The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games has announced that the Olympic Flame will arrive in the UK on Friday 18 May 2012 and will travel around the UK for 70 days, arriving in London the weekend before the 2012 Games begin.

# Olympic Flame to arrive in UK on 18 May 2012
# 70 day Torch Relay around the UK
# 8,000 Torchbearers
# 95% of the UK population to be within a one hour journey time of the Torch Relay

In line with the bid promise to inspire and connect a new generation to the Olympic Movement, 8,000 torch bearers will be selected with over half of the places expected to go to young people. There will be a torchbearer nomination process, expected to be announced in May 2011, giving people across the UK the chance to be involved in this historic countdown to the start of the London 2012 Games.

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: “The Olympic Torch Relay heralds the start of the London 2012 Games, bringing people across the UK together to celebrate the spirit of the Games. The London 2012 Torch Relay will connect people and places; young people to sport and the UK to the rest of the world.

We will be working closely with villages, towns and cities the length and breadth of the UK to ensure that as each community welcomes the Olympic Flame, they do so in a way that is unique and special to their area.”

As the Torch Relay travels around the UK, visiting different communities and cultures it will connect people to the Olympic Games, its heroes and its spirit. With 95% of the British population to be within a one hour journey time of the route, the Olympic Torch Relay will bring the 2012 Games to people’s doorsteps and showcase the best of the UK from dynamic urban areas to places of outstanding natural beauty and sporting and cultural landmarks.