The London 2012 Olympic torch relay begins on 19 May 2012 at Land's End and ends 70 days later on 27 July at the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium. The torch will be taken on a tour of 21 towns and villages in Cornwall, going past St Michael's Mount en route. The Olympic torch will also take a trip across the rainforest biome at the Eden Project. The helium balloon used by Eden gardeners to reach the top of the rainforest biome has been chosen as a unique mode of transport for the relay.
The torch will stop off in Penzance, Helston and Truro, as well as Cornish villages including Bugle and Stenalees, near St Austell. Malcolm Bell, from Visit Cornwall, said: "The great thing about the route is that we have the iconic start at Land's End, and the opportunity to showcase places like St Michael's Mount. But I am equally delighted for villages like Bugle and Stenalees. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for villagers to celebrate such a worldwide event."
Cornish destinations
Land's End
Sennen
Newlyn
Penzance
Marazion
Rosudgeon
Ashton
Breage
Helston
Falmouth
Truro
Newquay
St Stephen
Trewoon
St Austell
Stenalees
Bugle
Lanivet
Bodmin
Liskeard
Saltash
As part of the celebrations visitors will be able to see Kernocopia - a Cultural Olympiad project and Cornwall’s contribution to the Opening Ceremony at Weymouth and Portland, venue for the 2012 Olympic sailing events. Titled ‘Battle for the Winds’ Cornwall’s sporting treasures will be celebrated with a striking performance piece of live outdoor theatre, created from working with the sports community in Cornwall through a residency programme including rowing inspired physical theatre, surfing inspired songs, wrestling inspired films, hurling inspired poetry and sailing inspired dances.
The Battle for the Winds will be performed to a local, regional, national and international audience as part of the Olypmic Torch Relay route in Cornwall, at the Weymouth & Portland Olympic Opening Ceremony and at cultural and sporting events in Cornwall throughout 2012 .
Council leader Alec Robertson said: "Millions of people already visit Cornwall every year, attracted by the opportunity to learn about our ancient past, with its industrial heritage, at the same time as enjoying our wonderful beaches, gardens and coastal walks, a marvellous array of festivals, arts and cultural events and our restaurants offering the fresh Cornish produce. The decision to choose Cornwall as the starting point for the 2012 celebrations offers us a wonderful opportunity to showcase the very best we have to offer and it is an opportunity that we will grasp with both hands."