The Flame will be lit during an hour-long ceremony at the Temple of Hera, an an ancient Doric Greek temple dedicated to Hera, the wife of Zeus, on May 10 and will then travel around Greece for a week before it is handed over to a London 2012 representative on May 17 at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, the main venue for the Olympics when it was revived in 1896. 


The Flame will travel in a ceremonial lantern that can burn safely for up to 30 hours and when special charter flight BA2012 arrives at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose near Helston, on the Lizard Peninsula, in Cornwall at lunchtime where it will be welcomed by an estimated 1,000 guests and local residents.

It will start its 70-day journey 8,000 mile around Britain the following morning on May 19 from Land's End. 

"It gives me great pleasure to confirm 10 May as the Flame lighting date and RNAS Culdrose as the Olympic Flame's arrival point into the UK," said Sebastian Coe, the chairman of London 2012.

"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 Greek leg of the Torch Relay is designed to showcase the beauty and history of the Greek mainland and islands to the world.

The second Torchbearer on the first day and the penultimate Torchbearer on the last day of the Greek leg will be chosen by London 2012 and announced later. 


The choice of RNAS Culdrose, as well as being close to Land's End, is also designed to acknowledge the contribution that maritime and coastal search and rescue services undertake for Britain.

Culdrose, which officially opened in 1947, is best known as the base where Prince William did his helicopter training,

"We are honoured that the Olympic Flame will arrive in the UK by landing at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose," said Captain Williie Entwisle, the station's commanding officer.

"Our personnel, many of whom are currently supporting the Royal Navy on operations across the globe, are very excited that the build up to the London 2012 Olympic Games will start here.

"We are delighted to be playing such an important part in this once-in-a-lifetime event."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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