Preference was given to clubs located in the area through which the torch relay route passed.ĭistance: 3,365km (London-Torquay relay excluded): 700km by boat, of which 250km was between Katakolon and Corfu, and 2,665km on land, of which ~ 35km was in Greece.Ĭountries visited: Greece, Italy, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, United Kingdom Torch Detailsĭescription: On the upper part, the torch bears the inscription “Olympia to London with thanks to the bearer XIVth Olympiad 1948', as well as the carved and traced Olympic symbol.įuel: Hexamine tablets with 6 per cent naphthaleneĭesigner / Manufacturer: Ralph Lavers / E.M.I.

In England, the torchbearers were chosen from amongst runners from clubs affiliated with the County Amateur Athletic Associations. Recruitment of torchbearers: For Italy, the torchbearers came from the army. Number of torchbearers: 1,416 (London-Torquay relay excluded): 30 in Greece, 762 in Italy, 135 in Switzerland, 270 in France, 38 in Luxembourg, 108 in Belgium, 73 in England Start date: 17 July 1948, Olympia (Greece)Įnd date: 29 July 1948, Wembley Stadium, London (United Kingdom)įirst torchbearer: Konstantinos Dimitrelis The day after the Opening Ceremony, a flame was lit from the cauldron in Wembley Stadium, and a 330km relay involving 107 runners kicked off, heading to the town of Torquay, where another cauldron was lit and burned during the sailing events. Some Olympic torchbearers in England are finding out this week just how much their once-in-a-lifetime sports souvenir is worth, though the value may not be as high as originally thought. The flame reached England on 28 July at Dover and arrived at Wembley Stadium the following day, during the Opening Ceremony, during which the cauldron was lit. Torch used in 2012 London Games relay If you thought an Olympic torch would fall into the priceless category, think again. From there, the flame sailed to Italy, via the island of Corfu, where a relay was also held.Ģ4 July 1948: In Lausanne, the relay stopped off at the Bois de Vaux cemetery, where the grave of Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games, is located. Owing the Civil War in Greece, the relay initially planned from Olympia to Athens was cancelled and diverted to Katakolon, on the coast near Olympia. To recall the truce during the ancient Games, the first torchbearer, soldier Konstantinos Dimitrelis, symbolically removed his uniform, put down his weapons and began the relay in sportswear.

London olympic torch