Three—times Olympic gold medallist sailor Ben Ainslie was the first of 8,000 torchbearers when the Olympic flame Saturday began its 70—day tour of the United Kingdom.
The relay began at Land’s End in Cornwall with Ainslie carrying the torch some 300 metres before passing the flame to the second torchbearer, 18—year—old Anastassia Swallow.
“I would say that particular moment ranks right up there with winning a gold medal. It was incredibly special,” 35—year—old Ainslee said.
The 12,800—kilometre torch relay will end with the lighting of the cauldron at the opening ceremony of the Games in Stratford, east London on July 27.
Ainslie, who is aiming to win a fourth successive gold medal at the Games, decided to walk his relay leg, pausing and waving to the crowd before handing the torch to Swallow, who has represented the junior British surf team and wants to become the first women to represent her country at surfing and snowboarding.
“I did all right. At least I did not trip over. I did not really want to rush it,” Ainslie said.
“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.”
The Olympic flame had touched down in Britain on Friday when footballer David Beckham, Princess Anne and Sebastian Coe, chairman of Games organizing committee, flew in on a special flight from Athens.
The flame was lit by the sun’s rays at ancient Olympia in Greece last week and then formally handed over to Britain’s Princess Anne at a ceremony in Athens’ Panathenaic Stadium on Thursday evening.
Organizers say the 8,000 torchbearers will pass within 15 kilometres of the homes of 95 per cent of the population, taking in in 1,018 cities, towns and villages during the relay.
It will, at times, be spectacular, with major landmarks such as Loch Ness, the Scottish lake reputed to house the Loch Ness monster, the ancient stone circle of Stonehenge and Northern Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway on its route. The torch will also visit Ireland’s capital Dublin.
