The Olympic Torch Relay has travelled 3,901.57 miles of its 8,000-mile journey and has been through 548 of the more than 1,000 cities, towns and villages that it is due to visit.
Four million people have come out to see the Torch Relay so far and the Olympic Flame has been carried by 3,529 Torchbearers.
The moment will be celebrated when reigning Strictly Come Dancing champions Harry Judd and Aliona Vilani take the Olympic Flame on a Viennese waltz around the Blackpool Tower Ballroom on the evening of Friday 22 June.
Some of the highlights from the first 35 days of the Relay include:
- Ben Ainslie carrying the first Torch at the early morning start in the sunshine at Land’s End
- Elephants at the West Midlands Safari Park saluting the Olympic Flame as it was carried by Christopher Stokes on the Severn Valley Railway
- Sir Chris Bonington carrying the Olympic Flame at the summit of Snowdon
- Olympic medal-winning boxers Wayne McCullough and Michael Carruth exchanging the Olympic Flame at the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland on the Flame’s journey to Dublin
- Joseph Forrester carrying the Olympic Flame along St Andrews West Sands, made famous by the film Chariots of Fire
- Bear Grylls carrying the Olympic Flame on a zip wire from the top of the Tyne Bridge
- David State proposing to his girlfriend in Loftus while carrying the Olympic Flame
- Stephanie Booth carrying the Olympic Flame on a steam boat across Lake Windermere
Seb Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: ‘Today is the halfway point on our exciting 70-day journey, which has seen the Olympic Flame carried by thousands of inspirational people and visit many of the UK's most iconic landmarks.
Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, Jeremy Hunt, said:
“The Olympic Torch Relay has been a huge success. It has received a fantastic response in towns and communities up and down the country. As the Olympic Flame makes its way to London for the Opening Ceremony and the excitement builds I’m sure we will see even more people out to cheer on the torchbearers during the second half of the relay.”
‘The London 2012 team continues to be thrilled and delighted by the fantastic support received in every community, as people come out to line the streets and help build the excitement as the start of the 2012 Games draws nearer.’
Watch the Torch Relay live
See the best images of the Torch Relay so far
