The Olympic torch will be handed over in Athens today before being flown to Britain.
The flame will be formally handed over to the London delegation this afternoon in Athens, at a ceremony attended by Princess Anne, David Beckham, London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe, London mayor Boris Johnson and sports minister Hugh Robertson. The ceremony, at the Panatheneic Stadium that hosted the 1896 Olympics, will see the final leg of the Greek torch relay, which has been going for a week since the flame was lit in Olympia, site of the ancient Games.
The final torch bearer will light a lantern, which will be handed to Princess Anne, president of the British Olympic Association, by her Greek counterpart Spyros Capralos. The lantern will then be driven to the British Ambassador’s residence, where after a reception attended by Princess Anne, it will remain overnight.
It will then be transported to Athens airport on Friday. It arrive in the UK aboard a gold-liveried British Airways jet on Friday evening ahead of a 70-day tour of Britain.