Since the idea of The Ball is to some extent inspired by the Olympic Torch and the Torch Relay, we’re following the progress of this year’s torch closely.
2008 Torch Relay on Google Earth 
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If you’re in the UK, this is the route through London tomorrow.
It’s interesting to note that the last time there was a purely overland relay was to the 1980 games in Moscow and indeed how few relays have actually been entirely overland (only three: 1936 Berlin, 1972 Munich and 1980 Moscow). The 2004 games in Athens (the torch relay went global, visiting all the previous hosts of the modern games) seems to have set something of a precedent which has been expanded for this year’s games to a route that seems to be a somewhat aimless promotional tour around the world.
Personally I think this is a pity — and possibly even a mistake — as it seems to detract from the value that the torch has (largely accidentally) accrued as symbolic of the ideals of athletic endeavour. That lofty symbolic quality has been replaced by a return of the torch to its original purpose as something of simply promotional value for the hosts.
UPDATE: Here’s a gallery of photos of the disruptions to the relay
Written by Christian Wach on Friday, April 4th, 2008
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