London 2012 Updates

Thursday, 26 July 2012

Olympic torch relay review of day 64

On Day 64 the Flame was carried to the top of North Greenwich Arena on its first full day in London.

On Saturday 21 July, the Relay started in Greenwich Park at 7.22am and finished in Waltham Forest at 7.30pm. The Relay travelled 36.35 miles and was carried by 143 Torchbearers.

After starting the day in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, the Flame travelled through the London Boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Waltham Forest.

On its journey the Flame visited two London 2012 venues: Greenwich Park, venue for the Equestrian competition, and North Greenwich Arena, where it was carried onto the roof by former gymnast Nadia Comaneci, who won nine Olympic gold medals in the 1976 and 1980 Games.

At the top of North Greenwich Arena, Nadia handed the Flame over to former basketball player John Amaechi.

Other Torchbearer highlights included Tessa Sanderson-White carrying the Flame in Newham.

Tessa remains the only British woman ever to have won an Olympic gold medal for a throwing event, after her success in the Javelin at Los Angeles 1984.

Also in Newhan the flame was carried by Fauja Singh, 101, from Ilford – the oldest Torchbearer in the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.

Fauja started his career as a marathon runner at the age of 89 and is a huge inspiration to runners all round the world. He has completed nine marathons and also carried the Flame when it was in London for the Athens 2004 Games.

The evening celebration was hosted by the London Borough of Waltham Forest at Chestnuts Field, from 5pm to 8pm.

Coca-Cola entertained with music from Rizzle Kicks, while Lloyds TSB entertained with stunning acrobatic performances and Samsung brought a dance performance from Twist and Pulse.

Waltham Forest also presented entertainment from UnityUK, the amazing hip-hop dance group from Sky's Got to Dance, the amazing vocal talents of Mizz Camara and the energetic free runners Rhythm Kour Collective.

Towards the end of the show, the day's last Torchbearer lit a cauldron on stage so the crowd could see the flame.

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