Torch design revealed

Olympic organisers have revealed the design of the golden torch to be used for the relay to carry the Olympic Flame to London 2012.

8,000 runners will take the Olympic torch from Land's End around the UK and end up in London for the start of the Games on July 27 next year.

Designed by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, the torch had been made in a triangular shape to signify London's unique status as a three-time holder of the Olympics, with the 2012 Games following on from 1908 and 1948.

The lace-like aluminium design also has 8,000 holes in its mesh appearance, with these representing the 8,000 people who will act as torch bearers throughout the relay.

London 2012 wants half of the 8,000 torch relay runners to be aged between 12 and 24 and the rest to include people who have contributed to the local community - with the public still able to nominate people for the role.

Symbol

"The torch that carries the Olympic Flame during the Olympic Torch Relay is one of the most recognisable and significant symbols of an Olympic Games," said London 2012 chairman Lord Coe as the torch was revealed.

"Members of the public right across the UK are busy nominating inspiring people to be torchbearers and I am thrilled we have a beautifully-designed, engineered and crafted torch for them to carry.

"Integral to the design are the 8,000 circles, a lasting representation of the torchbearer stories of personal achievement or contribution to their local community that will be showcased with every step of the relay."

Starting on May 19 in Land's End, the torch relay will aim to travel on a path which 95% of the UK population will be within a one-hour journey time of.

Mr Barber and Mr Osgerby have achieved worldwide success by creating innovative furniture and products from a range of materials since opening their studio in 1996.

Design

The pair, who are both professors of design, are based in Shoreditch, east London, less than four miles from the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, and they won a competitive tender, run by London 2012 and the Design Council.

In a statement they said: "We've wanted to be involved since July 2005 when we were celebrating winning the bid with the rest of the UK.

"We have worked hard to develop a torch that celebrates the relay, and reflects the passion for London and the Olympic Games. We wanted to make the most of pioneering production technologies and to demonstrate the industrial excellence available in the UK - it's a torch for our time.

"This is our opportunity to represent the UK, in design terms, and we are incredibly proud to be doing so."