London 2012: The Olympic Flame Handover

Hello. Welcome to the Panathenaic Stadium. One week ago the Olympic

flame was it will by the sun's rays in Ancient Olympia. Now we see it.

This is the first time the crowd in this stadium in Athens has seen the

flame. It is brought in by a Greek champion. There'll be a short relay

here of the Olympic flame. It comes into what is known as the Marble

Stadium. It is here the handover to London 2012 takes place. In other

words, this is it. Within half an hour or so, less than that even,

the British will be custodians of the greatest show on Earth. The

Princess Royal is here. The... There we are. She stands by the

President, who of course has been involved, even today in the

political and economic turmoil of this country. This is a moment when

all that goes on to the back burner. Now they savour this moment, where

after a decade of struggling to get the Games it is handed to London

2012. Not yet. We have this relay and some speeches first. Let's

He's a world champion in gymnastics. They are all Greek heroes.

The rain has just stopped! We've had rain the last three hours. It

has just stopped. We've got several stages of this

relay. It goes around the stadium before they light the could dron.

-- couldron. The Princess Royal there. She will be the British

contact who receives the flame. Not yet, she is the President of the

British Olympic Association. When she gets it, it is the moment

London 2012 have the Olympics. It is known as the Marble Stadium. It

was recreated in 1986. There were ancient games on this site. It is a

wonderful joining of ancient and modern.

James Pearce is with me. He is one of the very few journalists who has

been following this for the past decade. It is when Sebastian Coe

There we have the Sports Minister, on the right, we have Boris Johnson

next to David Beckham, of course. What do you think the London 2012

team is thinking now? I think a great deal of excitement, but also

a great deal of relief that this day has finally come, so many years

of work. Seven years, almost now since they won in Singapore. Yes, a

big shrug from Seb Coe, as you say that. He said this is the moment

when the Games come alive. His words this morning "There is no

going back now. There is no going back." Tomorrow, this flame will

Can you tell us about this moment Phillip? The flame was it will, it

was it will by flying through the air on a trapeze. These days they

are on firm ground. Athens and the Olympic Games - a marvellous moment.

Deborah Hail is with us. She is from LOCOG, the London Organising

Committee of the Olympic Games - it is what LOCOG stands for. She is in

charge of the torch relay in Britain, which of course kicks off

tomorrow. We know that the Greeks have had a

very successful week with this torch going around their country,

despite the austerity problems. That must be heart-warming for you

- I know you want to galvanise public opinion ahead of the British

torch relay?. We do. It is about celebrating the communities within

the UK. It will travel over 1,000 communities. 8,000 miles, 8,000

torch barers. We will get ready to celebrate what we are about, as

well as the Games. Not everybody is into the Games. You believe

there'll be a shift in public opinion as a result of the relay?

We hope so. It is about celebrating individuals, ordinary torch barers

as well as communities. Now we go It is getting closer to the British.

They are on the left there n the Phillip, why does the Olympic flame

matter? It was started in 1934, as a relay from Olympia. It links

Ancient Olympia with the modern games.

The man who revived the Games said, "Remember the fire you brought from

Olympia, because it brings warmth and light to your times." That is

what it is doing this year, in uncertain economic times, when we

have this light of Olympia, when the light is burning, there is a

feeling of hope and that peace will prevail throughout the Olympic

Games. We are about to get into what is a

very elaborate service around the alter with the couldron on it.

Explain the significance of this. These are the three priest teases

we saw light the -- priestesses we saw light the flame a week ago. The

palace guard stand by the Greek, the Olympic and Union Flags here.

They process slowly. There is the high priest yes, she has the torch

for -- priestese, she has the torch for London. She is a wonderful

performer. We saw her last week giving the hymn. All 24 are

involved. There is a measure of how seriously they take it, there are

real professionals involved and who regard this as quite a major thing

on their CVf you like. There have only been ten who have fulfilled

this role since 1936, since a dance teacher first became the high

priest yes. Now it has expanded, so you get these 24 for these games of

the 30th in London. London is the first city in a summer games to

receive the flame from Olympia on two occasions. Now the invitation

This was set alight by the sun's rays a week ago. Now it is a

struggle. Everybody has their raincoats on.

Everybody here is an actor or an It was a Pagan festival and that is

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 261 seconds

We saw an olive branch exchanged between Greek and London school

The President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee and the President

of the London Olympic committee, Sebastian Coe, are kindly invited

Spyros Capralos is a very interesting man. He talks about

austerity and does not shy away Your Royal Highness, President of

the organising committee, London 2012. He is going to say the same

It is so interesting how he gave a glossy brochure about going to

London 2012. It is peppered with references to austerity. The German

car manufacturer is paying for a lot of what we are seeing today.

This is where it all began. There is a challenge for this man to get

a team in London from Greece. There is no funding from the Greek

government. Most of the money is being raised abroad. All the public

swimming pools in Athens have had their heating turned off. The

Hellenic committee is heating one pork so the swimmers can train in

the run-up for the Games. -- pool. I noticed there was a plea to the

state that they still had to finance sport. They are the first

team into the stadium, in London. It is unthinkable to have an

Olympics without the team from Greece. Other countries are happy

to step in and do what they can to help. Looking at the size of the

crowd, it has been a good size. There were not many people on the

streets today. It is not a priority right now. He was saying it is a

release for people, to have one day - I was going to say it in the

sunshine - but in the rain, as it turns out. We thought there would

be fewer people here. Three hours beforehand, it was throwing it down

with rain and wild wind. On marble seats in the open air, not the most

comfortable setting. People have Addressed by the President of the

organising committee, Lord Sebastian Coe. Distinguished guests,

on behalf of the people of the United Kingdom, I would like to

express my gratitude to the people of Greece - particularly for laying

on the British weather. And to Spyros Capralos and the Hellenic

Olympic Committee. My connection to this great city stretches back over

three decades to my first international competition here in

1975. Thank you for the warm hospitality, the welcome that you

and your country have extended to us, to our torch, and to everyone

that has been involved in the London 2012 torch relay since we

lit the flame a week ago in a limp here. For the past eight days, our

two countries had connected in a very special way. In the spirit of

peace and friendship of the flame and the values of this great

Olympic movement. Today's handover it is an occasion of international

significance and importance. Like the Olympic and Paralympic Games,

the flame belongs to the world, and the arrival of the flame in the

host nation is a resounding and clarion call to the best athletes

of their generation in more than 200 Nations and territories,

preparing to gather for the London 2012 Games. Millions of people

across the UK are getting ready to do the best work of their lives to

welcome you. Villages, towns and cities across the United Kingdom

had been planning to welcome the blame for a number of years. That

is why his handover ceremony is an event of great national importance

to them and us. -- this handover ceremony. On its journey, the story

of the flame will be about those who carry it. Their stories will

inspire. Stories of everyday people doing extraordinary things, all too

often going unheralded. On Saturday, Ben Ainslie will start the relay

and pass the flame to and 18-year- old from St Ives, who has

represented Great Britain four times as a member of the junior

British surf team. She will become the first woman to represent

Britain for surfing and snowboarding for her country. The

large proportion of Torch bearers will be under 25. They will tell

the story of a modern and confident United Kingdom. It will inspire us

as we unite and line the streets to celebrate the flame. It will travel

through Cornwall in the far south- west of England, through Wales,

Scotland and Northern Ireland. It will visit every region and every

nation, shining a light on the people and places of the United

Kingdom. The flame will also visit Dublin in Ireland. Dubliners will

show us how to celebrate the flame and its message of peace, goodwill

and friendship. Thank you to at presenting partners, who make the

torch relay possible, and who will help us to take the flame to within

10 miles of 95% of the UK population. It's the Olympic Games

is about celebrating the best athletes in the world, the Olympic

spirit is about celebrating the best in ourselves and our

neighbourhoods. We have found the very best in our torch bearers.

Like the Olympic athletes, they will inspire a generation, as we

prepare to bring the flame to the UK. We are reminded of our

responsibility, like that of our predecessors in 1908 and 1948. To

unite the world in a celebration of achievement and inspiration in

challenging times. Eight games that will inspire the next generation to

choose sport. This summer, we welcome the world to London. We

look forward to the incredible events that will unfold. Join us in

a sporting celebration that will capture the imagination of the

world. Lighting of the torch by the high

priestess. Slightly misled you on Spyros Capralos giving that in

English as well. They said they were handing the flame over with

feelings of sincere appreciation Handing over of the Olympic flame

by the high priestess to the President of the Hellenic Olympic

Committee, Spyros Capralos. He has the responsibility to physically

hand this over to London 2012, to Handing over of the Olympic flame

to her Royal Highness, Princess Anne, of the United Kingdom, by the

President of the Hellenic Olympic Lighting of the Olympic flame.

is it. It really is in the hands of London 2012. James Pearce, at

Olympic Correspondent, you have been following the torch plans very

closely. The lamps, four stand buys? There are four instances of

the flames. They are like a miner's lamp. It keeps the flame safe and

enables us to fly it back to the UK, safely on board the BA2012.

Sebastian Coe is looking a bit concerned. They have been tested on

the top of Mount Snowdon. In conditions up to 30 miles an hour.

We have done all sorts of tests on the flame. We are very proud of our

Princess Anne of the United Kingdom, carrying the Olympic flame. She is

accompanied by the minister also bought and Mr Hugh Robertson, the

President of the organising committee of the London 2012

Olympic Games, Lord Sebastian Coe, the Mayor of London, Mr Boris

Johnson, said David Beckham, and Her Majesty's ambassador to the

Hellenic Republic, Mr David You can almost sense the burden of

responsibility on the shoulders of Sebastian Coe. I like the way that

David Beckham has been given an knighthood by the announcer. Maybe

something is coming up in the Queen's birthday Honours! The

Princess Royal looks so relaxed and genuinely pleased to be there. She

was in Singapore for the decision in 2005. She has played such a key

role. Lord Cope pay tribute to her this morning, saying she was the

unsung hero of the Games. She has been in many wonderful situations

in her life, she has travelled the world. There have not been many

more proud moments for her than to carry London's Olympic Torch.

Anyone who sought David Beckham was here to receive it, that was never

the case. -- thought. He will be involved tomorrow when the torch

goes on to the plane. Cornwall is excited that he will be coming with

a torch from the plane tomorrow. You have many days of anxiety ahead.

We have a well trained security team, who know how to look after

the flame. I'm sure we will be fine. If it is now in the hands of London

2012. So different from 1948 when it came into Dover one night before

the opening ceremony and it went out on to David Keith a few times.

-- on to the quay in Dover. knows what the athletes are going

through. These athletes now know that the torch is coming. It is 70

days to go. When it gets to Lands End, but the torch will be in

Britain and it will pass through all our towns and cities. It will

be very special because the light of the Olympia is coming to the

United Kingdom. On that note, it starts in Cornwall. It starts in

Land's End. Sebastian Coates, in his speech, was picking up your

torch relay. -- Sebastian Coates. We are excited. Tomorrow will be a

marvellous day. We land at 7:27pm. The plane will be taken off board

and the court and will be lit to signify its true arrival in the

United Kingdom and Ben we will be off. -- the cauldron. The route

planning has taken many years. We will be within a ten-mile radius of

95% of the population. There is quite a bit of excitement where it

starts in Land's End. We are going to al four corners of the UK car

Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles. We are going over the border,

into Dublin. We are going into Wales and all parts of the UK.

you worried about the security of it? We remember Beijing. They had

many reasons to be worried about protesters disrupting the protests

-- process. Our security team have been training with as for a few

years. It is about celebrating communities. It is about

celebrating extraordinary ordinary people, who will be carrying the

flame. We hope people will not protest and spoil someone's moment

It is remarkable to think this President today was involved in the

apointment of a judge to act as the caretaker Government. New elections

will be held, of course. It is not a good backdrop for this ceremony,

but the Greeks have made it very clear that it will not stand in the

way of this tradition. Even though they needed private, commercial

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 261 seconds

sponsorship for this ceremony to So Phillip Barker, an expert on

these ceremonies - what do we have to look forward to? The Greeks will

do this as a send-off to their Olympic team. As we know, the

Greeks have such a special role in the Olympic movement. Since 1928,

they have been the nation that leads the opening ceremony parade.

They will be the first nation into the stadium in London.

There are some of the great champions of Greece.

The man who it will the torch in Athens in 2004 - the wind surfing

world champion and Olympic champion. These great champions getting a

great reception. They did not win a gold medal in Beijing. In this

stadium in 1986 the marathon was won - that is something that the

Greeks have always held so close to their heart. Their great tradition.

You talk about shake peers and the British, the Olympic games is so

very important for the Greeks. The Presidential guard, taking their

leave of the proceedings. For the Greeks, the 1986 Olympics, when the

little shepherd not too far from here, about five kilometres away

from here, won the race, the marathon. He became a hero for life.

All the local shops contributed some money and made sure that he

was able to live forever. He appeared in the Greek team in 1936

for the first torch relay. James, of course Paula Radcliffe was meant

to finish in this stadium. thought it would be the time she

got the gold medal. Sadly, but famously she never made it to the

stadium. Speaking earlier to the President

of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, who we heard making a speech next

to Seb Coe, it is difficult what he admits to getting the Greek team to

2012 because of the Greek Government problems? If you are a

torchbearer in the UK, the chances are you have to pay �190 for your

torch. If you are a Greek torchbearer the

torches are all free. That is because LOCOG have given them for

free. There is no money here to pay for anything. Everything is a gift.

There is so much goodwill towards the Greek people, because the

Olympic movement is so important to them and they are so important to

the Olympic moment. I think this torch -- movement.

Many Londoners, two-thirds of the tickets have been sold to people in

the south-east of England. This is the chance to go to Northern

Ireland, Scotland, Manchester, Newcastle, to try and encourage

people to get behind the Games. We should not underestimate that

challenge. People have not been able to get the tickets they wanted

to get. People think the Games are very expensive. There is a big PR

battle to be won over the next 70 days. We will try and get Boris

Johnson up into our position on the terrace. It is a logistical

nightmare, for obvious reasons. Perhaps also Sports Ministers. We

will put that to them if they make So Deborah, we have the torch now

which will go to the ambassador's residence. It will stay in his

garden. It is staying in the garden for the duration of the reception.

Then it is staying overnight in the ambassador's residence. Tomorrow?

We will take it to the airport. We will place it on BA2012. It will

fly tomorrow afternoon, Greek time, then we will fly back to the UK. We

arrive about 7pm. That will signal the start of the relay. It the

official arrival. The torch relay starts proper from land's end on

Saturday morning. We -- Land's End on Saturday morning. We are having

a bit of a fight on our terrace, which we will try and cope with, as

well as a lot of noise. Hugh Robertson, first, I have the two of

you together, but you are the sports and specifically Olympics

Minister. Are you on ticket allocation and on the way London

2012 is organised - are you fully satisfied with it all? Yes, is the

simple answer to it. When you talk about allocation, the controversy

has been that not enough people feel they can get tickets F you

feel they can get tickets F you have many more people applying for

D tickets than you have tickets and higher proportion went on sale, 24

million people applied for 6.5 million tickets, you will have

disappointed people. After this weekend all those who have applied

three times should now have been successful. I hope that is a

process that will continue over the next few months. Don't forget,

there are about 125,000 free tickets going to kids in London. We

have done ul we can to make tickets a-- all we can to make tickets

available. We have talked about the torch relay and how it will build

up the public mood. There is an issue for London, in that some

people feel alienated because there is so much VIP treatment - lanes

named after the limousines. I think the amazing thing is how positive

people remain towards the Olympics four years after Beijing. I think

that feeling will build. The key test - obviously people are anxious

- but the key test will be whether we lay on Great Games. That was a

fantastic ceremony by the Greeks. It was wonderful. It went off like

clock work. You love your Greek classics? I do. They were all

wearing their proper kit. They were looking very, very meaningful and

symbolic. I cannot testify to the accuracy of the dances or the music,

but it was fantastic. A fantastic setting as well - this stadium?

This was the ancient site of the stadium. It was renewed in 1986. It

was a mad English man from Shropshire who reinspired the

Olympic movement back there in the late 19th century. Hugh Robertson,

what is your sense - I mean we have it now - London 2012 has the

Olympics - it is in London's hands, we are responsible for it. Do you

feel a burden on your shoulders? Yes, of course. There is a huge

responsibility on us as a country. With responsibility comes huge

opportunity. We really do - I said this earlier on - if you look at

the reports we have done extraordinary well to get this

project to the position it is in today. If we can finish this off

over the next two-and-a-half months, we stand on the cusp of delivering

a great Olympics. That is everything that is best about

London and Great Britain. It is not a great backdrop, the economic

climate and a potential for the dreadful euro crisis. Wrong. Why?

We cannot couple our chickens about how well the Games will do. We are

hopeful we'll do well. What has happened is we have delivered in

terms of infrastructure, in London and other parts of the country. We

have delivered a solid legacy already. There are improvements to

the transport network which will last for decades. There are new

trains which have gone in. New lines have been dug. We will go

forward with further improvements. The jobs which have been created

would not exist. We are adding 10,000 jobs this month alone for

people in the host boroughs A huge amount of homes being built in East

London. That would not have happened without the Olympic Games.

That ought to be kept in mind. the same point, Hugh Robertson, I

mean it is not ideal, that economic backdrop, because you have to

wonder if some people would find the Olympics less relevant because

they have more to worry about. at the evidence. 24.5 million, we

would not have had 24.5 million applications for 6.5 million

tickets F they thought it was irrelevant nobody would come and

watch it. We would not have 70,000 volunteers. You would not have the

slots subscribed for five, six times over. There is huge

anticipation of this event. Huge public excitement. You will see

that build as the torch goes around the country. It is there - London

2012 - it is really happening. days to go. Countdown begins now.

You don't feel a burden on your shoulders? Of course we do. It is

an amazing privilege. This will not come around again in our lifetimes.

Thank you for fighting through the crowds to get to us on our terrace.

Well, there we are. The drums have stopped.

There is still a lot of noise. You have heard from the politicians

there. You have heard from the -- you have heard of the mood and seen

the Princess Royal deliver this actual flame. Ten years on from one

of our greatest sportsman was putting the bid together. Seven