The Olympic flame will travel through Wales for the first time when it journeys from Worcester to Cardiff today - day seven of the torch relay.
Just after 11:00 BST, the torch will cross the English border, moving from Ross on Wye to Monmouth. Disability Sport Wales is proud of the fact that their Chairman, Gareth John MBE, will be the first torchbearer in Wales. He’ll be in Monmouth for his leg at 11:04am.
A number of officials, athletes and volunteers associated with Disability Sport Wales have been nominated to carry the torch around Wales. Highlights include:
Name: Torchbearer Location: Association:
Dan Johnsey Malvern Cyclist
Gareth John MBE Monmouth Chair of Disability Sport Wales & Commonwealth Council for Wales
John Harris Blaenavon Paralympian
Rhys Jones Briton Ferry Athlete
Amy-Claire Davies Swansea Ex-Swimmer
Daniel Bendle Haverfordwest Swimmer
Peter Pearse Caernarfon Boccia Head Coach
Angie Board Kinmel Bay Conwy Whales Swimming Club Chair/Coach
Jay Lusted Rhos-on-Sea Beijing 2008 Young Ambassador
Wales rugby captain Sam Warburton and Olympic gold medal winners Lynn Davies and Darren Campbell will be among the celebrity torchbearers.
Doctor Who star Matt Smith will also run a relay leg in Cardiff on Saturday.
The torch's 102 mile journey from Worcester will end in the Welsh capital later on Friday.
The arrival of the Olympic flame would "shine a light on the places, people, values and traditions of Wales" said the Secretary of State for Wales, Cheryl Gillan.
"Over the next five days, the Olympic torch will be carried by around 550 runners along more than 300 streets in Wales and provides a unique opportunity to celebrate the Games as a country," she said.
Mrs Gillan is due to attend a reception at the Shire Hall in Monmouth to mark the flame's arrival into Wales.
Auden inspired
Friday's relay began just before 08:00 BST in the riverside city of Worcester at Cathedral Plaza, opposite the statue of English composer Sir Edward William Elgar.
The route will take in the Malvern hills, which are famous for their spring water and also inspired the poet W.H. Auden.
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J.R.R. Tolkien, writer of The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit, was also a big fan of the hills and excerpts of the books were recorded in Malvern in 1952.
Later, the torch will travel through the highest town in Wales, Brynmawr, as it begins its five-day stay in the country.
Warburton led his country to a Grand Slam in this year's Six Nations tournament and is used to facing a wall of opposition when he carries a precious cargo forward but for once he will be able to cover 300m without such obstacles.
Carrying the torch shortly before him will be another Welsh sporting great, Lynn "the leap" Davies, as he was affectionately nicknamed following his outstanding long jump career in which he won Olympic gold in Tokyo in 1964.
Davies, who was born in Nantymoel near Bridgend, was made a CBE in 2006, having previously been an MBE.
Fellow Olympian Campbell, who will run his leg earlier in the day at 08:06, is well versed in how to succeed at relays, having taken gold in the 4x100m in Athens. He also won a silver medal in the 200m in Sydney in 2000.
The relay will end with an evening celebration at an outdoor concert in Coopers Field.
A total of 8,000 people will carry the flame on its 8,000 mile, 70-day journey around the UK to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on 27 July.
