Olympic flame to be lit in ancient home

The Olympic flame will be lit in the ruins of the home of the ancient Games in Greece before starting its journey to London, organisers said Wednesday.

A ceremony amid the ruins of the Temple of Hera in Olympia on May 10 will see the flame lit by the rays of the early morning sun.

It will then travel through Greece on an eight-day relay before being handed over in Athens on May 17 to a London 2012 representative.

The flame's first port of call in Britain will be at a naval base in Cornwall, south-west England.

From there, it will go on a 70-day nationwide tour culminating with the lighting of the cauldron at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, east London on July 27.

Sebastian Coe, the London 2012 chairman, said Wednesday: "It gives me great pleasure to confirm 10 May as the flame lighting date and Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose as the Olympic Flame's arrival point into the UK

"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," added Coe, the Olympic 1500 metres champion in both 1980 (Moscow) and 1984 (Los Angeles).

The flame will be transported from Greece to Britain on board a gold-liveried Airbus 319, flight number BA2012, for what will be the third Games staged in London following those of 1908 and 1948.

It will travel in a ceremonial lantern that is designed so the flame can burn safely for up to 30 hours.