Awaiting the Olympic torch

A wave of dust and debris blew over me as I turned my back and protected my camera’s lens, an RAF Sea King helicopter dramatically landed in front of us carrying the Olympic flame from Athens.

Local Community Spirit

The scene so far at Land’s End for the start of the Olympic torch relay had been very locally focused and surprisingly low-key. It seemed like the perfect way to welcome the Olympic torch to British shores, with community spirit from villages, towns and cities that have their own unique culture and atmosphere. The local Cornish band may only have had one song (ok, maybe two at the most) but their spirit and enthusiasm was a fitting way to welcome the torch and perhaps a sign of the community spirit that will go hand in hand with the torch throughout its seventy day journey.

Cornish Dancers

Lackluster Corporate Sponsors

Not as fitting to the occasion was the corporate sponsored Coke bus that led the procession, complete with dancers handing out bottles of coke and frisbees. Onlookers waiting to cheer the torch seemed somewhat bemused to the lackluster razzmatazz of the sponsors buses. It seemed strange to have dancers promoting Coke, Samsung and Lloyds alongside aspects of local culture. What would have been better was to see inspiring people from the local community on the buses instead of Coke employees.

People Lining the streets

Thankfully it didn’t over-shadow what was a fantastic start to the seventy day relay. I didn’t really know what to expect from the event but it gave a fantastic glimpse of what we can expect in the build up to the start of the London 2012 games, communities coming out onto the streets to welcome the torch and the Olympics to Britain.

Dumpy the Vintage Bus

I felt the friendliness and sense of excitement from the waiting crowds as we were driven around in a vintage old bus named “dumpy” that proved popular with the locals. Children and parents waved, photos were taken and one teenager jokingly attempted to flag down our bus. People were really getting into the Olympic spirit and it took me a little by surprise.

Ben Ainslie and Anastassia Swallow - Olympic Torches Kiss

Olympic Torch “Kiss”

Triple Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie carried the torch before passing the flame on to the second torch-bearer, 18-year-old Anastassia Swallow and the relay began, heading out towards Penzance.

As the torch hit the streets we headed to the Eden Project where the torch was due at around 4:20pm. We took the opportunity to explore the topical and Mediterranean climates in the Eden Projects two impressive domes prior to the torches arrival.

Ben Fogle in an Air Balloon, Eden Project

Olympic Flame Balloon Ride

Ben Fogle took the Olympic flame for a ride in an air balloon inside Project Eden’s tropical dome. Despite sweating in the domes topical humidity it was a unique scene and a great experience to see the flame high up inside the worlds largest greenhouse. We had a perfect vantage point high up towards the spectacular viewing platform inside the Eden Project’s topical biome.

Ben Fogle with the Olympic Flame

Slowly Building Olympic Excitement

As the games become ever closer, the spirit I witnessed is only likely to grow and the excitement will build. I’ve heard some people claim that they aren’t that interested in the Olympics, but when the torch passes through their own town and the events are starting on TV there’s no doubt they’ll be into the spirit….

I even bought a London 2012 T-shirt. Even the much maligned logo is starting to grow on me.

We were lucky enough to be invited down to Cornwall to welcome the Olympic torch to Britain by visitEngland it was a great opportunity to witness such a historic moment.