London 2012: NI Olympic torch relay route announced

Image caption, The Giant's Causeway, one of the iconic places the torch will visit

The locations have been announced for the London 2012 Olympic torch relay route through Northern Ireland.

The flame arrives in Belfast on 3 June 2012 with relay runners carrying it to more than 60 towns and villages as well as a number of beauty spots.

Torch-bearers will carry the flame over the famous Carrick-a-rede rope bridge and it will also cross Lough Neagh and the River Bann.

The flame leaves Northern Ireland for Scotland on 7 June.

Volunteers

During its journey around Northern Ireland, the torch will be carried to Stormont grounds and the Giant's Causeway.

The flame will be carried by 8,000 torch-bearers during its 70-day journey around the UK, which begins when it arrives at Land's End from Greece on 18 May.

The torch will travel for about 12 hours a day, arriving at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, east London for the lighting of the cauldron at the opening ceremony.

The torch-bearers, who will be members of the public nominated because of personal achievements or service to the community, will know in early December if they have been selected.

Organisers have made arrangements for torch-bearers with special needs.

  • The Olympic flame arrives Belfast June 3 2012 from the Isle of Man.

Torch-bearers will carry it to Holywood, Bangor, Newtownards, Comber, Dundonald, Stormont, Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus, Glynn, Larne, Drains Bay, Ballygalley, Glenarm, Carnlough, Glenariff, Cushendall, Ballycastle, Dervock, Bushmills and Portrush.

On 4 June, the torch will be taken across the River Bann and then on to Coleraine, Articlave, Castlerock, Downhill, Ballarena, Limavady, Ballykelly, Greysteel and Londonderry.

On June 5, it will be relayed to New Buildings, Magheramason, Bready, Ballymagorry, Strabane, Sion Mills, Omagh, Dromore, Irvinestown, Enniskillen, Fivemiletown, Clogher, Augher, Aughnacloy, Caledon, Armagh, Portadown, Gilford, Banbridge and Newry.

After leaving Newry on June 6, the flame will be taken to Lisburn and Belfast.

The final leg of the relay, on June 7, will take in Newcastle, Dundrum, Clough, Downpatrick, Crossgar, Saintfield, Ballynahinch, Templepatrick, Antrim, Ballyronan, Magherafelt, Ballymena and Moorfields.

Later that day, the torch will leave Northern Ireland for Cairnryan in Scotland.