Flame’s visit sparks Olympic spirit

It might be the closest Ireland ever gets to hosting the Olympics, but the visit of the Olympic torch to Dublin today is being celebrated like an Irish gold medal in the London games later this summer.

Dublin is the only city outside the UK to be given the honour of being part of the tour of the torch to mark the countdown to the 2012 games.

Following a handover at the border at 6.30am, a group of 40 torch bearers, including Ireland’s first Olympic gold medallist, Ronnie Delany, will take part in a two-hour relay through the streets of the capital before the Olympic flame returns to Belfast.