London to receive Olympic torch in a style on Sunday

LONDON—The Local London Government with the collaboration of the British Olympic Association has made elaborate arrangements to receive the Olympic torch and conduct its run past the historic landmarks of the British capital on April 6.
The details were announced at a news conference held at the City Hall on Thursday by Judith Woodward, Advisor, Culture and Tourism, Greater London Authority, Jackie Brock-Doyle, Director of Communication, London 2012, and Neil West, Chief Operating Officer, British Olympic Association.
The Torch runners will include celebrities, Olympians and paralympians who will carry the flame from its starting at Wembley Arena Square in North London to the 2012 London Olympic site of Stratford in East London.
Some of the 80 personalities assigned to carry the torch include England Test cricket Kevin Pietersen, former Olympic gold medallist rower Steve Redgrave, Tennis star Tim Henman, newscaster Sir Trevor McDonald and a host of other leading British celebrities.
The torch is set to travel to 21 cities on five continents, and every province in China, before arriving back in Beijing for the start of the 2008 Olympic Games on August 8.
The torch will also make a part of its journey on river Thames as well as on a bike.
At the iconic landmark of Trafalgar Square in Central London, the festivities will continue in front of Nelson’s column with performers and music raising the crowds’ excitement.
A banner will be dropped from a lift in the centre of the square, which will rise from the stage to the accompaniment of a brass fanfare.
The grand finale at Peninsula Square in Greenwich, East London will round off the day. The organisers have planned an event, which will be a fusion of East meets West, the contemporary and traditional.
Crowds will witness the spectacular display as the torch completes its final lap, and the final torchbearer reaches the stage to light the Olympic cauldron.

—Agencies