All Eyes on London Summer 2012

Olympians of the World

Assemble in London

Olympic Games 27 July - 12 August 

With just 70 days to go until the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, a major milestone has been reached.  As is tradition,The Olympic Flame has been handed over to the London 2012 delegation, headed by President of the British Olympic Association HRH the Princess Royal, in a Ceremony at the Panathenaic Stadium in Greece.

Torch Handover

The ceremony was attended by President of the Hellenic Republic Mr Karolos Papoulias.  During the Ceremony there were addresses by President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee Spyros Capralos and Chair of the London 2012 Organizing Committee (LOCOG) Seb Coe, before the Olympic Flame was handed over to Her Royal Highness.

Panathenaic Stadium - Athens, Greece

‘The Handover of the Olympic Flame is a key milestone for each Olympic Games as the Torch Relay rallies the world’s athletes to make their final preparations.

'After a fantastic eight-day Torch Relay around Greece we wish London and the whole of the UK well for a successful 70-day Torch Relay and Olympic Games.’

~ Spyros Capralos

Olympic Torch Relay

The Flame will be leaving Athens on Friday 18 May to arrive into the UK at RNAS Culdrose, near Helston, Cornwall at approximately 7.30pm.

On the morning of 19 May the Olympic Flame will travel to Land’s End ready for the start of the 70-day London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. It will travel 8,000 miles across the UK to within 10 miles of 95% of the population before reaching the Olympic Stadium on 27 July.

The Olympic Torch Relay will be covered on the London 2012 site in multi-media.   Complete with maps, photos, videos, and even its own Facebook Page, visitors will be able to trace the relay across the UK.

Tomorrow We Begin a Special Series on London

Here and on our Facebook Page

Cunard Line Takes Delivery of Queen Elizabeth

Pictured: Cunard President Peter Shanks symbolically holds the keys to Queen Elizabeth, which he handed over to
Captain Christopher Wells

Newest Cunard Ocean Liner 

Queen Elizabeth

Cunard Line has taken delivery of Queen Elizabeth  – the second largest Cunarder ever built and the third new liner for the luxury cruise vacation company in six years. 


The Handover Ceremony took place today on board the new 92,400-ton vessel at the Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard. The event included a speech by Cunard President Peter Shanks. The Italian flag was ceremonially lowered and the Blue Ensign was raised, marking the entry of another magnificent Cunard liner into the Register of British Shipping.

“This ceremony to mark the completion of the Queen Elizabeth and our acceptance of delivery, is just the first of a number of significant events over the next few weeks – including the ship’s official naming by Her Majesty The Queen in Southampton on Monday 11 October,” said Shanks. “I’m certain the British will take this truly magnificent ship to their hearts, as they have all the Cunard Queens.”

Queen Elizabeth is due to leave the shipyard on 30 September and sail to Southampton, where she will berth at the Ocean Cruise Terminal on Friday 8 October.

Queen Elizabeth will depart on her Maiden Voyage at 5:00pm on Tuesday 12 October. She is s one of the largest panamax vessels, i.e. capable of passing through the Panama canal. Mini and luxury suites abound on board the superbly finished “Queen Elizabeth” whose 1,046 cabins can accommodate over 2,500 guests assisted by a crew of 1,097.