1: Wembley 1030BST
2: Ladbroke Grove 1100
3: British Museum 1220
4: China Town 1230
5: Trafalgar Square 1250
6: Southbank Centre 1330
7: Somerset House 1415
8: St Paul's Cathedral 1430
9: Potter's Fields 1500
10: Whitechapel Road 1530
11: Stratford 1600
12: Canary Wharf 1700
13: North Greenwich 1800
Page last updated at 10:55 GMT, Sunday, 6 April 2008 11:55 UK
Scuffles between pro-Tibet protesters and police have marred the start of the Olympic torch parade through London.
Champion rower Sir Steve Redgrave began the relay, taking the torch out of Wembley stadium as it began its 31-mile journey to Greenwich's O2 Arena.
Three people were taken away by police after trying to board the bus carrying the torch from the stadium.
Protesters later tried to snatch it from ex-Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq and a fire extinguisher was let off.
It is still unclear whether the Chinese Ambassador to London, Fu Ying, will take part in the relay after fears her presence could be a flashpoint for protesters.
There is a mobile protective ring around the torch as it is carried by bus, foot, boat and light railway past some of London's most iconic sights.
International sport has done far more to bring disparate communities together... than frankly most politicians have managed.
Gordon Brown has faced demands not to welcome the torch in Downing Street and to boycott the Beijing Olympics unless China opens talks with the Dalai Lama.
The prime minister has resisted the calls - pointing out that the exiled Tibetan leader opposes such action.
But he came under fresh attack ahead of the procession from Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg who branded the PM's participation "wholly inappropriate".
"Of course there is politics in this and one certainly can't just brush over the fact that human rights are being systematically abused on an extraordinary scale in China," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr.
Mr Clegg said "a calibrated approach" - such as refusing to engage in ceremonial duties - was the kind of "leverage" that would work with Chinese officials.
Meanwhile, Sebastian Coe - chairman of the London 2012 organising committee - hoped the protests did not become the focus of the procession.
"International sport has done far more to bring disparate communities together, sometimes communities and countries that are barely on speaking terms, than frankly most politicians have managed," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"If there are peaceful demonstrations that's acceptable but I do hope people recognise that this is actually a celebration of sport and Olympic values."
Those taking part in the relay include 10 Olympic champions, 18 schoolchildren and public figures such as news reader Sir Trevor McDonald and musician Vanessa Mae.
Double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes will run the last stage of the route to complete the relay before lighting the Olympic cauldron in front of 5,000 spectators.
On its journey through the city the flame will be passed between runners and cyclists and onto an open-topped bus.
Despite bitter temperatures and sleet, impromptu carnivals are expected as the torch passes iconic landmarks such as Nelson's Column, St Paul's Cathedral and Tower Bridge.
A lantern protected the Olympic flame as it arrived in the UK by plane
The flame will complete the London leg of its journey with a finale event at the O2 Arena headlined by the Sugababes. It will then leave for Paris.
Other Olympians who will take part as torch bearers are marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe and champion rower Sir Steven Redgrave.
Chinatown is expected to give the relay a particularly warm welcome but there will also be a strong police presence as a number of pro-Tibet groups have said they will hold protests.
The Metropolitan Police said 2,000 officers would be mobilised to maintain order along the route of the relay.
A spokesman said Scotland Yard had heard from six organisations, including the Free Tibet movement, the Falun Gong spiritual group and the Burma campaign, which were planning to send 500 demonstrators between them.
The torch was lit in Olympia, Greece, last week and will go through 20 countries before being carried into the Beijing Games opening ceremony on 8 August.
Scuffles between pro-Tibet protesters and police have marred the start of the Olympic torch parade through London.
Champion rower Sir Steve Redgrave began the relay, taking the torch out of Wembley stadium as it began its 31-mile journey to Greenwich's O2 Arena.
Three people were taken away by police after trying to board the bus carrying the torch from the stadium.
Protesters later tried to snatch it from ex-Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq and a fire extinguisher was let off.
It is still unclear whether the Chinese Ambassador to London, Fu Ying, will take part in the relay after fears her presence could be a flashpoint for protesters.
There is a mobile protective ring around the torch as it is carried by bus, foot, boat and light railway past some of London's most iconic sights.
International sport has done far more to bring disparate communities together... than frankly most politicians have managed.
Gordon Brown has faced demands not to welcome the torch in Downing Street and to boycott the Beijing Olympics unless China opens talks with the Dalai Lama.
The prime minister has resisted the calls - pointing out that the exiled Tibetan leader opposes such action.
But he came under fresh attack ahead of the procession from Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg who branded the PM's participation "wholly inappropriate".
"Of course there is politics in this and one certainly can't just brush over the fact that human rights are being systematically abused on an extraordinary scale in China," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr.
Mr Clegg said "a calibrated approach" - such as refusing to engage in ceremonial duties - was the kind of "leverage" that would work with Chinese officials.
Meanwhile, Sebastian Coe - chairman of the London 2012 organising committee - hoped the protests did not become the focus of the procession.
"International sport has done far more to bring disparate communities together, sometimes communities and countries that are barely on speaking terms, than frankly most politicians have managed," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"If there are peaceful demonstrations that's acceptable but I do hope people recognise that this is actually a celebration of sport and Olympic values."
Those taking part in the relay include 10 Olympic champions, 18 schoolchildren and public figures such as news reader Sir Trevor McDonald and musician Vanessa Mae.
Double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes will run the last stage of the route to complete the relay before lighting the Olympic cauldron in front of 5,000 spectators.
On its journey through the city the flame will be passed between runners and cyclists and onto an open-topped bus.
Despite bitter temperatures and sleet, impromptu carnivals are expected as the torch passes iconic landmarks such as Nelson's Column, St Paul's Cathedral and Tower Bridge.
A lantern protected the Olympic flame as it arrived in the UK by plane
The flame will complete the London leg of its journey with a finale event at the O2 Arena headlined by the Sugababes. It will then leave for Paris.
Other Olympians who will take part as torch bearers are marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe and champion rower Sir Steven Redgrave.
Chinatown is expected to give the relay a particularly warm welcome but there will also be a strong police presence as a number of pro-Tibet groups have said they will hold protests.
The Metropolitan Police said 2,000 officers would be mobilised to maintain order along the route of the relay.
A spokesman said Scotland Yard had heard from six organisations, including the Free Tibet movement, the Falun Gong spiritual group and the Burma campaign, which were planning to send 500 demonstrators between them.
The torch was lit in Olympia, Greece, last week and will go through 20 countries before being carried into the Beijing Games opening ceremony on 8 August.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment