Olympics:Three-time Olympic sailing champion Ben Ainslie today kicked off the London 2012 Olympic torch relay, saying it was "one of the more nervous moments of my life". Ainslie was up in the early hours to complete the first leg of a relay that will take in a cross-border trip to Dublin from Northern Ireland at the start of June.
Ainslie happily paused and waved so the cheering crowd of all ages could take photographs at Land’s End in Cornwall. Many of whom had risen at 4am to make the trip and waved flags to support the first torchbearers. Ainslie, 35, said: “I did alright at least I did not trip over. I did not really want to rush it.”
Being the first person to carry the Olympic Flame on home soil would also be a treasured memory, added Ainslie who is aiming to win his fourth successive gold medal on home waters at the London 2012 competition at Weymouth and Portland.
He said: “I would say that particular moment ranks right up there with winning a gold medal. “It was incredibly special.”
Around 3,500 people were at Land’s End to see the start of the relay. The relay involves 8,000 torchbearers are carrying the flame 8,000 miles to the opening ceremony on July 27th. The torch relay travels nationwide and aims to bring the Olympic Flame to within 95 per cent of the UK population.
More than 40 torch bearers will carry the Olympic flame through the streets of Dublin on June 6th when it tours the only city outside the UK. Eurovision hopefuls Jedward, former international footballer Paul McGrath and Tony Sutherland, father of the late Olympic boxer Darren, are among the list of relay runners.
The Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) said 41 torch bearers will take part a six hour dash that will include a cross border ceremony, a civic event, a run on the Skyline roof at Croke Park stadium and a relay around the capital. Organisers said the short, symbolic visit, will reflect the success of the peace process and the all island make-up of the Irish team for the London Olympic Games.