Part Two London 2012: Countdown to the Olympics

Good afternoon, on this the day that the London 2012 Games

officially get under way. We are here at the heart of the Games, at

the Olympic Park in East London, where at 9.00pm this evening the

opening ceremony will begin, watched by hundreds of millions of

people across the globe. Welcome to this BBC News special,

as we countdown to the Games of the 30th Olympiad. Over the next hour,

we will be looking forward to that opening ceremony, the details of

which are still top secret, and we will be following the Olympic flame

as it makes its final journey towards the Olympic Stadium behind

me. Now this is the scene right now on the River Thames. The flame is

carried towards City Hall, near Tower Bridge where it's going to be

handed over and kept safe until the lighting ceremony tonight. It's

being transported on board the Gloriana, the Royal barge which

played such a prominent role in the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. What

a team of rowers they have on board there. 29 Olympians, who have rowed

for Great Britain in Olympic Games, dating right back to 1948.

They set off from Hampton Court Palace at around 7.30am and it's

been a very long journey for them. But they are almost there. Out on

the river we will be sailing alongside the Gloriana, we will

hear from our correspondents there and also at Tower Bridge where the

flame will be transferred to another barge and then kept safe

until the beginning of that lighting ceremony this evening. We

will be talking to our correspondent Jane Hill, who will

be there. But first, let's show you the flame's journey, as it happened

this morning. It set off from Hampton Court Palace at 7.30am

after a quick visit to the famous Hampton Court maze.

Now, even though you can't see or, can just about see, I can tell that

you it was 19-year-old Klara Weaver carrying the torch, a double junior

European rowing champion. You will be pleased to She's A Character

obviously made it to the -- she obviously made it to the centre of

the maze and just out in time again to hand it to the next torchbearer,

a 13-year-old. Now, the Gloriana has now almost

reached her destination. She is are live images you can see. She's

being accompanied by a flotilla of boats and it's being carried in

three different sections. They started out from Hampton Court

Bridge, a host of vessels accompanying her as she goes. 450

rowers in total. They will be joining the Gloriana as she heads

towards Tower Bridge. Finally at her destination, and

this is where the flame will be handed over. They will give it -

they will be received by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who will

be there, to greet the flame when it arrives. Then the flame is going

to be transferred to another barge and taken under Tower Bridge to its

resting location, let's say, where it will wait until the lighting

ceremony at the Olympic Stadium this evening. What a sight on the

River Thames. There have been thousands and thousands of people

who have turned out to see her. There you are, some of the

Olympians who have taken part in Olympic Games dating back to 1948.

What a moment for them as they row the flame right up to Tower Bridge.

On board the Gloriana some of the torch security team who have

accompanied the flame on its 70-day journey since it set out in May

from Cornwall, from Land's End in Cornwall, extraordinary to think

that journey is finally coming to a close. 8,000 torchbearers, almost

8,000 miles. Only about a handful of miles left until the flame

reaches the Olympic Park this evening.

On board HMS Belfast with a wonderful view is Jane Hill.

Thank you, Sophie. I feel lucky to be standing here. I have to say

it's taken the spectators and everybody here somewhat by surprise,

you were talking about a long journey, and a tough row down the

Thames, but they've obviously done it in record time. They've made it

to Tower Bridge here, practically 15 or 20 minutes in advance of

their scheduled time, I think. With me, and he's been here on BBC News

all day, Jock, we have been following the progress of this

flotilla, the final stage of the torch. Here it is on board the

Gloriana. This really is a moment for the Thames. This is a moment

for the Thames. Remember that in years past the Thames was the

highway for the entrance into London. We are recreating that and

what better to bring in the Olympic flame than on board the Queen's row

barge itself, and I can see lots of enthusiasm down there, they don't

seem too tired from the trip. They're waving away. Isn't that

marvellous? They got a lot of waves from everybody here on board HMS

Belfast. They did indeed, as you suggest, look still very cheery. I

should say, the crowds just in the last hour, we have been here all

morning, both sides of the Thames absolutely packed. Thousands of

people out and Tower Bridge, a sea of people as well, grabbing the

very best vantage point in the capital to see this moment and to

see 22-year-old Amber Charles from Newham, who is the young girl, the

basketball player, who has been chosen, who will be handing over

the torch. And the Gloriana just remind us, because you were an

othersman, you have broken records, there is nothing you don't know

about vessels on this river. Totally unique. 14 tonnes. One of

the things I wouldn't want to do is be stuck, we would quickly go

overboard. They're raising their oars to the flame. All coming

alongside. A little secret is on board we actually got, because it's

difficult to control, we have a couple of thrusters, and they can

control the boat quite precisely where she is going. Noisy here on

board, lots of klaxons and cheering and the helicopters up above. A

really glorious moment. Remind us, the crew on board, jock, because

they've assembled a fantastic mixture of Britain's best. I made a

comment, they're golden Goldies, from 1948. All the way through to

the Sydney Olympics, all there. Steve Williams, part of that

amazing gold medal-winning four from Beijing.

Even Johnnie Searle there. We are hoping and expecting that his

brother, Greg, will come back with a gold medal this time. 20 years on,

after his last gold medal. Mike Hart. Who really started it in 1976

and re-energising of British rowing, getting their silver medal. Sarah,

now head of the Olympic athletes commission in the UK, up waving

away there. Gwen, I am trying to get them all in. We will talk much

more about all of that, a huge cheer just went up from the crowds,

particularly at the base of City Hall, they really have the best

vantage point right now, because they're in full sight of the

Gloriana and that cauldron burning bright there.

Also, watching all of this with us today, the historian of the flame,

Philip Barker, we have spoken many times through this torch relay and

this is quite some fashion in which to end the relay, isn't it? This is

arguably the most dramatic fashion. They had a boat in Sydney, but

nothing as stylish as this. It began in the ancient Olympic ruins

at the temple when the flame was lit on May 10th, came to Land's End

and it was Ben aeubsly -- Ainsley, a sailor, who carried the flame and

arriving here is important, because 1894 is when Tower Bridge was built,

that was the year they decided to revive the Olympic Games and,

therefore, it's an appropriate place. City Hall is where they're

stowing the ceremony flag that Boris Johnson collected in Beijing

and will be handed over to Rio after these Games. Over the road,

the Tower of London where medals are kept for all the competitions

of the Games of the 30th Olympiad. Kept very safe in the Tower of

London. As indeed the flame was one week ago when it was brought to the

Tower of London and that's where it was kept safe overnight for its

first night in the host city. Jock, explain, because we are so

lucky standing here on HMS Belfast, a flotilla that we are looking out

at. This has been a three-stage flotilla today. Explain the other

craft that have been involved. a three-stage flotilla, from

Hampton Court. First of all, accompanied by the - - there are

five skip rowing clubs. You have doubles with one cox. They're not

sliding seats. They're flat seats. All can be a bit painful at times.

Then as soon as we got down to the tideway, accompanied by members of

London Youth Rowing and today the watermans cutters, which came about

as a result of the great river race. A means of trying to introduce

traditional rowing back on the river. The cutters there, normally

rowed by some six people and you can either skull, one person, two

two oars. There are 28 of these now. There's regular racing schedule for

all these boats. Even there we have former Olympians, we have former

record-breakers, people who have rowed oceans all taking part, all

becoming part of this scene. This is what is so great about this, we

are all part of this. 13 million people have watched the torch and

seen and been part of the torch around. Here we have culminating in

this incredible scene with the Queen's row barge.

We will talk more over the course of the hour, thank you very much,

for now. We will be keeping an eye on the Gloriana, of course.

Sophie, we will head back east and rejoin you at the Olympic Park.

Thank you very much. We will stay with those pictures, with me here

is Jeremy Hunt, of course the Culture Secretary. Twoufl see those

image -- wonderful to see those images of the Gloriana with the

Olympic flame. Absolutely fantastic. The thing about that torch is it's

really shown Britain at its best. On Friday, I was in the village I

grew up in, in Surrey and the torch came through and it was like our

own special Royal wedding moment happening in that village. It's

done that in communities up and down the country. We think by the

end of this perhaps a quarter of the population have lined the

streets at some stage or another to see the torch. Incredible. Until

even before yesterday it was millions, I think three million

people according to Lord Coe who turned out in London alone to see

the flame. Scotland, Wales, I think the thing about that torch and in

fact the whole Olympics project is that it's bringing out the best in

people and the best in the country and you see it in the 70,000

volunteers involved in the project. The people who made that torch

relay project such a success. The police, armed services, the

thousands of people working for different companies and

organisations. Everybody has a smile on their face. It feels like

a magic has arrived in London. And indeed in the country, which is

just a very, very special moment. was in Hyde Park last night when it

arrived and the flame was run in there and some of the torch

security team have accompanied it since it left Athens, were rather

emotional. This evening, however, it arrives here at the stadium

behind us, we are not sure where the cauldron will be, but that's

going to be a huge moment for Britain, isn't it? That's an image

that will be pronged around the -- projected around the world, up to a

billion people could be watching. Or even more T will be the biggest

single ad for Britain in our history. It's an incredible moment.

We have a sort of national virtue of being modest sometimes, but this

will not be a moment for modesty. This is going to be a moment when

we have to bang the drum for all the things that we are proud of,

the fact that we are the home of culture and literature from

Shakespeare to Dickens, to Harry Potter. The fact that eight of the

world's top ten sports are either invented or co-defied in Britain.

The contribution we have made to democracy and freedom through the

ages. So many of the big battles happened here and I know Danny

Boyle will want to celebrate all of that and it's going to be a moment

we can all feel in that quiet What a way to upon Danny Boyle's

shoulders. Because this is the defining image? It is a big

responsibility, but I think he will do it in a quirky, British way.

There will be a lot of humour and a lot of fun. The world will see us

as we are. But there will be those things we are proud of, the things

Britain has done to shape the modern world, the big changes that

have made the world what it is today. Sometimes we forget how much

of a role Britain played. Thousands of people turning out along the

riverside and the Thames watching the flame and right now. Britain,

we are told is ready for these Games. Mitt Romney, the

presidential hopeful yesterday expressed out. Are we ready?

absolutely ready. A project of this Gail, you are going to have a few

hitches, but we are over them now. He Jack Rudd, the President of the

IOC said London is more ready than any other city he has seen before.

We will prove Mitt Romney wrong. do have some hard acts to follow,

Beijing being one of them? They have been many previous successful

Olympics, but London is the only city in the world to host the

Olympics three-times. We don't just have incredible sport, but

incredible culture and we are one of the most cosmopolitan and

exciting cities in the world. lot of people heard Big Ben ringing

out this morning just after 8am to mark the official start of the

Games. You were on board hate to miss Belfast and had a bit of an

incident? I was ringing a bell in an excited way, and the bell

collapsed in my hand and went flying off! I have always been a

big fan of Hugh Donna Gill, and it was my own 2012 moment. It was a

clanger, if you will excuse the pun. Let's go back to Jayne Hill who is

by the river and watching proceedings.

Even since we last spoke, I feel the crowds are swelling. We look

down both sides of the Thames from our vantage point on board HMS

Belfast, thousands and thousands of people really crowding every

section of the water from so that you can see. This is the image from

the lucky people who got here early enough to be on Tower Bridge itself.

Still open to traffic, as you can see. But lining Tower Bridge right

across its ban. What have you they have of the Gloriana, Gloriana and

these final moments for the Olympic torch. The 17th day of the torch

relay. Our guests are watching all of these proceedings. Just another

word about Gloriana, a magnificent vessel, to the uninitiated such as

myself. You think very beautiful, very majestic, but there is more to

it than that? Unique, and British- built. Rediscovering the traditions

of hundreds of years ago. That a vessel is actually based on an 18th

century design. So going back to nobility when the royals were taken

up and down the Thames. This was a highway. Here she is, through the

efforts have of a few good people, we now eventually have a Royal

barge once again, which will go on to do lots of charitable functions

with the Royal Family. Something we should be intensely proud of. We

have the national flags on board. Inside, on the panels inside we

have 16 facts of the realms of the Commonwealth. A stunning example of

Britain. I think we should all be taken aback about the speed with

which these guys have got down here? Much earlier and much faster

than expected. This is the crucial moments as we watch. That is 22-

year-old Amber Charles. A beaming smile, as well she might. 22 years

old from Newham in London, one of the Olympic boroughs. She is a

basketball player. As we have seen, with a few torch-bearer has over

the last 70 days, she has been involved with London's before the

Olympics from the start. She has been involved from Singapore, that

moment we remember at which it was revealed London had one false start

she was one of the young ambassadors involved. In fact, she

presented the IOC proposal, the British proposal, I should say, two

members of the IOC back into 1004. Big cheers as she waves to the

crowd. -- 2004. There is the Olympic torch lit from the cauldron.

She is standing by the green ring, one of the five Olympic rings. At

the base of city hall. Thousands and thousands of people watching,

lining the route to on the South Bank of the Thames. No of course,

over the last 70 days, and certainly the organisers of the

torch relay have been keen to tell us one of the key elements of this

relay was of course about getting everyone in Britain to have a

chance to see the torch, but also they wanted to pick out inspiring

individuals, what ever their age to be a torch-bearer. Amber Charles

has been chosen in this instance as just one such. The youngest torch-

bearer was just 12 years old. The oldest had turned 100 by the time

she carried the flame. Amber Charles has been chosen because it

is said she inspires young people to play sport and take up sport.

Philip Barker, you have written about so many a Olympic Jenny's.

Here we are, finally at the end of the 70 days, which started with the

lighting of the flame in ancient Olympia in Greece. One assumes the

organisers of this relay must be delighted with the last few weeks?

They must be delighted. They are not revealing he will be the final

court run there. It seemed such a long time ago she took a bit to the

headquarters of the International Olympic Committee. And on that

famous day in July 2005, when Shacklock announced London will

have the Games, and it is worth remembering the Queen is the patron

of the British Olympic Association's. -- he Jacques Rogge.

She has connections through the Olympics with her family as well.

We have seen the Royal seal of if approval because the flame went

through Buckingham Palace yesterday. Windsor Castle a few weeks ago when

the Queen had bad luck with the weather. But the Queen will become

the first head of state to open two summer Olympic Games. She opened

the 1976 Games in Montreal and did it in French. She will do it in her

own country, her father did the last one. Jock Wisheart, a man who

has spent his life to being on the water, how is it before you it is

ending on the River Thames? It is a magic moment, it is such a

privilege to be here on what is a bit of history happening. It is

truly a unique occasion. To see them all standing there, saluting

the flame. It will now go into city hall and sometime tonight we will

find out - there has been a lot of things of course - if you ask me,

you would have to kill me false start do you know more than you can

let on? I do no more. But there is a lot of money riding on it from

the bookies will stop to try to give you a sense, a little earlier

this morning I was talking to the bridge master from Tower Bridge.

Talking about his pride in having the Olympic rings hanging from

Tower Bridge, as they have been for the last few months. He gave us a

small clue, and he said Tower Bridge will be playing, as he put

it, a small, but spectacular role in tonight's celebrations. The

flame will be hidden away for a few hours this afternoon, and tonight,

you are smiling, you know more than ideas. At some point tonight it

will lead Tower Bridge and make its way East and will end up at the

Olympic Park for the Opening Ceremony. So for the next few

minutes, this is the last we will see of the flame until the key

Opening Ceremony tonight. From our vantage point, I can see from

another camera, and the Charles, not being let go by the crowds,

still waving and cheering. People taking photographs. Thousands and

thousands of people lining the banks of the Thames this lunchtime,

to mark the very last stage of the Olympic torch relay. And a

reflection of England's Maritime heritage, the fact we are an island

nation, that is one of the reasons that drove these final stages. But

is it being not about some of the sports to come? We do have lots of

almost bankers, in terms of bringing home the gold medal.

cannot use that word about medals. What delighted me today, is not

only this historic journey recreating the past of going from

hand and caught, the same passage royalty had taken years ago, but it

passed by so many famous clubs who were the origins of some of the

sports. Went back the Royal canoe Club. I am sure Tim Brabants and

would have been there this morning. We went back the Thames Sailing

Club -- went past the Thames Sailing Club. It was not only

rowing, but all sailing sports false start this is as big as a

pageant for the finish. Lovely to have you with us. Let's return to

the Olympic Park. Sophie, for now on the River Thames, back to you.

We will stay with those pictures, but the chief executive officer of

the British Olympic Association, Andy Hunt joins me. The focus is on

the Opening Ceremony, tomorrow it is all down to you? You are right,

this is it, the end of the journey. But the rubber hits the road

tomorrow, with the road cycle race. The athletes are really, really

excited about tonight. But to be the home team at a Home Games in

that Opening Ceremony, marching out last is something incredibly

special. A lot of them will get on and compete. How are they? You have

been at the athlete's village for two weeks, and a lot have been

arriving over the past few days, what kind of spirit of a in?

mood in the camp is fantastic. It is a united team. We had brought

together 39 different sports to work together as one team. The

feeling is fantastic. Everybody's plans have come together, they know

what they need to do and now it is a case of getting out there and

scoring goals, winning races, what ever they need to do. I believe we

are ready to do that. The pressure is on their soldiers, not least

because they did so well in Beijing? You are absolutely right,

47 medals, 19 gold, 4th place in the medal table in Beijing was

extraordinary. We shouldn't underestimate how difficult it will

be to beat that. I do believe we will deliver more medals from all

sports in over a century. I believe we will get more than 48 medals and

we will do what ever we can to retain our place in the medal table.

More gold medals amazing? I know every athlete in the team will give

it their best shot. -- Beijing's. So many of them shooting for gold.

If we focus on every day of competition, each athlete is

focused on that race, that match they are participating in an the

medal table will take care of itself. What about Phillips Idowu,

do you think he will be taking part? Lots of confusion, but we

really wants him to be back and fully fit and able to compete. He

is a fantastic medal hope for us. He has a few more days to get fit.

We are in discussions with his team to make sure we can provide any

medical support we can. We have probably the top sports medical

experts in the village with us. Have you spoken to him yourself?

chief medical officer is in discussions with his team. You are

confident he will be here? Injuries are difficult things, you never

know how long. But everyone in the country would like to see him

It's been a huge turnaround from Atlanta when we came home with one

gold medal. 36th place in the table was a low point. I remember some

historic comments by Matthew Pinsent about, we can't go on like

this any more and we didn't. It changed. We won the Games. The

investment that's gone into sport in this country is fantastic.

Winning gold medals is not just about incredibly talented athletes,

and we have lots of those, it's about the incredible coaches that

we have and the whole system that supports them out there. I think

sport's in a good place right now. Thank you very much for joining us.

Let's go back to the River Thames now and Jane Hill on HMS Belfast.

Thank you, Sophie. I am joined by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson,

who has run over to HMS Belfast. Welcome. Hello. From City Hall,

where you were just watching. watching the torch, it's about to

come in to City Hall. Then we are going to have a brief ceremony of

some kind and we are then going to send it down river again, to a

place that used to be an industrial wasteland and it's now the Olympic

Park, it's an incredible moment for lots of people who have been

working hard on this for a long time. On the scale of nervousness

to excitement, where are you right now? Well, the sort of - it's

creaking towards the red zone now. There's no doubt. But it's an

extraordinary thing to watch. The torch seems to have this benign

contagion in people and it gets people. It moves them in ways that

you simply don't expect. Some people remain immune, I mean, a

famous broadcaster from Sky News, I won't embarrass by mentioning by

name, tells me he is invulnerable to this. But most people I meet

they get caught up in it and it's quite primitive. Just one week ago

we were there over at the Tower of London, we saw the flame arrive,

abseil down from the helicopter. I wonder what your thoughts have been

as the Mayor of London, just in the last week, purely in in terms of

the way people in the capital n the host city, have turned out as

indeed they have today? Shall I give you the figures, we are

talking so far until the crack of dawn this morning, 3.9 million

people who had already come to watch the torch with their own eyes.

So, probably looking at the crowds today, we must be up at 4.5 million.

Five million at least by the time the thing is over. That is a

substantial proportion, more than half the population of the city.

London is seven, eight million. A big, big thing is happening. I

think future socialologists will want to get what feelings are

evoked by this flickering burning gas. Some cynics you mentioned

might say but a lot of those are tourists, London is always

attractive to tourists, you don't have to stage an Olympics at this

time of year. Let's hope so. We obviously are hoping to benefit

from tourist revenue, and also the objective of this exercise is not

just to throw a great party and have a great Games, which is tral

to it -- central to it, tpwou get investment in our city and it mean

that is the world looks at London and forms a favourable impression,

I am all for it. The next two weeks are crucial to forming that

impression as well? If it all goes smoothly and we are discussing this

after the closing ceremony then you will be a happy man? I am not going

to claim there there won't be imperfections problems, of course

there are going to be things that, you know, the media will rightly

want to pick up on, but overall, I hope it will go very well indeed

and we are going to use City Hall as a continuous kind of you - we

have created lots of wonderful models of parts of London that are

now very, very attractive for investment. We had a thing in

Lancaster House yesterday with all those global titans, they need no

persuading that London is the greatest city on earth and has an

amazing future. We are located between the great Asian growing

economies, and North America. We have the right time zone, the right

language, a young, dynamic population. We are unlike any other

city in Europe in that we have a growing population. We have several

parts of the London economy that are showing amazing dine

dineamicism. For someone listening to you, for the sake of argument in

Aberdeen, Belfast, how does that benefit them? It does, and I don't

want to sound manically, London- centric. The evidence is if you get

London working and moving you thoep drive the rest of the UK. We export

about �29 billion of -- �19 billion of tax a year to the rest of the

country. I hope that people understand that

argument. All right, as we watch the Gloriana

move away, a cracking opening ceremony tonight, have you been

privy to the dress rehearsals? haven't seen the rehearsals. I did

see rushes ages ago. I can't tell you what's going to happen t would

be wrong. You would be sacked! Exactly right, but it's going to be

fantastic. Enjoy the opening ceremony, Mayor of London, thank

you very much for joining us here on board HMS Belfast.

Gloriana pulls away from the Olympic rings. Cheers from the many,

We will stay with these pictures of this fabulous vessel, if we

possibly can. Let's also talk Olympic matters,

tickets, let's head to our sports correspondent Joe Wilson, because

he is at Lord's. Terribly hard to hear myself think here on the

Thames, perhaps easier where you are.

It is a little quieter, because this is the first example of London

Olympic sport. This is a preliminary round of the archery

competition. You can maybe make out the world's best female Archers

behind me. There have been problems outside. To be clear, a lot of

archery authorities made it absolutely clear that today's

action was not open to the public. But, it was widely advertised as

unticketed. That's an interesting word to interpret. A lot of people,

I would say hundreds, interpreted unticketed as meaning it was

basically a free for all. That they could arrive at their leisure with

families and come and watch. There were dozens of really quite

disgruntled Archery fans outside this morning. For example, the

Gibson family from Oregon in the United States and were left feeling

Thank you very much for now, Joe Wilson at Lord's cricket ground. We

will assess that and see how that goes over the course of the day.

Back here on the River Thames it is the very closing elements of a 70-

day torch relay. This, if you are just joining us,

is the Gloriana. Her Majesty's row barge, it has just delivered the

last torchbearer of the 70-day relay, a 22-year-old young

basketball player, Amber Charles from Newham, east London. Now the

flame is kept hidden effectively for a few hours, and it will be

taken from Tower Bridge to the opening ceremony tonight for the

last 70 days we have focused so much on the torchbearers, their

stories, but also the torch itself. I am delighted that the designers

of said torch are with us here on board HMS Belfast. Gentlemen,

lovely to have you with us, Jay and Edward, thank you very much for

being here. It was your studio that won the commission. The torch that

you are holding that we have become familiar with and I should say

congratulations, because it's the design museum's design of the year,

I think I am right in saying. That's correct, yeah. When you were

first asked or first won the commission, goodness, where were

you on the scale of excitement versus anxiety? Amazing. They did a

bit of an X Factor on us and lulled us - they made us believe we hadn't

won it and revealed it to us. We incredibly excited and jumping in

the air. You were on a flight at the time. I missed that X Factor

moment. I was on a flight to New York. I had a text from Jay saying

we have got it. Incredible. actual design process, the meetings

with people who I assume within the authorities gave you a sense of

weight, price, what they wanted to transmit. The project, when we were

asked to do the project, we were given a massive briefing document

which had everything from all the previous weights and sizes t had

weather conditions that you would expect to see in England or Britain

in the summer. We had rain, high wind speeds. It was a very

comprehensive document. We had a good starting point. It was really

important to us that the design somehow captured something of the

history of the Games and something of the history of the Games in the

UK and also referred directly to the relay itself and captured -

somehow had a narrative behind it. That's what is informed the design

of the torch. Remind us, some people may know the story, but

there is relevance to the number of holes. On the body of the torch

there are 8,000, and they relate to one for each runner, 8,000 runners

and 8,000 miles. The other distinctive, I suppose, part of the

design, is this triangular shape and that relates to the three times

the Games has been in London. 1908, 1948 and 2012. The holes, as well

as representing the torchbearers, it also makes the torch light and

transparent so that you can see everything going on inside. If you

hold it up to the light. One final thing is the colour. We decided on

gold, because obviously gold is the colour of attainment for the games

and we felt all the torch relay participants should have their

moment to carry gold. We were surprised there wasn't a torch

previously that was gold T seemed like the obvious colour to us.

final thought, I have lost count of the number of people I have

interviewed in the last 70 days who have had the honour of carrying one

of these and they use that word, honour and pride. I wonder whether

you have had feedback individually from torchbearers, what do people

say to you? We had e-mails even today, people saying it's been a

privilege, good job. Also e-mails from abroad. People who haven't

seen it in the flesh, and seen it on television, said fantastic

design, we love it. We were slightly lucky that we designed

something that's been well received. We weren't given that long, we gave

us ten days originally. That's nothing! A bit of luck there, I

think. Edward and Jay, good to have you with us, thank you very much.

The designers of the Olympic torch. Let's head to the Olympic Park.

Let's cross to my colleague Jon Sopel.

Jane, thank you very much. It feels like the atmosphere has changed in

the Olympic Park. It's twitchy, a little bit nervy. We have had

security checking our passes, in the broadcast centre lots of people

scurrying around. Lots of testing, testing, one, two going on behind

us in the stadium which will open the doors at 5.00pm so the public

can stream in, 80,000 of them, to watch the opening ceremony. What an

evening it promises to be. What a lot of responsibility on the

shoulders of those behind it, well, we got a little taste last night of

what might be in it. It's worth having a look at those pictures

again. We have seen, for example, the resurrection of the pop band

Mud, from the 1970s. Here is a little bit where they're

celebrating the National Health Service and it's going to be a

celebration of this island's story, if you like. The history of Britain

but with contemporary music, classical music, with dance, and

all the rest. It's not going to be Beijing four years ago. It's going

to be a very British take. And those wonderful pictures of

cyclists going around with wings on their shoulders. I have spoken to

people who have seen the rehearsals and they've all said it's great,

but it doesn't quite make sense. Why? Because there is still lots of

unknowns. Still all sorts of rumours about the surprises that

might yet be to come. Well, Danny Boyle when he spoke a short time

ago wasn't revealing what the surprises might be but he was

looking forward to this evening's event.

It's been a long road and we are almost there. I mean, what you

think about really is you think about the volunteers really,

because the thing about directors is that they just sit at the back

in the end, you know. This is a live performance. It's the actors

and in our case they're volunteers, and have to get up there and do it.

Any kind of nervousness I feel for them, it's for them really. Because

my nerves are not important. The excitement I feel about it is

obviously the excitement I think they feel. Yeah, looking forward to

it really. Whatever comes our way comes our way, because it's live

and it's a one time only. I will never do one again. It is

extraordinary to be involved in one. I saw Danny Boyle earlier this week

with Steven Daldry, they were coming to the rehearsals, and they

looked the most relaxed men you could think of. They are projecting,

not just to the audience, but around the world, to this sort of

billion-plus audience that will be watching, what Britain is. How

Britain sees itself, how Britain would like to be seen. We are

hearing a fantastic selection of music from the stadium now. We have

had everything from Elgar and the variations which you associate with

Remembrance Sunday, to The Who, and everything in between. So, it

promises to be a spect spectacle tonight. As I have been saying,

there are surprises, things we do not know about what's going to

happen this evening, who might be appearing and where. I think that

will add to the sense of excitement. Of course, the other big thing we

don't know about, even though you have been struggling to find out

determinedly this morning, Jane, who is going to be lighting the

cauldron? We have no idea. But here in the Olympic Park everyone is

scurrying around. The atmosphere has changed totally. People just

want to get on with it and there is that anxious feeling that something

We still do not know. We are just hearing the Prime Minister has

announced that there will be 17 tickets to the Opening Ceremony

tonight which will be donated to people who have been selected,

being described as people who have contributed particularly to their

community. Again it takes us back to everything we have heard, all of

the stories we have heard about torchbearers. 17 tickets to be

given away. That leaves a few spare, we were talking yesterday there are

tickets available at the top two prices. Some tickets will be given

away. As they left, the lovely designers of the Olympic torch were

just telling me they have just been told they will be going to

tonight's Opening Ceremony. I would imagine they would be going anyway,

but apparently not. But they have just found out they are. A few

formalities to go through this afternoon before we go to the

Opening Ceremony. There will be a reception at Buckingham Palace for

heads of states and governments and probably a few others besides.

Let's cross to Philippa Thomas with more on that.

We are expecting 95 heads of state, or at least heads of delegation,

monarchs, presidents and prime ministers. Migrate deal of planning

goes into these things, as you would expect. -- a great deal. We

were both he yesterday for part of the torch relay where the torch was

run in behind the railings of Buckingham Palace and we saw Kate,

William and Harry as GB -- Team GB ambassadors welcomes the torch to

Buckingham Palace. Members of the Royal family will be at the Opening

Ceremony. Let's get a bit more on the roles the royals are playing,

and the Royal Family at Buckingham Palace is always part of the

package. I'll Royal Correspondent is with me now. They have been

important to Britain hosting Games? She is the most senior State in the

world. -- head of state in the world. Everyone is keen to meet

Queen Elizabeth in this diamond jubilee year. The fact they can

come and have his reception at Buckingham Palace and make the key

-- Queen will be memorable. 95 people, with their partners. The

Prime Minister of France. But it will be a bitter sweet occasion on

him, because this could have happened in Paris. The President of

France will be coming later during the Games. The Prime Minister of

Russia, the President will be coming later. He is particularly

interested in the weight lifting. There will be a speech by the Queen,

a speech by Jacques Rogge, of course. Most of them will be taken

by coach to the Olympic Park. it is interesting, you would expect

there would be a motorcade, with bodyguards, but you cannot have all

of those limousines crossing London on this night? It is not unusual

for them to go on a coach. The regular thing at these Olympic

occasions. Very often there were a family travelled by coach, we did

have coach loads of them travelling for the Royal Family. It is not

exceptional. He would love to over here some of those conversations?

don't think there is a seating plan, so it is whoever you find yourself

next to. All sorts of diplomatic possibilities and diplomatic

conversations taking place. That is one of the things of the Games, you

have the secretary general of the United Nations, big world players

coming together, almost without exception. All sorts of

conversations can be taking place within the context of a relaxed

atmosphere such as this. Who knows, perhaps a bit of serious business

being done as well as the entertainment. Be to is about sport

and politics, but business behind the scenes. And at a Lancaster

House, there will be a series of summits and convinces to welcome

Investment? Everyone would yards away, the United Kingdom taking

advantage of the fact there are so many diplomatic and business

players, chief executive, chairman of major corporations here. And the

Prime Minister making a very big effort to take advantage of the

situation to encourage inward investment into the United Kingdom.

A very important by-products Games are here in London. As we look at

the part being played, especially by the younger roles, the Duke and

Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, they were very prominent yesterday

as the torch came in and they will be under the spotlight? It comes

back to what you said earlier, the world family are unimportant

element within the UK propositions. Not just the Queen herself, but the

younger members, the more glamourous members of the Royal

Family. We will wait for the limousines to come in and the

coaches to go out. That's all for now at Buckingham Palace.

Philippa Thomas. Let's reflect for a moment on the other way in which

the day began, not just on the water, but it with a national bell

ringing. 12 minutes past eight this morning, the bell ringing began,

part of an idea from an artist to celebrate the day of the Opening

Ceremony. Let's take a look at what that meant.

On the Thames, a special Olympic day dawned.

And at 8:12am, Big Ben chimed and began and Nationwide cacophony of

Belz. -- Belz. From Wales, to Edinburgh. East

Yorkshire. Ring are Mary Bell's. Weymouth in Dorset. The instruction

was to ring all the bells as quickly and loudly as possible for

three minutes. It was very tiring because they are quite heavy.

little noisy overture to the Games. The Olympic minister was there to

tell us. When things don't go according to plan, London will cope.

My goodness me! No one was hurt. Everyone was smiling about it.

Closing thoughts from the River Thames because we have witnessed a

remarkable pageants down the river, ending here at Tower Bridge just in

the last half-an-hour. Let's get a final thought with Jock Wisheart,

who has been with us all morning. A man who has devoted his life to the

water, and this river. What a way to end this relay? I am gobsmacked.

Watching the Gloriana paddle off. But an idea of Lord Sterling to

have that here. Everything is about Britain. We are Maritime nations

will stop in London we have this amazing link with the river. We

brought this altogether in this final moments, culminating in the

torch being given over with this amazing spectacle. And the crowd,

they must rivalled the pageant. was amazing. And also, this

opportunity for some of our past and very deserving Olympic

medalists to have their little moment. They will say, I was here.

Does it sound special? Just remarkable. And there are still

thousands of people lining the banks of the Thames. The Gloriana

has gone. They will be staying here because they will be expecting

something else to happen. We know Tower Bridge will be playing a role

in tonight ceremony. There is a little secret to be unveiled.

won't say any more! You have been very discreet. There is a key,

final element. We have watched the torch for 70 days are from Lands

End, to Tower Bridge this lunchtime. All will be revealed in a few hours.

We know Tower Bridge will be playing a role in some way for

start the Olympic torch is hidden away for the next few hours. And

according to the bridge master of Tower Bridge, he said the bridge

will be playing a small but spectacular and significant role in

tonight's ceremony. Spectacular was the word he used. It will make its

way the East to the Olympic Park in Stretford for Danny Boyle's Opening

Ceremony, which begins and we can all watch from 9pm this evening on

BBC One. What a 70 day relay it has been. Thousands of people lining

the banks of the Thames. Organisers estimating 12 million people at

least have seen the Olympic flame on it 70 day journey. Let us remind

you of the final few scenes of this Olympic journey. We can reflect on

this journey. From the River Thames, It is not a bag gold medals, racing