Olympic flame due to arrive in UK on 18 May

Paul Dancey on 06/02/2012

The Guardian has reported that the Olympic flame, lit by the morning rays of the sun on Olympia in Greece, will arrive in the UK at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall on the 18th May.

In an hour long ceremony the torch will be lit in the ancient ruins of the Temple of Hera in Olympia on the 10 May, and will then be relayed around Greece, arriving at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens on the 17th May for the official handover. The Panathenaic Stadium is the only major stadium in the world built entirely of white marble, and is the stadium that hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.

In confirming details of the arrival of the Olympic flame, Lord Coe, chairman of the London 2012 Organizing Committee said: "It gives me great pleasure to confirm 10 May as the flame lighting date and Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose as the Olympic Flame's arrival point into the UK. My team is looking forward to working with the Hellenic Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Defence and our commercial partners to create exciting events to mark the flame's Greek provenance and its arrival to our shores."

The flame will travel to the UK on board a British Airways flight from Athens, and will arrive at RNAS Culdrose in the early evening of 18 May. The Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond, said "I am delighted that Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose will be the first to welcome the Olympic Flame into the UK. It is a fantastic opportunity for the Armed Forces to be involved in such a unique event, and one they can take pride in for years to come."

The torch will then be relayed around the UK by a team of 8,000 runners, including 7,200 members of the public, before arriving at the Olympic stadium in London for the opening ceremony of the games.

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