On Sunday 6 April 2008, Wembley will kick-off the London leg of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay. London will welcome the Olympic Flame, as part of the global Olympic Torch Relay in the run up to the Beijing Olympic Games.

The torch relay will commence at Wembley and travel through ten London boroughs, with each borough marking its arrival with entertainment and local events, bringing London's colour and vibrancy to life.

The Torch Relay in London ends in a grand finale at the Arena at North Greenwich climaxing with the spectacle of the arrival of the final torchbearer and the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron.

The Olympic flame will be carried through London by 80 torchbearers including double Olympic gold medal winner Dame Kelly Holmes and England cricketer Kevin Pieterson.

There will be a special event as part of the Wembley leg of the relay. This will be held in Arena Square, outside Wembley Arena and in the shadow of Wembley Stadium. The event which is a free but TICKET-ONLY event will feature cultural performances from Brent's diverse communities will kick off a day of celebrations across London.

Wembley already has a rich and outstanding Olympic heritage – the 1948 Games were held in Wembley with the Stadium as the focal point and the location of the opening ceremony. Wembley will feature in Olympic history once more when the famous flame returns on Sunday 6 April 2008 as part of the global relay to launch the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games.

This year’s torch relay has special significance as London will be holding the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. With Wembley Stadium scheduled to be an Olympic venue in 2012 – staging the men and women’s football finals, it is symbolic that this year’s relay is starting in Wembley.

Please note all events are free. The start and grand finale are also free, but will be ticketed.

For more information on the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay please visit: www.london.gov.uk/torchrelay.

Torch facts

• The Olympic Torch is an important symbol of the Olympic Games. It is in remembrance of Prometheus’ theft of fire from the Greek god, Zeus.

• It is lit several months before the opening of the Games at the site of the ancient Olympics in Olympia, Greece.

• It can withstand winds of up to 65 kilometres an hour and can stay alight in rainfall of 50 millimetres.

• The final torch bearer is often a kept secret.