Torch honour for Ainslie
Ben Ainslie will be the first Torchbearer to carry the Olympic Flame when it arrives in Britain on May 19.
By Paul Higham Twitter: @SkySportsPaulH
Last Updated: 10/05/12 4:26pm
Three-time Olympic champion sailor Ben Ainslie will be the very first Torchbearer to carry the flame when it arrives in Britain to begin the Olympic Torch Relay on May 19.
The Flame will go on a 70-day tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland starting at Land's End in Cornwall at 7.08am on May 19.
Ainslie, who grew up in Cornwall, has become an Olympic legend with sailing gold medals in Beijing, Athens and Sydney, along with a silver medal at the 1996 Games in Atlanta.
Also a firm favourite for a gold on home waters this summer at London 2012, Ainslie will be the lead-off man for the Olympic Torch Relay that will eventually end up at the Olympic Stadium in July.
"I am extremely honoured to be the first Torchbearer at the start the 70-day Olympic Torch Relay," said Ainslie. "It will be an amazing experience to be able to carry the Olympic Flame in the area that I grew up in.
"I also want to congratulate the thousands of other inspirational people who will carry the Torch this summer and bring the excitement of the Games to streets throughout the UK."
Perfect
Seb Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: "Ben is the perfect person to start the Relay in Land's End as he grew up in the area and is an inspirational sportsman who has worked hard to achieve his goals.
"He will kick off what will be an amazing celebration of people and places from all over the UK in the run up to the Olympics Games this Summer."
Ainslie is one of 8,000 Torchbearers who will carry the Olympic Flame during the Relay. At Land's End he will pass the Flame to 18-year-old Anastassia Swallow, a Torchbearer from the Coca-Cola nomination campaign.
Anastassia is the youngest Sports Ambassador for Cornwall and has represented Great Britain four times internationally as a member of the Junior British Surf Team.
The other Torchbearers at Land's End will be: Eric Smith, 76, who was nominated through the LOCOG campaign, Victoria Smith, 16, who was nominated through the Lloyds TSB campaign and Stephen Brady, 59, who was nominated through the Samsung campaign.
On leaving Land's End, the Olympic Flame will travel an estimated 8,000 miles around the UK giving thousands of communities and individuals their moment to shine as the Olympic Flame comes to a place near them.