The Olympic Torch Relay runs from the 19th May to 27th july. Over those 70 days, 8,000 torch bearers will take the torch within a hours drive of 95% of us.
To track the torches progress or to see when they will be near to you – the official London 2012 site has a great route map
http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/route/
and the BBC site also has a good interactive map and
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13391986
This year’s torch was designed by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby from London, here’s the facts:
- Made of an aluminium alloy
- Each Torchbearer will carry the Olympic Flame for 300 metres on average
- There are 8,000 laser-cut holes representing the torch bearers
- Contains propane-butane burner
- The torch is 80cm tall, 10cm wide at top, 4.5cm wide at base
- The torch will be coated in gold or titanium nitride
- Made in the UK
- Will flame from crown and sides of top
- Half of the Torchbearers will be aged between 12 and 24
- On Average, 110 torchbearers will carry the flame each day
They even got a couple of elephants to salute the torch on its way through (1.12 in vid)