A Message from Boris

Dear Peter

Thank you for your email regarding the Olympic Torch relay and the Trireme Olympias.

As you know, I am very keen to see a link back to ancient Greece in our own Olympic Games. The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) is responsible for the organisation of the Olympic and Paralympic Torch relays and a number of ideas and suggestions were submitted as part of the planning process for this event. The organisers reviewed the Trireme proposal at the planning stage and concluded, regretfully, that due to a number of operational and logistical reasons it would not be possible to incorporate this particular idea into the Relay programme.

Further information on the final programme is available from: 

http://www.london2012.com/olympic-torch-relay

Whilst I am saddened by this decision I understand their reasons. There will also be other references to the ancient Olympics, including a specially commissioned Ode by Dr Armand D'Angour from Jesus College, Oxford.

I hope that you will enjoy what promises to be a spectacular event for the whole country.

Yours ever,

Boris Johnson

Mayor of London

Direct telephone: 020 7983 4100 Fax: 020 7983 4057 Email: 

mayor@london.gov.uk