Following approval from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Olympic Flame will journey around Northern Ireland between Sunday 3 June and Thursday 7 June 2012. Given the proximity of the Flame to the Republic of Ireland this symbolic visit has been arranged to shine a light on the rich heritage and sporting ambitions of Ireland, north and south.

The Olympic Flame will arrive in Dublin on the morning of 6 June. From the start point, Torchbearers will carry the Olympic Flame through the city and proceedings will culminate in a mid-morning celebration event at a city centre location.

Further details of the crossing point, the route around Dublin and the event programme will be confirmed next year.  

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: “We are delighted to be taking the Olympic Flame to Dublin on the morning of 6 June. This is a historic opportunity to showcase the wealth of sporting talent from across the Republic of Ireland ahead of the competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

“I would like to thank the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland, Her Majesty’s Government, the Government of the Republic of Ireland, the Olympic Council of Ireland and Dublin City Council for developing the proposal with us.”

Michael Ring TD, Minister of State for Tourism & Sport, Republic of Ireland, said: “I am delighted that the Olympic Flame will travel across the border into the Republic next year in the run-up to the 2012 London Olympics. This historic occasion recognises the friendship, peace and cooperation that now exists on the island of Ireland and demonstrates the unifying power of sport.

“A number of international teams have already chosen Dublin as a training base before the London Games. The visit of the Olympic Flame next year will be a wonderful opportunity for the whole of Ireland to be even more closely involved with the 2012 London Olympic Games and for Irish people to be part of the biggest sporting event in the world.”

Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, said: “The Republic of Ireland is the only country outside the UK to be visited by the torch and rightly so, given the unique and deep ties between Ireland and the UK. I’m sure the Olympic Flame will receive a warm and rapturous welcome in Dublin.”

Carál Ní Chuilín, Sports Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive, said: “I am delighted that the spirit of the Olympic Torch will come to all parts of this island. The Olympic flame is a very iconic symbol of coming together in friendship to compete through sport.  It is a flame which I think has the ability to inspire our young people to get involved in sport and I want everyone to be inspired by its history and purpose.”

Pat Hickey, President of the Olympic Council of Ireland, said: “I am delighted that the Olympic Flame will visit Dublin next year for what will be a historic moment.  This is a fantastic opportunity for us to celebrate the rich sporting heritage of Ireland and an opportunity for the local community to be part of the excitement in the build up to the Games. We are grateful for the support of all involved and we look forward to working together to deliver a memorable moment of the Olympic Torch Relay of which we will all be proud.”

-  Ends –

For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 100 or visit the website at www.london2012.com. Find out the latest from London 2012 HQ on our blog http://blog.london2012.com or follow us on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/london2012
 
Notes to editors

About the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Presenting Partners:

As the longest standing Presenting Partner of the Olympic Torch Relay, Coca-Cola will be using its heritage and experience to spread excitement across the UK ahead of London 2012. Coca-Cola's national nomination campaign - Future Flames – has focused on finding inspirational young people from across the country to have the once in a lifetime opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame. Next summer Coca-Cola will celebrate these Future Flames: young people who use their passions in areas like sport and physical activity, music and dance, and community and the environment; to spread happiness in their local communities. Find out more at: www.coca-cola.co.uk/olympic-games
 
As the only National Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic
Torch Relay, Lloyds TSB will be taking the spirit and inspiration of the Olympic Flame right to the heart of communities across the UK.  As part of Lloyds Banking Group, Bank of Scotland will be the National Presenting Partner in Scotland.  Schools can be right at the heart of the celebrations through our Flame Followers programme, giving them access to free resources to get their pupils inspired and excited about the Olympic Torch Relay, and the chance for their school to carry the Olympic Flame, win a celebration party at their school during the Relay and win a Cheer Kit to welcome the Relay to their community (schools can register at www.lloydstsb.com/flamefollowers). Customers can be the first to hear how they can follow the Olympic Flame, through our customer-exclusive programme Trackside. Find out more at www.lloydstsb.com/london2012

As a Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, Samsung is providing national and international Olympic Torchbearers through its worldwide public nomination process. These ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunities to carry the Olympic Flame on its journey around the UK, represents one of the many ways that Samsung is enabling people from all corners of the world to be part of the greatest show on Earth.  Becoming an Olympic Torchbearer thanks to Samsung means everyone can become a part of the Olympic history. From June 13th 2011, Samsung has invited the world to recognise its unsung heroes. Samsung’s nomination programme for Olympic Torchbearers is a worldwide search for these unique and selfless individuals. The campaign has been communicated globally via a wide range of marketing channels to ensure that the maximum number of people become aware of the opportunity.  It is Samsung’s ambition that London 2012 will be an event that reaches and involves more people than on any other Olympic Games occasion. To learn more about the Samsung nomination programme, please visit www.samsung.com/london2012.

The Supporters of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay are:
Worldwide Olympic Partners  Procter and Gamble and Visa, Tier One Partners adidas, BMW, BP, British Airways, BT and EDF, Tier Three Providers Aggreko, Holiday Inn and NATURE VALLEY.  

London 2012 Games partners:

The Worldwide Olympic Partners who support the London 2012 Olympic Games and the National Olympic Committees around the world are Coca-Cola, Acer, Atos, Dow Chemical Company, GE, McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Procter and Gamble, Samsung and Visa.

LOCOG has seven domestic Tier One Partners - adidas, BMW, BP, British Airways, BT, EDF and Lloyds TSB. There are seven domestic Tier Two Supporters – Adecco, ArcelorMittal, Cadbury, Cisco, Deloitte, Thomas Cook and UPS.

There are now twenty-eight domestic Tier Three Suppliers and Providers – Aggreko, Airwave, Atkins, Boston Consulting Group, CBS Outdoor, Crystal CG, Eurostar, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, G4S, GSK, Gymnova, Heathrow Airport, Heineken UK, Holiday Inn, John Lewis, McCann Worldgroup, Mondo, NATURE VALLEY, Next, Nielsen, Populous, Rapiscan Systems, Rio Tinto, Technogym, Thames Water, Ticketmaster, Trebor and Westfield.

There is one domestic Tier One Paralympic Games-only Partner, Sainsbury’s and one domestic Tier Three Paralympic Games-only Supplier, Otto Bock. The London 2012 Paralympic Games also acknowledges the support of the National Lottery