With 24 days to go to the inaugural 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, it has been announced that New Zealand has been chosen as a host nation for part of the Olympic Flames journey.
Arriving in New Zealand 31 July the flame will part-take in a two-day programme of ceremonial Olympic activity, including an official lighting ritual involving athletes from the New Zealand Youth Olympic team taking part in a traditional Olympic torch relay.
Auckland has been selected as the city to host the flames journey and all activity will be taking place in Manukau, a city with a strong sporting connection.
Former Olympians, Barbara Kendall, Sir John Walker and Yvette Corlett will be integral in the flames journey, along with the Manukau Mayor, Len Brown and officials from the Singapore Olympic Committee.
The flame starts its journey in Greece, the birthplace of the Olympics. It will be lit from the original Olympic flame and will then start its journey travelling to Berlin, Germany, Dakar, Senegal, Mexico City, Mexico before reaching Auckland. From Auckland it travels to Seoul before arriving in Singapore to start a six-day journey culminating in the official start of the Youth Olympic Games.
