Olympic Torch Bearing Enters Day 64 In London

On Saturday July 21st, the Relay will start in Greenwich Park at 7.22am and finish in Waltham Forest at 7.30pm. The Relay will travel 36.35 miles and 143 Torchbearers will carry the Flame.After starting the day in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, the Flame will travel through the London Boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Waltham Forest.

On its journey the Flame will visit two London 2012 venues: Greenwich Park, venue for the Equestrian competition, and North Greenwich Arena, where it will be carried onto the roof by former gymnast Nadia Comaneci, who won nine Olympic gold medals in the 1976 and 1980 Games. At the top of North Greenwich Arena, Nadia will hand the Flame over to former basketball player John Amaechi.

Other Torchbearer highlights include Tessa Sanderson-White carrying the Flame in Newham. Tessa remains the only British woman ever to have won an Olympic gold medal for a throwing event, after her success in the Javelin at Los Angeles 1984.

Also carrying the Flame in Newhan is Fauja Singh, 101, from Ilford – the oldest Torchbearer in the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. Fauja started his career as a marathon runner at the age of 89 and is a huge inspiration to runners all round the world. He has completed nine marathons and also carried the Flame when it was in London for the Athens 2004 Games.

The evening celebration is being hosted by the London Borough of Waltham Forest at Chestnuts Field, from 5pm to 8pm. Coca-Cola will bring music from Rizzle Kicks to the stage, while Lloyds TSB will stage stunning acrobatic performances and Samsung bring a dance performance from Twist and Pulse. Waltham Forest will also present entertainment from UnityUK, the amazing hip-hop dance group from Sky's Got to Dance, the amazing vocal talents of Mizz Camara and the energetic free runners Rhythm Kour Collective. Towards the end of the show, the day's last Torchbearer will light a cauldron on stage.

London's Richmond Park Home Of The Olympic Rings

The latest official Olympic Rings spectacular in the UK was unveiled at Richmond Park in London, the Rings were mown into the grass by the Royal Parks’ shire horses and are visible on the Heathrow flight path, ready to welcome athletes and visitors to the London 2012 Games.

The Rings which are approximately 300 meters wide and over 135 meters tall are set to be another exciting feature in London for the duration of the Olympic Games.  They have been mown into the grass by six of The Royal Park’s shire horses and can be seen from the air as Richmond Park lies under the flight path of Heathrow airport.
The Rings will be maintained by two of the horses - Jim and Murdoch, who regularly cut road side verges in Richmond Park. The grass will be regularly trimmed throughout the summer and are set to become more defined over time.
Seb Coe, LOCOG Chair said: 'The Olympic Rings are an iconic symbol, inspiring athletes and uniting people around the world. To athletes they represent the culmination of thousands of hours of training and reaching the highest level in sport. These Rings will excite and inspire visitors coming to London.’
Adam Curtis, Assistant Park Manager of Richmond Park for The Royal Parks said: ‘The Royal Parks came up with the idea to create huge Rings in the grass here at Richmond and LOCOG loved it! I am so proud we‘ve been able to achieve such an effective representation of the Olympic symbol.
‘Jim and Murdoch can manoeuvre the mower around tight corners, and regularly cut the grass here at Richmond Park - they are our secret weapon because they maintain the Park without damaging the unique grassland and wildlife.’
Shire horses have been used to maintain the park for many years as they are the best tool for rolling bracken and are especially useful during the winter when the ground is soft. Horses have worked in Richmond Park since 1637 when the Park was enclosed as a royal hunting ground by King Charles First.
The Olympic Rings are one of the world’s most recognisable logos. The five rings represent the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games.
Giant sets of Olympic Rings are being installed at iconic sites across the United Kingdom to excite and inspire people ahead of the Games and to demonstrate that we are ready to welcome the world.
Part of the Olympic Road Race Cycling route will also pass through Richmond Park. 11 Olympic and Paralympic events will take place across six Royal Parks during the Games – Hyde Park, Greenwich Park, The Green Park, St James’s Park, Bushy Park and Richmond Park.
Richmond Park has changed little over the centuries and, although it is surrounded by human habitation, the varied landscape of hills, woodland gardens and grasslands set among ancient trees abounds in wildlife. The Park has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature Reserve. The royal connections to this park probably go back further than any of the others, beginning with Edward (1272-1307), when the area was known as the Manor of Sheen. The name was changed to Richmond during Henry VII's reign