Part One London 2012: Countdown to the Olympics

Hello and a very good afternoon, from Buckingham Palace. Welcome to

this BBC News Special, as we count down to the opening ceremony of

London 2012. I'm Jane Hill, it is seven years of course since London

was awarded the Games of the 30th Olympiad. Billions have been spent

on the preparations and there have of course been problems, perhaps

inevitably, initially around ticketing and then of course the

issues we all know so much about regarding security, but perhaps

those discussions are now to be resumed in a few weeks' time

because right here, right now, we are just 24 hours away from the

opening ceremony and now we are concentrating on the final stages

of the journey of the Olympic flame. It set off from Land's End 69 days

ago. It is due here at Buckingham Palace in about an hour from now.

Let's just take a look at the scene right now. The Olympic torch

travelling really through the heart of the capital, through the heart

of this host city. This the scene from our helicopter, through Oxford

Street, a mecca of shopping, but my goodness, look at it now, thousands

and thousands of people out on the streets to welcome the Olympic

torch. And we are also live in Trafalgar

Square. Again, I think - well we get the sense there, don't we -

outside the National Gallery, again the sheer numbers of people who are

out there on the most perfect London evening to greet the torch.

And we are out and about on the Mall as well. Because not too long

now until the torch ising brought up the Mall and through to

Buckingham Palace, here a little later this evening, where among

others, it will be greeted by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. And

the close of the day sees a concert in Hyde Park. If you are not there

already, I'm not sure how anyone is going to get a place. Every patch

of grass appears to be taken. A big concert there tonight. A capacity

of up to 80,000 people for that concert there in Hyde Park and that

is where the cauldron will be lit later this evening once it has

passed ugs here at Buckingham Palace. It'll stay there for the

night. -- passed us here. This is the last full day of the Torch

Relay. Also this evening, we are at Old Trafford. We have not yet seen

the Olympic ceremony but as you may well know, the Games are under way.

We have had football already. Team GB's football team will be playing

at Old Trafford, their first match in just a short while. Due to play

Senegal in just a short while. Let's just assess the latest on the

torch's progress. Let's look again at those scenes of Oxford Street.

It has truly been an advert for London today. This torch relay has

been three years in the planning and today I would think the

organisers would say and we will be talking to people over the course

of the next hour who are very much involved in this whole process,

this has been the trickiest day logisticically. 32 miles, can you

believe, around the capital, 123 torchbearers today in all alone. We

will find out more about how you go about planning something on that

scale and making sure it all works, over the course of the next hour.

Now the latest from our correspondents along the route. In

a moment we will cross to Philipa Thomas, she is out and about not

that far from me here on the Mall. Let's head first to Jon Brain in

Trafalgar Square. From that brief glimpse we just now a remarkable

turnout backsing in the evening sunshine.

-- basking. Yes and when London won the Olympic

bid in 2005, the announcements with relayed live on a big screen here

and there were thousands packing the square then to celebrate a

party atmosphere. If you look at the countdown clock you see how

quickly seven years have passed. One day, three hours and 55 minutes

to go before the opening ceremony. And as you can see a huge crowd has

built up once again for the torch as we have seen across the country

for the past 69 days and now of course for the past few days in the

capital. I think three million people alone have seen the torch in

London. It'll be carried here by 15-year-old Patrick Kane. He

scribed describes himself as bionic boy. He has the most advanced false

hand in the world. That's not yes has been given this honour. He is

someone who has not allowed his disability to define him and has

been described as an inspiration. He will be here shortly and the

torch will then head en route to Downing Street.

Jon mentioning the opening sermony. We will have a teaser, a flavour of

a few rehearsal pictures, which surprisingly have been released, of

the ceremony which so many people will be watching tomorrow night.

Let's go to Philipa Thomas, you are probably not too far away from me.

What have the crowds been telling me? The crowds have mostly been

asking me when it is going to get here. There is excitement about the

fact that the torch will come here, through this gate, not too long

from now. It will come up Bird Cage Walk go into Buckingham Palace,

it's fourth royal residence after Balmoral, sand drink ham and

Windsor Castle, it comes to Buckingham Palace and telelucky

torchbearers will bring the torch here and across the forecourt of

Buckingham Palace and then the torches kiss and the torch will

come out at the other end. Those three, a Special Constable,

somebody who works for an AIDS charity, and a mountain rescue

working from Wales. They will be introduced to the three senior

royals here here to welcome the torch to Buckingham Palace and that

is of course Kate and William and Harry. They will be here because

the Queen will be seeing the torch again at the Olympic opening

ceremony. When the torch exists again a short time after it comes

through, all carefully choreographed, it'll be accompanyed

by the Household Cavalry as it goes up constitution Hill. The

excitement here is building. Lovely, we will talk to you later, thank

you very much. Now, as I suggested, we can show you a few images

released by OBS, the Olympic broadcasting service, it has

surprisingly released a few pictures of the rehearsal of

tomorrow's opening ceremony. We will show you a little of what we

are allowed to show you. There were flavours there of the NHS. We know

there have been a couple of rehearsals at the Olympic Park in

east London over the course of the week. You might have followed it on

twitter, with the hashtag, keep the secret. Well the secret is out to

some degree. It is a very long ceremony. I think it is about three

hours' long. I think there is a lot more to see there. That is a little

flavour they have released to the media in the last hour or so.

The torch, I think, still making its way down Oxford Street. Slowly

making its way eventually to where our core respondents are --

correspondents. The torch is being carried on the

bus, make its way gingerly down Oxford Street. 32 miles across the

capital that it will have travelled by the end of the day, by the time

the cauldron is lit tonight in Hyde Park. So many famous places in

London have been passed through today. Shakespeare's globe, the

Millennium Bridge, Battersea dogs and cats home. Chelsea football

ground. There are so many more. It has been quite a spectacular day

visually and the organisers surely could not have been more delighted.

Not least with the weather because that has encouraged people to turn

out, but just the enthusiasm that has greeted the torch throughout

the host city. And it is, can you believe, 9 days since the torch

first set off from Land's End in Cornwall, 8,000 torchbearers in all

have carried it in that time. -- 69 days since the torch set off from

Land's End. Robert Hall has been taking a look

at the journey of the Olympic torch. # Today this could be

# The greatest day of our lives... # At the western tip of Cornwall,

an historic journey begins. 300 people, 20 vehicles and a flame

born on Mount Olympus, which would light up the lives of those who

carried it. As the convoy rolled on through the

south-west, news was spreading. Communities which had nominated

their own torchbearers turned out in their thousands. Mile by mile

the convoy's cameras captured personal stories which would move

us all. The story of this 12-year- old, battling a brain tumour but

determined to walk the last few steps. I was in tears, I know a lot

of my colleagues were in tears. His grandmother shook my hand. She said

"Thank you." I said "Don't thank me, it is down to your grandson."

the Avon Gorge a spectacular start to a day that ended at Cheltenham

racecourse. Zara Phillips cheered on by 30,000 people. I was out here

a bit earlier and there wasn't as many people. I came out and I was

like, "Oh, my God," it was unbelievable. Westwards to Wales

and upwards it the peak of Mount Snowdon where Chris Bodington

completed a climb he would never forget. I'm quite emotional about

it because I started climbing here in Snowdonia 50 years ago. To be

asked to carry this torch here in the Olympic relay means a lot.

In Shropshire, Ricky Fergusson stirred emotions in the tiny

village of Browsley. Badly injured in Afghanistan, Ricky's courage and

determination have made him a local legend. It was hard work, belief me.

On fake legs. But I done it. I thought I'm not going to stop until

I get to the top, and I did it. Across the Mersey to a packed

quayside, Liverpool proud to own the flame just for a night.

Olympic flame is Liverpool's flame. In Northern Ireland, burning above

a landscape 60 million years old, the torch was seen as a symbol of

unity. I think it means we can work and play and enjoy ourselves

together. And nearer to the Arctic Circle than to London, and a

reminder of Shetland's Viking past, the relay prepared to turn south

once more. It is just amazing. It is really getting everyone into the

spirit of the Olympics. Back over the border a Chief Scout was on a

zip wire. Torchbearers proposed marriage in

North Yorkshire. And summer vanished. Driving the

torch on to the dancefloor at Blackpool Tower.

The clouds did part in the Thames Valley to allow an Olympic rowing

icon to make a more sedate river trip. To cross that line and it was

very, very special. But by the afternoon, rain was pound on the

roof of Windsor Castle, why Gina McGregor presented the torch for

royal inspection. On day 63, the flame left the southern counties

and arrived in style at London's ancient fortress. It had travelled

over 7,000 miles and it had lit what London's mayor described as "a

bushfire of Olympic enthusiasm", bringing over 10 million people

that little bit closer to one of sport's great spectaculars.

And just a flavour of 69 days, as we watch the torch make its way

down Oxford Street right in the heart of London. It's going through

Regent Street, Soho, Number Ten Downing Street, so many famous

addresses, that it is making its way along over the course of the

day and what a logistical and planning and security operation

this is to take it through the capital. Let's talk to one man who

can shed a great deal of light as to how it has been managed,

Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, very glad to have you with

us. A huge relay, millions have seen the torch in London alone. You

only have to walk through the streets to see what an operation it

is. Phenomenal. Up until yesterday 3 million pem have been estimated

to see in lon n London. The roads have been crammed so God knows how

many have seen it today. When it arrived at the Tower of London last

week and you knew it was London's week it make this sing, do you

approach that with nervousness, excitement? What is the key

emotion? A combination of all. It had 63 fantastic days across the

country. It came to London, and since then we have had fantastic

crowds out. The torch security team have had a fantastic welcome and

have been allowed to do their job, to ensure the focus is on the torch

and torchbearer. With 24 hours to the opening sermony, you are

feeling confident? We are in a very good place, very good plans, very

good partnership, LOCOG the event organiser, the police service and

the military working closely together with G4S to make sure the

Games are safe and secure. We think we are in a good place. I know we

have to let you go, an exceptionally busy time for you and

the Assistant Commissioner was just reflecting a little earlier how he

was so proud as he put it to me, to run with members of the TST, the

Torch Security cap team who have familiar to us in those grey

uniforms. We will look at it again making its way through Oxford

It was running late a couple of hours ago.

Broadly, not too bad at all, given the sheer logistics of all of this.

Let's talk to one man, who I think it is fair to say n a nice way,

probably did slow down the progress of the torch earlier this afternoon,

because if you were watching you may have seen the one and only Sir

Bruce Forsyth with the torch at White City. That, because it is the

seat of the 1908 Olympics. He is there now. So lovely to talk to you.

My goodness, you looked as if you were really, really enjoying

yourself. Give me a crowd as big as that and I'd do anything. I wish it

had been 1500 metres. I could have gone on back to Land's End, where

it started. It was so warm, so friendly and so lovely.

What happened before people had phones and cameras? I don't know!

It was a wonderful experience. One of the best experiences of my life.

We are seeing your famous pose. The most enormous cheer went up. We

have not had an estimate of the numbers of people there. Did you

think that you would be received by quite that many people? I am used

to it now, because I did the Albert Hall a couple of months ago, to

5,000 people. Then I did the Hop Farm Festival, which had 30,000

people. I am getting used to big crowds. I think I'll end up being

an arena performer! Perhaps not in the Olympic Park.

What do the Olympics mean to you? What are you looking forward to

most about the Olympics? Well, I love sport. I will watch every

minute of it. The only trouble is, like when I watch the Open Golf, at

the end I will be exhausted, because I go through every event

there will be. I will go through it with them. So, at the end I will be

so exhausted I will probably have to go into a London clinic, because

I do get involved in it. I love the competitiveness, because I have

been in show business, it is competitive. I love seeing the way

they train, what it means to them, the way they have dedicated

probably two years, maybe even three years, dedicated to these

three weeks. So, I am fascinated and I love it.

I can't wait to watch it. Have you bfpb invited to the

Opening Ceremony? Do they sneak you a special ticket? No. I'm not going

to the Opening Ceremony. There again I will love to watch it on

television. Not that there'll be any retakes - I hope not - any

retakes of the opening ceremony. I won't be there because it is about

two-and-a-half, three hours from where I live, so it would be an

effort to get there. I will be there in spirit. As I said earlier

to somebody, I hope all our British athletes, rowers and all of the

cyclists, everybody - I hope they get that little bit of luck, which

you need, like in show business, you always need a bit of luck. With

sporting people like this, that little bit of luck can make all the

difference between winning and losing. I hope every one of them

has that little bit of luck. Bruce Forsyth, that is a lovely

note on which to end. I am sure there are a lot of people who echo

those sentiments. We so enjoyed his performance with the torch earlier.

It is worth watching on iPlayer if you did not see it. This runner is

with the torch at the moment. The kiss has just taken place, I am

told. That kiss we have become sofa mill yar with in the last 69 days,

where one torch lights the next. One of the key elements the torch

organisers have been keen to stress is the individual stories -

torchbearers, the reasons they have been chosen, nominated. Let's talk

to just two of those torchbearers. With me here at Buckingham Palace

is Ahmed Jalloh and Sharon Coleman. Lovely you have brought your torch

as well. Both in Southwark - a key element of the preparations. Where

did you run with it, or walk with it? What your your feeling? I ran

with it on old Kent Road from the Tesco around the corner. What did

you make of the crowds? That is one thing which has been consistent -

the huge turnout? We didn't think there were going to be that many

people. As we came through Old Kent Road we started to see the crowds.

It was fantastic to see huge crowds, which I didn't expect. They did a

piece on the Southwark Life Magazine about my story. People

were holding it up. It was amazing to see.

It was fantastic! And you sound a little bit emotional, in a good way.

Was it the same for you? It was amazing. I ran through Camberwell.

I have to say, last year London was in trouble, this year was London at

its best. It was amazing, absolutely amazing! I live and work

in Southwark. Southwark residents and the community did us proud

today. It was amazing, emotional and amazing. 24 hours from the

opening ceremony, what is your feeling? My feeling, as Sharon was

saying, is many different races, colours, creeds and.... Ages.

It was a United Kingdom, I would say. It was very, very.... Amazing.

We were so lucky. We are humbled and so proud.

Fantastic to talk to you! They have remarkable stories - so

much charity work. There are so many stories we could relate as we

continue to monitor the torch's progress, as it makes its way here

to us at Buckingham Palace. I think it is still heading down regent's

street at the moment. Something of a jog going on. The

torchbearers are given a choice, you can jog, walk or do what Sir

Forsyth did and have your picture taken many, many times. Actually

not progress very far at all. Wherever you go, just hearing those

stories of Ahmed and Sharon, it is so moving, the stories every

torchbearer has to tell and people so touched by the turnout.

Ultimately it is all heading to East London, to the Olympic Park.

That will be tomorrow. The torch will be moved to the Olympic Park

tomorrow evening for that Opening Ceremony. Of course, let's reflect

on what we might see there. Let's cross over to my colleague Jon

Sopel. I thought we will try and show you

what will happen when you arrive at the Olympic Park. You will come out

of Stratford station, through the shopping centre, behind me, and you

will see rows of white tents - that is for the skurt City. They have --

security. That is where all the soldiers are and the G4s guys. They

will try and get you through as quickly as possible, so you can get

in and see the sport. As I walk through this way, the first thing

you will come across is the Aquatic Centre here - it's fantastic roof.

It is the second building in the park. It is where Rebecca

Adlington's hopes will be. They will guide you through the park. If

we go the other way, that is where the water polo will be played.

There, this used to be an absolute dump. It was where people dumped

their fridges. It was known as "fridge mountain" when they started

to redevelop the park. Of course it was just a mess this place. One of

the things I think that will strike you when you come to the Olympic

Park is the sense that it is more than just sporting venues that you

are going to come across. Some of the landscaping, some of the

gardens which have been built here are truly magnificent. I want to

give you a flavour of what you will see. The waterways are crystal-

clear. Fish are swimming in them. You will see trees, wonderful lawns,

amazing flowers. They have done a stunning job on redeveloping this

particular piece of land. So, they have got an awful lot to show you

here. I think what we need to do is also just spin around a bit because

I want to show you the rest of the park. These are some of the iconic

buildings you will see. The tallest structure which has been built. If

you go up that way, that is where you will find the velodrome, you

will find the basketball, handball, you name it - it's all in this park.

Take sturdy shoes with you. This park is huge. You'll do a lot of

walking when you come here. I have packed my trainers already.

Well, we have been reflecting on the progress of the torch so far,

as we build up to that opening ceremony. Let's speak to the IOC

historian, David Miller, who is with me at the palace this evening.

What a lovely story we heard from the young man who carried the torch

through Southwark. He said he felt it was a United Kingdom. You have

followed 21 Olympics. What is your take on London? I think it has been

truly exceptional. My opinion will be that it has united the people of

Great Britain more than say even the World Cup in 1966. The mood has

been phenomenal. Not only that, I think it has created a great sense

of national pride. I had to see someone this afternoon, the Ritz

Hotel which is elegant and sober has hanging in its lob bia Union

Jack half the size of a tennis court. It is quite exceptional.

People have taken to it, even the minor little streets in relatively

insignificant towns have been packed wall-to-wall. To say it has

united the nation more than the '66 World Cup is a statement. I feel

there could be someone listening to you, who says I live in a town or

city a long way from London, I can not afford to get to the Olympic

Park, or cannot afford tickets, what does it mean to me? How does

it unite a nation when it is concentrated in the south-east.

mood in Liverpool, or the north- east was equally euphoric about,

we're hosting the World Cup and we're hosting the world. I think

people have taken to this that Britain is now a kind of Noah's Ark

of the human race. Everybody is here. It is truly exceptional.

difficulties? We know Boris Johnson has had a few things to say about

the cynicism of some people. Actually, as a historian at the

Olympics, is that to be expected? Is that something we see in the

run-up to every Games? It is in the Anglo-Saxon nature I suppose.

Sydney was bleak about their Games, but in the end Sydney was a joyous

time. People respond in a particular way to the Olympics,

because, and I think this is so exceptional, the Olympics involves

the great and the small. You have the little people liquefyy

alongside the United States. No other sport has this side by side

of the great and the small. That separates the Olympics from

everything else. David Miller, it has been a pleasure speaking to you.

Thank you for that perspective, a man who has seen 21 Olympics, and

written by og graphrys of -- biographys of people involved.

I have never seen so many bikes moving along with such ease. It is

a beautiful sight in itself. The torch sets off. The crowds are

undimmed, aren't they? No matter where you look, no matter which

camera angle we take, thousands and thousands of people are out on the

streets. As Lord Coe was saying this afternoon in a news conference,

three million people in London have seen the torch, that is up until

the end of yesterday, not including today's figures. It culminates

tonight in Hyde Park. Let's cross over to the park and speak to

Sophie Raworth. The gates opened at 2pm for the concert. I imagine it

is getting very, very full where It is getting very, very full. A

wonderful atmosphere. Up to 60,000 people are here. The big acts, like

Dizzee Rascal and The Wanted. But it is the Olympic flame we are

waiting to see. It is due to areef here about 7.15pm tonight and the

last torchbearer of the day will carry the torch through the gate

over there, along the front of the stage and on the stage. The young

man who has the honour of carrying the flame at the end of this last

full day of the relay, is a 19- year-old called Taylor cap Ricks.

He has been chosen because he has achieved a great deal. He has

played for his county, he is a saxophonist. He does a bit of

modelling, too, but it is all about inspirational people. This theme of

this torch relay, it is their moment to shine, and it'll be a

moment for Tiler Nicks. Once he gets on to the stage he will be

greeted by the Mayor of London Borris Johnson and a couple of

surprised guests. They are not telling us who they are and then he

will light the cauldron. Amazing to think, Jane, tomorrow night it will

be the cauldron at the Olympic stadium that will be burning very,

very brightly. Yes, indeed. Many thanks, not so

long to go. Tyler was looking relaxed but he said he was very

nervous. No I have seen the shots and you get the sense of how many

people are waiting to see him, I think I would be a little nervous

as well. As we mentioned, the Games are started in terms of football.

Football is under way even though the opening ceremony hasn't

happened yet. Let's cross to Old Trafford and join our sports

correspondent Dan Roan, what is happening where you are there

tonight? Well an equally warm atmosphere here in Manchester. This

of course is a football-mad city with a team that has dominated

English football, Manchester United and current Premier League

champions, Manchester City. So it is no surprise that tens of

thousands of fans have flocked to Old Trafford here today to see what

will become the first time that Britain has been represented in the

men's' ball competition for over half a century. 1960 was the last

time that Team GB took part in that competition. For the first time

that will be repeated here this evening and people who are based

here in the north-west of the country are taking the opportunity

to experience the Olympic atmosphere here this evening. There

is a good crowd already inside the stadium for the match currently

ongoing between the UAE and Uruguay and then Team GB will play Senegal

later on this evening. It is an opportunity of course for Stuart

Pearce and his squad to try to win over some of the hearts and minds

of what has been a somewhat sceptical public. Many sports fans

up and down the country don't know quite what to make of the

millionaire professional Premier League stars being part of these

Olympic Games and the build-up hasn't been without difficulty.

There was the controversy over the emission of David Beckham. And the

fact that the FAs of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland didn't

want their players to be part of this and then one of the bigger

stars potentially for Stuart Pearce, Gareth Bale who plays of course for

Wales ruled himself out through injury and two days ago he was on

tour with his club Spurs and scored a go. That was embarrassing for

Team GB. -- scored a goal. Team GB are trying to play that down. But

today's game is a sellout. It is a chance for Ryan Giggs to lay down a

marker, he is the Captain, and to try to capture the public's

imagination. The torch, as you might have caught

from that still winding its way through London. You are watching a

BBC News Special and the torch will be arriving here at Buckingham

Palace in less than an hour. So much talk as we have already

reflected on the stories of the torchbearers. Let's talk to another

young man who you may be familiar with, if you have been following

this whole story of the torch relay, Alexandros Loukos is here tonight.

Hello again. Yes. Because you and I met, it feels like a long time ago

in ancient Olympia in beautiful sunny Greece for the lighting of

the Olympic flame and you were right at the start at the heart of

this and now it's almost upon us. How are you feeming with just 24

hours to go? It's true. -- how are you feeling? It is true. I'm very

excited. I was involved since the bid seven years ago. It was strange

to think that so many thousands of people have run with the torch

after myself and only last week I saw it outside of my house. The

journey has been incredible. you mentioned winning the bid. You

were in Singapore, I think, when that bid announcement came through

so you truly have been involved with London's Olympic bid from an

early stage. Yet I look at you again, you are a lot younger than

me. How does someone so young feel so passionate about it from an

early age? It is something we have grown up with, especially living in

the Olympic borough. I have been involved with it since I was 11.

I'm 20 now it. Has been a long time. It is something we have anticipated

and are excited Bit is very, very close to being here. -- excited

about. People of your age, your borough, you are born and bred east

London, I think. Are they genuinely excited about the Olympics? We hear

about cynicism. Do you experience that or is it, you know what, it is

in our hood. It is for us. wouldn't go as far as saying "our

hood" but events in the last few weeks have proved the doubters

wrong. You only have to look at how many are turning up to see the

torch and relay and in my home borough of Newham, the thousands of

people who were in Central Park to see the torch there. I don't think

people can Ceylon doneers are not looking forward to it no more --

people can say Londoners are not looking forward to it when so many

people are turning up. Are you surprised by the figures. We have

not seen the official figures as to the numbers out on the streets

today but it is clearly many thousands? Yes, many thousands. I'm

not surprised so many people have come out. That's what the Olympics

is all about to be honest with you. It is about everybody coming

together. It is nice to see so many people out and supporting the one

cause. Well Alexandros Loukos thank you very much. Lovely to talk to

you again. What is your role during the Olympics? Do you have a

specific role or is it about watching it and enjoying it? I know

me and the Singapore Youth Ambassadors are going to the youth

ceremony tomorrow and we are going to be involved in other events.

Enjoy the two-and-a-half weeks. Good to see you again. Alexandros

Loukos there, who has been involved from a very early stage. Let's

assess again, and see whether my knowledge of the geography of

London is sufficient that I can work out where it is. It has been

down Regent's Street. I'm trying to work out where it might be pushing

through to now. It is coming down Charring Cross

Road and the torch now being carried by Charles Sale a marathon

runner. He has been nominated. Well there is a story behind everyone.

He has been nominated because he used to carry rather more weight

than he liked to. He was determined to get fit and lost five stone and

became something of a marathon addict and is now so keen thieves

nominated to run with the torch. And the kiss again, the familiar

symbol that we have become used to. 69 days ago I don't think we knew

what a kiss was in relation to the torch. But we certainly do now.

Thousands of people out, look how many people taking - just as Bruce

Forsyth said earlier, what did we do before we had phone that is took

pictures? I don't think there is anyone without outstretched arms

trying to capture that movement let's return to Philipa Thomas who

was surrounded by a huge number of people out on the Mall to see the

torch once it gets here to Buckingham Palace. What is

happening where you are? It is all building up. Not so long to go now

before the torch gets here. It will be the fourth royal residence the

torch has gone through, it has gone to Windsor, Balmoral and

Sandringham and now to Buckingham Palace. Among those queueing up we

have found this family. Where are you from? From West Hampstead in

north London. You are from north London and you are all very ready.

Tell me how old you are and what your name is? I'm Alex and I'm six.

Are you most excited about seeing the torch or about seeing the Royal

Family? Well kind of both. Have you seen the torch before?

Well, yes. No. This will be your chance to see

the torch. You came to camp out and you are excited about both,

presumably about seeing William, Kate and Harry as well. Yes. Have

you been watching the torch at all? Seeing pictures of it as it goes

around the country. Today we came across a runner and held the torch

and took photos. So you have had up-close physical contact with the

torch. Yes. Do you watch royal events? Were you watching Jubilee

events? Yes we woke up every morning early and got the TV on and

starting watching. This is a royal- watching family. You are so close

to the gates, you are going get a good view, aren't you? Yes, I am so

happy. Will you take lots of photos? I won't stop. It will be

fun. It will be nice. I hope you all have a lovely time. I saw you

sprucing everyone up for the camera. Enjoy your time. Just to say the

torch will come in at this gai. Everybody here is in a great

position to see the torch first come in: it will be carried by a

bearer from a charity who deals with disaster aid and as it goes

around it'll see William, Kate and Harry before leaving Buckingham

Palace. Back to you. Lovely, how nice to get a cheer for all your

work Philipa. Let's see whether Jon Brain has raise a cheer with the

crowds in Trafalgar Square. Jon, your attempt? Perfect timing. I

hope you can hear me over the BBC helicopter. But here is the torch

arriving in the heart of London, Trafalgar Square, in front of the

National Gallery and that's 15- year-old Patrick Kane, who has the

honour of carrying it... PROBLEMS WITH SOUND

Oh, I do apologise, I think we are clearly having a few problems with

the sound from Jon Brain but as he was suggesting incredibly noisy

there. He was starting to tell us about the young man carrying the

torch at the moment. As he said, just 15 years' old. His is a

remarkable story. He lost his right leg at a very young age. He

contracted meningococcal septicaemia before he was even one.

He had a whole series of operations. He had to have his right leg

amputated below the knee and also lost a number of fingers. A truly

inspirational young man. In fact, I believe, oh Jon is back with us.

But we were just reflecting on the remarkable nature of this young boy

and what he has had to put up with in his life but has achieved so

much in spite of him being the youngest person to be fitted with

prosthetics? Hello, Jane, yes. He is an

extraordinary story. He had meningitis as a child and had to

have a leg amputated and most of his right hand. He survived the

meningitis and has been fitted with the world's most advanced bionic

hand. He calls himself the Bionic Boy. He has been chosen to carry

the torch because he is someone who people say has never been defined

by his disability. He has always managed to rise above it. Really

cheerful. You can see him smiling away there as he totally takes part

in the whole range of life and its activities. He is said to be a real

inspiration to other people. Here he goes, he is walking threw the

huge crowds which have built up, as they have all over the country to

see the arrival of the torch, getting applauded as he walks down

through Trafalgar Square, heading down Downing Street. He will be

handing the torch over to Kate Nesbitt a servicewoman who won an

award for bravery for her actions in 2009. It is a remarkable story,

like so many people 9 torchbearers. It is not just about celebrities

and sports stars. So many of them aren't very well known outside

their own communities, but very special nonetheless. Well that's it

from Trafalgar Square. Now the torch is heading back your way and

towards Downing Street. Yes, making its way back here eventually to

Buckingham Palace. What a fabulous shot from the helicopter. It might

be noisy but I think the shots are worth it. What a stunning scene

when you look down on Trafalgar Square, Nelson's Column and the

National Gallery and see the sea of people who are out in the beautiful,

beautiful London sunshine, gradually making its way to buck

become Palace. It will be here after 6 owe clkpm. It is also going

to -- 6 owe clkpm. It is also going to Number Ten Downing Street. Let's

head over to Carole Walker. I cannot get a sense of how many

people are out where you are. But It is untourbl find a scene like

this. We've -- unusual to find a scene like this. We have several

hundred children here from local schools. David Cameron is talking

to the school children. He's getting an awful lot of cheers and

applause - something which has been unusual over the last few days. All

the concerns about the safety, the transport, the weather and so on

for the Olympic Games. But he's out here now, talking to some of the

children who are here, with their parents, with their teachers, with

the Olympic Torch due to arrive here in the next 10-15 minutes. As

you heard there it will be Kate Nesbit bringing the torch into

Downing Street. She is the second woman in the military ever to have

won the Military Cross. She was out in Afghanistan, she was with a unit

which came under fire and she braved the bullets, literally, to

save the life of one of her colleagues who was Lance Corporal

List, who had been shot in the neck and undoubtedly saved his life.

David Cameron met her at a reception and decided that it

should be she who brought the flame here into Downing Street. There is

really an extraordinary sense of occasion here, as we have these

children here. Usually Downing Street is a very restricted zone.

Very few people are allowed up to the front door. There are hundreds

of school children, crowded in here, waiting for the big moment. David

Cameron is here. Samantha Cameron is there, alongside him, talking to

some of the children who are lucky enough to have been brought here

today. I should say, amongst the school children here is Logan

Macarrow, he is the young boy, only five years old, who made a replica

torch, as many of these school children have and when he heard

that some of the people who had held the real torch were selling

their on eBay for profit, he decided to do the same with his

replica and he has in fact raised over �15,000 for a charity for deaf

children. So an extraordinary feat for someone just five years old. He

is somewhere among the children. Some have been into the rose garden

at Number Ten. They have had squash, biscuits and sandwiches, after

their journey here. They are awaiting the arrival of theor nch

the next 10-15 minutes. -- the torch within the next 10-15 minutes.

No politicians are allowed to touch the torch, but he will be there to

see it as it nears the end of this extraordinary journey. Many thanks

for now. I have a feeling, looking at our images from our helicopter,

it may be closer to you in Downing Street than perhaps you realise,

but, it's always a tricky judgment call. There have been periods where

the torch has been travelling more slowly than the organisers might

like, and then it speeds up again. The point there made that

politicians absolutely not allowed to carry the torch. They are one

group of people who are not allowed to. We have seen a lot of sebreb

Brittys today. A -- celebrities today.

Most people have been members of the public, chosen for their

special contribution to their community.

David Miller, the IOC historian still watching these remarkable

images with us tonight as it approaches Downing Street and then

will make its way here to Buckingham Palace. Earlier you were

reflecting on, as we all have, the remarkable turnout. Is it possible

to assess whether it's better than perhaps the organisers might have

hoped? Do they give any sense of what the expectation is before the

torch relay actually gets under way? Are they reluctant to put

figures on it perhaps? It has exceeded everything. We are a world

nowadays of superstars and celebrities and it seems only the

important people feature in news items and so on. This has brought

out the anonymous. There was one particular girl and I don't

remember her name, who said "I don't know where I am. I am

surrounded by thousands of people and about to have the best day of

my life." So, then besides the injured, the maimed, the poor souls

who have given everything in Afghanistan and come back and still

want to run a leg to show their courage, their determination, you

have had elderly people. There was a lady of 90 who said "You just

have to keep at it." It has revealed, I think, so much about

the British nature and British character. There was the great

uncle of Chris Hoy, who is 95. Perhaps we will talk in a moment

more. Let's return now to Downing Street.

Kate Nesbit with the torch making her way along. Carole Walker, our

political correspondent there, as you were reflecting, this is a

scene we don't normally witness outside Number Ten. Extraordinary,

as all the school children, their parents, teachers, here in Downing

Street a plaud Kate arriving with the torch -- applauding Kate

arriving the torch. Meeting David Cameron, talking to him there.

Samantha Cameron is there. Kate Nesbit was chosen by the Prime

Minister as the person who should have the honour of bringing the

torch into Downing Street. They are having a quick chat here. They are

having a quick word. It is worth noting that the Prime Minister

himself is not going to be touching that torch. It is forbidden for

politicians to get their hand on it. However, she is there, out on the

streets, on the steps of Downing Street w the Prime Minister,

Samantha Cameron and, yes, Downing Street is usually a secure zone. Of

course people do visit, politicians visit, visiting heads of state,

diplomats, but it is very rare to see so many people here, in this

glorious sunshine, which we have been reflecting on, as the torch

nears the end of this epic journey. All the children here have had

their own Olympic projects. They have all got involved in one way or

another. Many have raised money for charity. There we go, the Prime

Minister is waving for the cameras. An extraordinary sense of

achievement. I am sure the Prime Minister will hope that after all

the concerns there have been, all the negative stories about the

preparations for the Olympics, the concerns about the security, the

need to call up extra troops, the concerns about the transport and

how difficult it might be to get around, the concerns about... There

we have the kiss, as they call it. The torch is about to be handed to

Florence Roe, who is 81 years old. As I was saying, David Cameron will

be hoping that the extraordinary mood of excitement and optimism

will now be maintained in the final preparations before the big opening

ceremony tomorrow night. Of course, it is important, not

just for the nation, but for the Government, that these Games are a

success. He made the point today that previous Governments had a big

hand in bringing the Olympics to London. There we have it. That is

81-year-old Florence Roe. She was 18 years old when the 1948 Olympic

Games were held here in London and remembers the excitement.

She remembers the excitement of coming along to see the Games.

She's a huge sports fan, a supporter of Wycombe Wanderers.

Extraordinary to see, as you have been reflecting, the variety of,

the 8,000, as there will be by the end of the journey, who have had

the honour of carrying the Olympic Torch on this 8,000-mile journey.

By yesterday evening, it was estimated that 12.5 million people

had actually seen the torch somewhere along the journey.

I think, at the beginning there was scepticism that people would

maintain their interest over this long journey around the country,

but it is extraordinary how different communities, towns,

villages, cities, throughout all the communitys have come out to see

the torch. I think we have hoping that the Prime Minister is going to

talk to us shortly. We hope that Kate, who had the honour of

bringing the torch up into Downing Street, will be with us shortly.

Thank you. A very quick final thought from David Miller, our

historian, because you yourself were nominated to carry the torch,

but you gave that honour to somebody else. I thought better

than a Gerry yachtic old guy it would be more appropriate to have

someone young and aspirational so I donated it to the City of Norwich

School. They choose a lovely young girl, Catherine Shayler. She ran in

Felixstowe, a small town in East Anglia, received the torch from

Adrian Moorhouse. The street was packed, wall-to-wall. She set off,

carrying this flame as though she was off to see The Wizard of Oz. It

was such a dramatic, lovely moment. I think it personifyed everything

that is best about the relay. David Miller, a lovely thought on

which to close our special coverage here tonight. Many thanks for being

with us. The IOC historian and the flame getting closer and closer to

Buckingham Palace, on a really quite stunning day for London. That

is just about it from this BBC News Special, on the last full day of

course of the torch relay around the UK. 8,000 miles, very nearly

8,000 torchbearers, to all corners of the nation. The Olympic flame

has lit up the lives of millions of people. From here, at Buckingham

Palace tonight, we will leave you with just a few of the memorable

images of its journey. Continuing coverage all night on BBC News.