First torchbearer for Olympic torch telay announced

 　　LONDON, May 10 (Xinhua) -- The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has confirmed that the first torchbearer for the Olympic torch relay¹ will be three-times Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie.

　　Ainslie will start the 70-day relay at the Land's End Landmark² signpost at 7.08am on 19 May. He grew up in Cornwall and won gold medals in sailing at the Beijing, Athens and Sydney Olympic Games. He also won a silver medal at the 1996 Games in Atlanta.

　　Ainslie said: "I am extremely honoured to be the first torchbearer at the start of the 70-day Olympic torch relay. It will be an amazing experience to be able to carry the Olympic flame in the area that I grew up in.

　　"I also want to congratulate the thousands of other inspirational people who will carry the torch this summer and bring the excitement of the Games to streets throughout the UK."

　　Seb Coe, Chairman of LOCOG said: "Ben is the perfect person to start the relay in Land's End as he grew up in the area and is an inspirational sportsman³ who has worked hard to achieve his goals.

　　"He will kick off what will be an amazing celebration of people and places from all over the UK in the run up to the Olympics Games this summer."

　　Ainslie is one of 8,000 torchbearers who will carry the Olympic flame during the relay.

　　On leaving Land's End, the Olympic flame will travel an estimated⁴ 8,000 miles around the UK giving thousands of communities and individuals their moment to shine as the Olympic flame comes to a place near them.

1 relay   

n.接力赛，中继转播（设备）；vt.转述，转播

参考例句：

• They will relay your message.他们会转达你的口信。
• This metal tower is used to relay television signals to distant villages.这个金属塔是用于向遥远的村子转播电视讯号的。

2 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

3 sportsman   

n.运动员

参考例句：

• His brother is a sportsman of our school.他弟弟是我校的运动员。
• Everybody thinks he is an all-round sportsman.大家认为他是一个全能运动员。

4 estimated   

adj．根据估计的

参考例句：

• She estimated the breadth of the lake to be 500 metres. 她估计湖面大约有500米宽。
• The man estimated for the repair of the car. 那人估算了修理汽车的费用。