Cauldron moved and relit at Olympic Stadium

LONDON - The Olympic cauldron has moved to the planned place in the Olympic Stadium on Monday before the start of the London 2012 Athletics competitions.

A spokesman from London 2012 press office told Xinhua that the removing work started in the morning of July 29. During the process, the flame was not extinguished and kept well in a special miners lantern.

The cauldron has been relocated from its opening ceremony position in the center of the field to the south end of the Stadium, as an echo of the cauldron location at Wembley for the London 1948 Games, said London 2012.

During an 80-hour transition of the stadium from the opening ceremony stage to the sporting arena for athletes, the cauldron was relit in a small ceremony. The flame was transferred from the lamp to the London 1948 and 2012 torchbearer Austin Playfoot, who then lit the cauldron with the Olympic torch.

The cauldron, measuring 8.5 metres, is made up of 204 steel pipes and individually designed copper petals inscribed with the competing delegations names. At the end of the Games, each team will take their petal home and the cauldron will cease to exist.

London 2012 says the cauldron has taken the same position as the opening ceremony bell and will be within eyesight of competing athletes.

Live footage of the cauldron will be projected onto the stadium's rooftop screens during the first week of the Games.