among those who donated their own medals was Jacqui Rose, from Southampton.
‘She has epitomised what I thought the London Marathon was all about,’ she said.
‘For her not to have got one ridicules what the marathon was all about.’
Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/Claire-Lomas.
Slowly but surely: Claire, pictured earlier this month as she reached the halfway point in the London Marathon
The London Marathon is thought to have taken Claire around 40 hours, spread over 17 days
Clare was joined along the way by celebrity fans Tim Henman (pictured), Clare Balding and Sir Matthew Pinsent
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Paralysed woman who completed London Marathon after 16 days in bionic suit is snubbed for medal – but other runners give her theirs as she crosses the line
- Heroic Claire Lomas finishes race after two weeks thanks to bionic suit
- Former chiropractor was left paralysed in 2007 in horse riding accident
- Bionic walking suit allows those with lower-limb paralysis to walk and stand
- She was given medals by other runners and cheered over line by hundreds
- Proud mother Claire has so far raised over £90,000 for Spinal Research
- Donations for Claire can be made at: www.justgiving.com/Claire-Lomas.
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She was aching with pain, struggling to stay upright and battling to complete the biggest challenge of her life.
But with a beaming smile and a few tears, Claire Lomas finally crossed the finish line of the London Marathon yesterday.
It took 16 days, several hours and a few minutes longer than the longest time recorded on the day.
Scroll down to hear from Claire as she crosses the line
Over the line: Claire, accompanied by her husband Dan, crossing the finishing line after her heroic marathon effort in her bionic suit
Medal winner: A beaming and exhausted Claire was not eligible for a medal as she did not finish the race the same day, but was kindly given one by another runner
Great effort: Claire’s marathon feat helped raise over £86,000 for Spinal Research – and she was congratulated at the finish line by her husband Dan and daughter Maisie.
Event rider: Claire Lomas in action on horseback before her accident
Final stretch: The former chiropractor, supported by friends and family, makes the turn past Buckingham Palace today as she neared the London Marathon finishing line
Walking tall: Claire’s £43,000 suit allows people with lower-limb paralysis to stand, walk and climb stairs
But step by step, on an extraordinary wave of public support, the paralysed 32-year-old they nicknamed the bionic woman earned a place in history – and a massive boost for charity.
In a mechanical suit to control her legs, she conquered the 26.2 mile course that more than 36,000 ran last month. But one thing was missing – her medal.
For despite her remarkable endeavour, marathon organisers have resolutely refused to mark it with an official medal, or to include her in the list of successful competitors.
So yesterday, in a collective gesture that perfectly reflected a nation’s pride in her achievement, other runners donated theirs.
By the time she recovered her breath in The Mall yesterday, after completing the last stretch of the course in the shadow of Buckingham Palace, she had a dozen to hang round her neck – with more on the way.
Claire lost the use of her legs after breaking her spine when she was thrown from her horse in competitive trials five years ago.
Since then she has been liberated from a wheelchair by a pioneering suit that straps to her limbs and torso, giving her mobility through motion sensors, battery operated motors and an onboard computer system.
The former chiropractor and her 13-month-old daughter Maisie learned to walk together – one for the first time, the other for the second time around.
Celebration time: The emotion of finishing the London Marathon after over 16 days was clearly a lot for Claire to take in when she crossed the line this lunchtime
Mark of respect: Claire, who was paralysed in 2007, stops near the finish line of the marathon to pay her respect to Claire Squires, who died during this year’s event
Yesterday, Maisie and Claire’s husband Dan, whom she met after the accident, accompanied her to the finish line.
Wiping away tears as she was applauded by scores of onlookers, she told me: ‘I really didn’t expect all this. It’s breathtaking.
‘People have been fantastic and the support I’ve been given has been a huge help.’
MARATHON MAN SMASHES RECORD
A marathon man has smashed the world record for the longest distance covered within a week – by running an incredible 450 miles.
Inspirational John Reynolds, 50, covered more than 18 marathons in six-and-a-half days at an average rate of 69 miles per day.
He set off from his home in Radstock, Somerset, last Tuesday and passed the previous world record of 408 miles in nearby Chilcompton at 11am on Monday (7/5) with 21 hours to spare.
John continued running and crossed the finish line at Bath Abbey, Somerset, later on Monday after covering a staggering 450 miles in less than one week.
His achievement was all the more remarkable because eight years ago he could not even walk – after being struck down by a thyroid condition.
He has notched up half-marathons, marathons and supermarathons before tackling his latest week-long challenge, which has so far raised £50,000 for charity.
Claire, who lives near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, began the race with everyone else on April 22. She has since averaged between a mile and 2.5 miles a day.
Ask her what the biggest challenge was and you might expect her to tell you it’s the pain . . . the appalling weather . . . the mental determination required to keep going . . . or accidentally pressing the suit’s ‘sit’ button when there was nowhere to sit. It was none of those.
‘It’s the pavements,’ she said, raising her voice. ‘They’re so broken up and uneven, and every little bump is a hurdle for me. If everything had been flat and even, I’d have finished days ago!
‘There were times when I questioned whether I would make it . . . but once I started, I just took each day as it came. Once I got out there and saw people cheering me on, it really raised my spirits.’
Tourists, supporters and family followed in her wake and clapped her along the way.
Among the voices were former Olympic rower Sir Matthew Pinsent, TV presenter Gaby Roslin, adventurer Ben Fogle and three mounted members of the Household Cavalry, riding in an unofficial guard of honour.
She had raised more than £90,000 for the Spinal Research charity when she finished, with the total still rising. And the medal?
‘This was never about me,’ she said with genuine selflessness. ‘I didn’t do it for a medal, I did it to raise awareness and raise money.’
Claire’s entry was not officially timed, and she stayed overnight in a hotel before being driven back to the course each morning.
There may have been a red tape stretched across the makeshift finish line yesterday but no one, in another sense, was prepared to cut through it.
Marathon organisers insisted competitors must complete the course the same day to qualify for a medal.
Others were less formal. Among those who donated their own medals was Jacqui Rose, from Southampton.
‘She has epitomised what I thought the London Marathon was all about,’ she said.
‘For her not to have got one ridicules what the marathon was all about.’
Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/Claire-Lomas.
Slowly but surely: Claire, pictured earlier this month as she reached the halfway point in the London Marathon
The London Marathon is thought to have taken Claire around 40 hours, spread over 17 days
Clare was joined along the way by celebrity fans Tim Henman (pictured), Clare Balding and Sir Matthew Pinsent
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