Athens torch set for Centre Court debut

Wimbledon, a key venue for London's 2012 Olympic bid, will play a spectacular role in the build-up to this summer's Athens Olympics, it was revealed today.

The Olympic torch, which is travelling around the world in the run-up to the Games in August, will begin its one-day journey through London at the tennis complex on 26 June, the middle Saturday of this year's championships.

The torch, carried by thousands of relay runners, will visit 34 cities on its journey around the world before the Games open on 13 August.

The London schedule and runners have yet to be finalised, but the journey around the capital, which staged the 1908 and 1948 Games, is likely to start on Centre Court before the torch is carried past the Tower of London, St Paul's and Trafalgar Square by a series of runners who are almost certain to include former gold medal winners such as bid leaders Sebastian Coe and Sir Steve Redgrave.

The relay is not linked to London's bid but it will give the city a superb chance to show off its organisational skills on a prestigious Olympic occasion. The day will finish with what organisers called a "spectacular celebration" in central London in the evening.

Ken Livingstone said: "As one of the most instantly recognisable sporting icons, the All England Club at Wimbledon is an ideal starting point for the London stage of the relay. The relay is an ideal opportunity for London and Londoners to share in the spirit of the Olympics."

Although the main 2012 complex is planned for east London's Stratford, famous venues such as Wimbledon and Lord's are expected to be part of the bid plans, which will be revealed in a glitzy ceremony at Covent Garden on Friday.

Beach volleyball, for example, is earmarked for Horse Guards Parade near Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park has been proposed as the triathlon venue.