LAND’S END, England (AP) —
British sailing hero Ben Ainslie has kicked off the torch relay for the 2012 London Olympics with a stroll through teary, flag-waving crowds who cheered the arrival of the flame.
Hundreds held up mobile phones as he walked past and banged on plastic tambourines handed out by sponsors, creating a roar that shook the hillsides of this picturesque spot — the furthest point west in England.
The sparkling day on a normally foggy spot lifted spirits and created the perfect photo moment for the start of the event, which lasts for 70 days and ends with the lighting of the cauldron to start the games on July 27.
Organizers of the London Olympics hope that the torch relay will inspire excitement people ahead of the games.
