Beckham lights Olympic fuse as symbolic flame arrives in Britain for 70-day relay
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The Olympic flame landed into an English country fete. The brass band played and the local dignitaries sipped warming wine.
A simple Trollopian scene rounded off an extraordinary day that started in a soaking debt-ridden Greece.
A new flame: David Beckham lit the Olympic torch during a ceremony at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall
Proud day: Beckham arrived from Athens, Greece with the flame in Cornwall, in the south-west of Britain
The flame, and three spares, flew from Athens in seats 1A and 1B of flight BA 2012 on a journey that, ultimately, is intended to capture the imagination of the British public.
The golden plane — or the ‘custard comet’ as Boris Johnson called it — touched down at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall at 7.25pm to warm applause on board and cheering from a runway ringed with perhaps 10,000 public well-wishers.
On Saturday the torch begins its 8,000-mile tour of the country en route to the Olympic Stadium and the opening ceremony on July 27. But under Friday's grey skies the Olympics arrived in Britain.
British royalty old and new, the Princess Royal (in 1F — the indignity of it) and David Beckham (in 4D), were on board along with London 2012 chairman Lord Coe and Johnson, the London mayor and Oxford classicist who was in his flamboyant element in Greece.
There was a party atmosphere on board. Autographs were signed, pictures taken. The best grub was served. The flames tilted as the plane took off but remained lit.
On arrival, Princess Anne walked off carrying a golden lantern that owed its life to the rays of the sun and a parabolic mirror from a ceremony in Ancient Olympia eight days earlier. Beckham then lit the torch from the cauldron that itself had been lit by the travelling flame. A cheer filled the cool air.
Under guard: Metropolitan Police Inspector Andy Marriner sits with the Olympic flame, secured in seats 1A and 1B for the flight back to the UK
Arrival: A British Airways jet carrying the Olympic flame lands at RNAS Culdrose base near Helston in Cornwall
‘It’s the first time in 64 years that this has happened in Britain,’ said Coe. ‘Isn’t it amazing?’ The question is whether the infectious enthusiasm of Coe and Beckham will shine through as the torch makes its way within 10 miles of 95 per cent of the UK population over the next 70 days.
Anecdotally, the national mood is split. There are millions of enthusiasts, no doubt, but others talk of £9.3billion of public money wasted in these austere times and predict transport problems. So was this the moment the fuse was universally lit?
‘I know so,’ said Coe. ‘When we ran the test event last month with a cardboard torch they were standing four or five deep in Melton Mowbray.
‘I get letters from people saying that they are going to mark the relay going through their town.
The people who are running are known in their community. They are local teachers and policemen.
Magic moment: Beckham lights the Olympic Flame before it is taken on a 70-day relay covering 8,000 miles
Torch-bearer: The flame was handed to Beckham and Co in a ceremony in Athens on Thursday
‘If I’m being honest, the toughest part of my job has been getting UK-wide engagement. But people are now seeing what they can do to get involved. We are not proselytising any more. This is a truly national occasion.’
Beckham has proved an impressive ambassador over the last few days. But he didn’t entirely escape the awkward squad. I asked him whether he would wish to be selected in British Olympic football team only on merit, rather than as a celebrity bauble.
He said, firmly but disarmingly: ‘This is not directed at you but I’ve always found it a little bit disrespectful when I have been asked about shirt sales and filling stadiums. I want to be picked on what I can bring to the team.’
From an aspirant Olympian to a great one. Ben Ainslie, triple gold medal-winning sailor, predictably victorious in the Finn Gold Cup down the road in Falmouth yesterday, is running the first leg this morning.
The Olympics have arrived.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/olympics/article-2146644/London-2012-Olympics-David-Beckham-lights-Olympic-fuse.html#ixzz1vJ3nsgxw