Ben Ainslie announced as first Torchbearer in UK

The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) have announced that three-times Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie will be the first Torchbearer to carry the Olympic Flame in the UK.

Ben, who won gold medals in Sailing at the Beijing 2008, Athens 2004 and Sydney 2000 Games will start the 70-day Relay at the Land’s End landmark signpost at 7.08am on 19 May.

Ben Ainslie said: 'I am extremely honoured to be the first Torchbearer at the start the 70-day Olympic Torch Relay. It will be an amazing experience to be able to carry the Olympic Flame in the area that I grew up in.'

LOCOG Chair Sebastian Coe said: 'Ben is one of 8,000 Torchbearers who will carry the Olympic Flame during the Relay. At Land’s End he will pass the Flame to 18-year-old Anastassia Swallow, a Torchbearer from the Coca-Cola nomination campaign.'

The other Torchbearers at Land’s End will be: Eric Smith, 76, who was nominated through the LOCOG campaign, Victoria Smith, 16, who was nominated through the Lloyds TSB campaign and Stephen Brady, 59, who was nominated through the Samsung campaign.