2012 Olympics

Computer-generated image of Olympic stadium
© London 2012

Latest news: Hundreds of churches are getting ready for 2012 Games

If you were in two minds as to whether the Church of England should 'get into the spirit' of the 2012 London Olympics (27th July to 12th August, Paralympics 29th August to 9th September), take a look at the facts.

A total of 26 sports in 38 disciplines (20 sports and 21 disciplines for Paralympics) will gather millions of people to three arenas in the Olympic Park in Stratford in East London and other venues, such as Wimbledon, Wembley Stadium and the O2 - some 9.2 million tickets were made available.

Many millions more will watch the Olympics on television or the Internet.

The Olympic Torch Relay route has been planned so that the Flame will come within 10 miles of 95 per cent of people in the UK.

FOLLOW THE OLYMPIC FLAME

Thursday 17 May - Olympic Flame handover to London 2012
Following its eight-day relay around Greece, on Thursday 17 May at 5pm the Olympic Flame will be handed over to London 2012 in the official Handover Ceremony, taking place in the Panathenaic Stadium, Athens. HRH The Princess Royal and LOCOG Chair Seb Coe will attend as part of the London 2012 delegation.

Friday 18 May - Flight 'BA2012' lands in the UK
The Olympic Flame will board a special chartered British Airways aircraft, flight 'BA2012', from Athens to Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, Cornwall. A ceremonial cauldron will be lit on the airfield at Culdrose. The arrival of the Olympic Flame will be broadcast live in an hour-long Olympic Flame Special on BBC One's The One Show from 7pm.

Saturday 19 May - Olympic Torch Relay begins
At 7.08am on Saturday 19 May, British Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie sets off from Land's End as the first inspirational Torchbearer in the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. The Flame's 70-day journey of the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey, will travel to within ten miles of 95 per cent of the population.

Follow the Flame
You can follow the Olympic Flame on its 70-day journey in a number of ways:
1) Online at www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay;
2) On Facebook on the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Facebook page; or
3) On Twitter by following @London2012 and using the #London2012TorchRelay and #Linethestreets hash tags

Given the Games will have a national impact, every parish in every diocese has the chance to engage with this unique event, through the shared values of faith and sport.

These pages aim to encourage you to do just that - and to keep you up to date with the latest information from around the dioceses.