A nomination process is scheduled to be announced in May 2011 in order to select the 8,000 required torchbearers and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has revealed it aims to involve more than 4,000 young people.

LOCOG will also be working closely with villages, towns and cities the length and breadth of the UK to ensure that as each community welcomes the Olympic flame in a way that is unique and special to their area.

Lord Sebastian Coe, Chair of London 2012 said: “The Olympic torch relay heralds the start of the London 2012 Games, bringing people across the UK together to celebrate the spirit of the Games. The London 2012 torch relay will connect people and places; young people to sport and the UK to the rest of the world.

Hugh Robertson, Sports and Olympics Minister, said: “The torch relay will bring the spirit of London 2012 to every corner of the country and give everybody the chance to experience firsthand the excitement of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. I also hope that it will inspire a new generation of people, and particularly young people, to take up sport.”

The most upto date Olympic Torch Relay news can be found at www.podium.ac.uk/torchrelay