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Kensington and Chelsea to welcome Olympic Torch Relay

Summary:

The borough will welcome the torch on the last day of its journey through Britain next summer.

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By Nicolas Atkin

The Olympic Torch Relay is coming to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea on the last day of its journey through the UK next summer.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) announced this week the flame will pass through the borough on July 26.

It will then be carried to the Olympic Stadium’s Opening Ceremony to complete its 70-day trip and start the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The borough’s Council Leader Sir Merrick Cockell said: “I’m sure the Olympic Torch Relay will be an exciting spectacle.”

“It will give residents and businesses an opportunity to get into the Olympic spirit ,” Sir Merrick added.

“It will be an excellent chance to celebrate the Royal Borough’s heritage and the different cultures that make up our community.”

The relay will start at Land’s End, Cornwall on May 19 before traveling an estimated 8,000 miles through over a thousand UK villages, towns and cities.

The torch will then pass through London’s 33 boroughs, to be taken within ten miles of more than 95% of the country’s population.

LOCOG Chair Lord Sebastian Coe said: “This is the UK’s moment to shine.”

He added: “I want to encourage people in Kensington and Chelsea to start planning how they can be part of this once in a lifetime opportunity.”

An interactive map outlining the flame’s destinations can be found at www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelaymap.

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