Thursday 26 July 2012

Team GB's deputy Chef de Mission Clive Woodward will kick off the day by carrying the Flame at The Roundhouse in Camden. Clive also managed the England rugby team to victory in the 2003 World Cup.

Later the Flame will be carried down Regent’s Canal on a canal boat by 16-year-old Paris Walker from Bethnal Green, who will hand it over to Luke Corduner at St Pancras International station. Luke was selected for his work coaching sport to young people who have been expelled and young offenders.

When the Torch Relay reaches Islignton Town Hall, comedian David Walliams will carry the Flame in recognition of the remarkable sporting challenges he has completed for charity, including swimming the Thames in 2011.

The Flame will visit several famous London landmarks over the course of the day, including St Paul's Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, Downing Street and Buckingham Palace. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will watch the Torch handover at Buckingham Palace.

The day will finish in Hyde Park, where classical soloist Tyler Rix will light a celebration cauldron on stage at the final evening celebration of the Olympic Torch Relay. The ticketed event will feature performances by Dizzee Rascal, The Wanted, Mark Ronson, Katy B and more.
On Friday 27 July the Flame will make its way to the Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.







Yuki Otsu's first-half goal was enough for the Japanese, but the margin of victory could have been much greater as 10-man Spain struggled with the pace and pressure applied by their opponents.
The 1992 Olympic champions were already 1-0 down when they had Inigo Martinezsent-off with five minutes remaining in the first half and they failed to recover from their numerical disadvantage.
Keigo HigashiKensuke Nagai and Hiroshi Kiyotake all went close for Japan after the break but a single goal was enough to send them to the top of Group D following Honduras and Morocco's 2-2 draw earlier in the day.
Spain started the game by trying to impose their usual possession-based style on the game, but they were hustled from the very first whistle by an energetic Japanese team.
Chelsea's Juan Mata forced Shuichi Gonda into a fine save with Spain's only serious effort of the first half but it was Japan who were threatening more regularly and they were rewarded after 33 minutes when Otsu outmuscled Martin Montoya to prod home Takahiro Ohgihara's corner.
Kiyotake should then have doubled the lead as he pounced on a wayward backpassfrom Alvaro Dominguez but, after rounding David De Gea, he could not turn his shot on target from a narrow angle.
Spain were in trouble a few moments later when Martinez was sent-off for bringing down Nagai just outside the area.
Japan wasted a host of opportunities to extend their lead early in the second half.
De Gea was called into action to make a fine save from Higashi in the 49th minute and the Manchester United goalkeeper should have been left helpless when Nagaibroke through on goal soon after, only for the striker to pull his shot just wide of the target.
Kiyotake had an almost identical opportunity two minutes later at the end of an amazing solo run, but again his shot flew just wide.
By contrast, Spain struggled to create their own clear-cut openings. Jordi Alba's effort was easily smothered by Gonda with 12 minutes remaining before Spain were again thankful to De Gea as he made a stunning stop to once again deny Nagai andHotaru Yamaguchi shot wide with the goal at his mercy in stoppage time.