On the day a host of Olympic icons carried the flame, who cooked up the idea of handing celebrity chefs Heston and Raymond the torch as well? 公仔箱論壇1 V4 o% ~" ~2 w
By Rebecca Seales
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Sir Roger Bannister CBE, Denise Lewis OBE, Sir Steve Redgrave CBE - and Lord Sebastian Coe, winner of four Olympic gold medals and chairman of the London 2012 Games.8 f1 L6 k4 |, m4 w4 c2 P0 [
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As some of our nation's most illustrious Olympians, these men and women were the perfect choice to bear the Olympic torch on its journey today. : h! o+ l% _# R: g N
8 n6 z) m2 X* V; l# e5 O公仔箱論壇But it seems the Games bosses have learned nothing from the adverse public reaction when they appointed Irish pop duo Jedward and U.S. musician Will.i.am as torch-bearers.公仔箱論壇* k5 k2 [! X8 p( t- o0 x
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Heart-warming: Former record-breaking athlete Sir Roger Bannister, 83, embodied the true spirit of the Olympics as he passed the flame to torchbearer Nicola Byrom at the Iffley Road track in Oxford
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) g( j/ h F( u8 dFellow Olympians: Lord Sebastian Coe, left, chairman of the London 2012 Organizing Committee, joined Sir Roger Bannister on the running track
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~1 }: K/ M- M0 ftvb now,tvbnow,bttvbToday's off-beat choices were none other than celebrity chefs Heston Blumenthal and Raymond Blanc.
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While the duo are known for excellence in their field and both have been honoured with OBEs, they are more associated with Michelin stars than Olympic medals.
; `" w: J% o5 d F% H9 T4 Y5.39.217.76Mr Blanc was clearly aware of the honour he had been shown, posting a message on Twitter which read, 'Proud to carry the Olympic torch. I am in Wallingford, close to Oxford. Wearing a white and gold track suit. I simply feel Olympian!'TVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。# m4 C, q2 @3 J# _ ~0 v
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Mr Blumenthal echoed the sentiment, admitting he had been close to tears as he saw the thousands of people lining the streets to watch the flame pass.
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'I had no idea there were going to be this many people here. I've got a proper lump in my throat,' he said.
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'The turnout is incredible. The energy - this is what the Olympics is all about.'
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Blumenthal, who owns the world-famous Fat Duck restaurant in Bray, Berkshire, admitted he had some concerns ahead of carrying the torch.
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: U' b5 H/ I/ V2 | Z5.39.217.76'It was making sure I didn't drop it which worried me the most,' he said.
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5 k2 j+ [+ V$ V* ^) t" ~tvb now,tvbnow,bttvbLooking lively! Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal, left, had a spring in his step as he carried the Olympic torch between Burnham and Slough while Raymond Blanc, right, couldn't resist taking a picture of himself while on his leg of the flame's journey! [- S# A5 V4 D+ A- n9 U
+ Q A" N6 G7 I6 WDay 53 of the torch’s progress began at the the Iffley Road track in Oxford, where legendary middle distance runner Sir Roger Bannister broke the magical four-minute mile barrier on a balmy evening on May 6, 1954. 5.39.217.769 [6 m l: A+ A; J% u
; c) P/ z' E. a9 eThe 83-year-old was joined by Lord Coe at the track - now renamed in his honour. Speaking of the special moment, he commented: 'It’s an honour to be included in a list of torch carriers which has included injured soldiers back from Afghanistan and other places, and I’m glad that it’s taking place on this track in Oxford where I ran the four-minute mile in 1954.5.39.217.76; B5 T* R* f4 P
, r8 R7 ?3 o3 |TVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。'It brings back happy memories and it also brings back some remembering of the weather. Today it looks like it might rain and that day the weather was so bad that I nearly decided not to attempt it.
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4 S+ E0 Y2 b$ o5.39.217.76'In retrospect I’m glad because if I hadn’t attempted it that day I might not have had another chance.
: G/ D4 v) D7 y. e' F: M公仔箱論壇'In a way I’m back in the sport that I belong to. I spent 10 years training before I broke the four-minute mile. I send my best wishes to all those who are training now and are competing in the Olympics in London.'
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Lord Coe said: 'It’s very special. Roger has done so much inside British sport.5.39.217.76% v( d: a2 S$ J5 g6 X: w' a5 K: {
/ Y& @/ c$ }2 K G) S3 g'Breaking the four-minute mile as a mark of athletic achievement sits central in the history of our sport. He paved the way for what we did in the late 70s and early 80s.'
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Hundreds of people watched as Sir Roger carried the flame along the athletics track before handing the torch to student Nicola Byrom.
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The 25-year-old, from Oxford, was chosen to carry the torch after launching Student Run Self Help - a voluntary organisation which provides self-help groups across the country for people with eating disorders.& k c `, J+ q4 T
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Nicola, who is studying for a doctorate in experimental psychology at Brasenose College, has raised more than £60,000 for the programme since it began in 2009. 8 X- M! x5 ?2 x" ]/ \9 s& S8 y$ e
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As the flame travelled from Oxford to Henley, Britain's greatest Olympian Steve Redgrave took to a rowing boat to transport it along the Thames.
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Sir Steve, a five-times Olympic rowing gold medallist, passed through Henley-on-Thames in an eight-man boat.
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g+ v& G; ]9 P/ e4 Q- n5 _& y: k+ N rtvb now,tvbnow,bttvbWith an oar in his right hand and the Olympic torch in his left, he was able to keep up with the sedate pace that allowed the thousands of spectators lining the route to glimpse the flame and cheer him on.
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6 K9 l) X" x% j: _: \5.39.217.76In the background was the River and Rowing Museum where the boat Sir Steve used to win his fifth gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics is on permanent display.
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6 |/ ~. C2 }2 m- k8 Ntvb now,tvbnow,bttvbPleasure cruisers moored along the banks were filled with clapping and screaming crowds and a bridge was also packed with well-wishers.* r, ~) L4 `. R3 J; h8 d/ i$ d& Y1 n
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Sir Steve’s route took him over part of the rowing course of the 1908 and 1948 Olympics, which staged events at Henley.tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb( T$ t% {( J6 G g
- h4 j: {+ J- l7 |, a4 N( H9 {/ d" |The boat stopped at the Leander Club, a prestigious rowing club in Henley whose members have won 99 Olympic medals over the decades.公仔箱論壇9 g K T( b6 p* G
/ h* G- F& E) y- lTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。Once he had his feet on dry land, Sir Steve set off on a brief run to hand the flame on to the next torchbearer.
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* r4 s# y- G; f: l+ otvb now,tvbnow,bttvbHe said: 'To have my hands on the torch is pretty special.TVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。. f2 q- U' E1 [5 Y" f8 F
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'It’s surreal - when I retired in 2000 I was asked to come on to the bid team.
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! a9 x: e1 B5 S'What we were working towards were the Games in 2012 and now it’s just 18 days away.'
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History in the making: Sir Roger Bannister ran into the record books on May 6, 1954 when he broke the four-minute mile in Oxford# j& A; D) f7 _/ y6 W
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+ R! h- W9 {3 z$ o0 G- \4 q" k公仔箱論壇Our greatest Olympian: Sir Steve Redgrave looked pleased as he waved to the crowds lining the banks in Henley-on-Thames (left) and spirits were high as he stopped at legendary rowing club Leander (right) 5.39.217.76( z; r' R' S2 u0 ?4 N' ]
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Need a hand, Steve? Former Olympic gold medalist rower Sir Steve Redgrave (C) carried the Olympic flame in one hand while using the other to row+ h- i8 l" f9 q) O$ t& H
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Over land and water: The torch made its way through Henley-on-Thames with the help of Sir Steve, seven other rowers and a coxTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。# H. m; B# L0 [! v6 L, S* X
1 v8 r, Y' D7 RTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。As its 87-mile journey wore on, former heptathlete Denise Lewis brought the torch into Ascot Racecourse, where she was greeted by a crowd of more than 10,000 people.: F, s# x! v! C
% e0 R; e/ A$ [1 Z2 X E/ F# X L公仔箱論壇Italian jockey Frankie Dettori then climbed aboard retired champion racehorse Monsignor to carry the torch around the parade ring.
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He said today: 'It makes it even more special to be carrying the torch at Ascot, the place that made history for me.TVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。( g: ]2 h# m+ R% O
'There are so many inspirational people carrying the flame, and to be grouped with such heroes is both an honour and a privilege.'
; O; t" w3 @' E* V; \+ h4 g8 Utvb now,tvbnow,bttvbMonsignor is a two-time winner at the Cheltenham Festival, and Mr Dettori remains one of the biggest names in British racing.
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& b! D% a0 U- ]: V4 z; l! [, y5.39.217.76However, he is not the first to transport the Olympic flame on horseback, having been beaten to the honour by the Queen's Olympian granddaughter Zara Phillips, who brought the torch to Cheltenham on her beloved horse Toytown. 5.39.217.763 e) }2 j" @, D+ ?, [; u/ u
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The royals extended their own welcome to the torchbearers as the flame - and the spirit of the Olympics - touched down at Windsor Castle on the final stage of today's leg. tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb" o2 O7 Z4 C1 m, i; E
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" s: U0 ~; Y& x$ A8 R% {" LFlamboyant: Champion jockey Frankie Dettori beamed as he carried the torch at Ascot (left), and performed one of this trademark 'flying dismounts' from retired racehorse Monsignor (right)
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' a) U( B% ?6 w$ a) aRoyal watchers: The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh watched the torch 'kiss' as Gina Macgregor passed the flame to Phillip Wells outside Windsor CastleTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。' @6 Q$ s! z- T/ f8 ^+ n M
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2 z1 T' a: A+ @0 e: ftvb now,tvbnow,bttvbDamp in body but not in spirit: The torch arrives through the Henry 8th Gate at Windsor Castle to be met by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh
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: y2 Q: B4 T& MIn the castle's quadrangle the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh watched as torchbearer Gina Macgregor, 74, ran into the open space after earlier receiving the flame from Renate Beynon, 66.
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$ X! F4 J- g: a% P, I# L7 l' j公仔箱論壇When the flame is exchanged between runners they touch their torches together in what is known as a 'kiss moment'.
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7 u$ ]1 w& K' y. o# e0 ]0 k0 T公仔箱論壇Minutes before the flame arrived, grey skies which had been threatening rain unleashed a torrential downpour which forced guests under the shelter of the castle's Sovereign's Entrance.5.39.217.761 j: Z8 j/ q6 E
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Mrs Macgregor, from Taplow near Slough, arrived soaking wet and was met by the Queen, who was wearing a rain cape and wielding with an umbrella with Prince Philip by her side.tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb9 O5 C# x' d/ k8 U: G) V5 o2 J% g. L
! ^5 [+ X1 i% m0 U+ |5.39.217.76Laughing, Mrs Macgregor told the royal couple 'I looked fine this morning', and they both began chuckling.
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% l( k6 j4 W0 q- ?3 ^; [" DHappy occasion: The Queen shared a joke with torchbearer Gina Macgregor (left) and LOCOG Chairman Sebastian Coe (right)
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: l& q; e7 ~, }" ~6 h, ], iIt's stopped raining! The downpour caught most people out, but Her Majesty came armed with a well-chosen coat and umbrella
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Her Majesty reportedly expressed an interest in how the torch works, including how long it burned for - and whether people were trying to sell it.
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. c$ q C4 c$ W2 Qtvb now,tvbnow,bttvbThe final torchbearer of the day was Quentin Gunderson, who has challenged himself to run the equivalent of 40 marathons in his 40th year to raise funds for a charity-run school for pupils in educational crisis.
* l" m, p U+ ~' TTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。
' O4 W% O/ l! r) I. N2 A' Q4 \TVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。Mr Gunderson carried the flame into the evening celebration and lit the cauldron at the Madejski Stadium in Reading, home of the city's football club and Premiership rugby union club London Irish. tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb% B% f6 \4 Z" v% G1 F
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The fifty-third day of the torch's journey travelled through Oxford, Abingdon, Wallingford, Crowmarsh Gifford, Nettlebed, Henley-on-Thames, Bisham, Maidenhead, Burnham, Slough, Windsor, Egham, Ascot, Bracknell, and finally Reading.TVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。+ f0 ^: @2 ]4 d! N" _4 H. h, k
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