As tradition dictates, the Olympic torch will be lit at Olympia in Greece on 25 March 2008. The global Olympic Torch Relay arrives in London on Sunday 6 April, on its long journey to the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

Journey of Harmony

The theme for the Relay is "Journey of Harmony". The flame will cross 5 continents and visit 22 major cities before arriving in China. En route it will even visit Mt Qomolangma (Mount Everest), before going on to eventually light the main cauldron to mark the start of the Games, on 8 August.

From Wembley to Greenwich

The torch will arrive in Wembley Stadium and begin its tour across 10 London boroughs, passing some of the Capital's most iconic landmarks.

Londoners and visitors to London are encouraged to line the route across the capital to enjoy local free entertainment and to cheer on the torchbearers as they carry the Olympic Flame through:

• Notting Hill
• Marble Arch
• Oxford Street
• Trafalgar Square
• the South Bank
• the City

...and East London before it reaches North Greenwich. Here the day culminates in a free, ticketed event. The grand finale in Peninsula Square at The O2 will round off a truly unique day. It will be a fusion of East meets West, the contemporary and traditional with a special performance by the Sugababes. 

The Olympic Torchbearers

London's own part in this will include young torchbearers from secondary schools, colleges and sports clubs. Nominations for these bearers have come from the schools and clubs themselves; putting forward young people who are at least 14 years old, and who represent Olympic ideals.

Each will carry the flame for 250m as part of the London leg of the relay. Other bearers will come from the sporting world including Olympians and Paralympians, plus other nominations from London's communities, as well as some famous faces. Double Olympic gold medal winner Dame Kelly Holmes, broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald and actress Amara Karan will be amongst the 80 torchbearers.