London Olympics: Protecting the Flame – whatever the weather

As the Olympic Torch Relay reaches the halfway stage, Producer Deborah Hale provides an insider's view of life on the road. Here she describes the work of the Torch Security Team, responsible for protecting the Flame as it travels around the UK.

• Come rain or shine...

  Torchbearer Matilda Sayburn-Hughes is flanked by members of the Torch Security Team as she carries the Olympic Flame 
  through a rainy Kendal.
  

  
  

  
  

  Love on the Olympic Torch Relay

  The Torch Security Team has been an ever-present part of the Olympic Torch Relay, looking on at a wide range of memorable moments.Love on the Olympic Torch Relay
  

  The Torch Security Team has been an ever-present part of the Olympic Torch Relay, looking on at a wide range of memorable moments.

Exactly halfway through the 70-day Torch Relay, the weather changed dramatically.

The sunshine that has followed the Torch pretty much everywhere it has travelled suddenly hid from us, and was replaced by storm clouds and high winds – really high winds, in fact, of up to 40 miles an hour.

As we travelled from Kendal in the Lake District towards Blackpool, the rain lashed down. But the public and the amazing Torch Relay team were undeterred. The Torchbearers donned waterproof ponchos and shivered on the roadside to wait patiently for their slots. The crowds rewarded them with cheers. Small children with rain dripping off their noses clapped their hands and shook the golden and rather soggy torches that they had made in school.

In the thick of things and getting more weather-worn than most was the Torch Security Team (TST). As I watched them getting drenched in the line of duty, I reflected on what an amazing team of individuals they are. Always smiling but constantly focused.

It is the job of the TST to protect the integrity of the Olympic Flame at all times and they have become something of a phenomenon in what is already a phenomenal Torch Relay.

These 35 men and women of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) were selected from 650 applicants. The youngest is 22, and the oldest is 50. They have been in training for 18 months and have a unique set of skills which they bring to their role. Of course, they are super fit – on a ‘running day’ they can cover up to 35 miles. But they also combine policing, protection and communication skills, all of which are on display in the way they interact with the Torchbearers and the public.

Come rain or shine they protect the Torchbearer and ensure that the Olympic Flame is exchanged properly at the point of the ‘kiss’. They are responsible for the safe transfer of the Flame back into the lantern when the day is done, and they protect it while we all sleep. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them after which they will all return to normal duties.

The public has taken them to their hearts, as have we, and they are now receiving dozens of emails of support from their MPS colleagues ever day.

As the Torch crew wear somewhat similar uniforms to the TST, I am regularly asked by people: ‘Are your legs sore?’ Sometimes I am tempted to pretend that I do, in fact, run all day and protect the Flame, but in truth I know that I cannot compare with this extraordinary group. I am very proud to call them part of our team.Come rain or shine...

Torchbearer Matilda Sayburn-Hughes is flanked by members of the Torch Security Team as she carries the Olympic Flame through a rainy Kendal.

London Olympics: Day 4 Review: Volleyball Men's competition wide open

Competition for medals in the men's Volleyball competition is heating up after another action-packed day of drama at Earls Court.

• Bulgaria v Poland in the men's Volleyball on Day 4

  The Bulgaria team and the Poland team shake hands after the men's Volleyball match on Day 4 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Earls Court.

  
  
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  Olympics Day 4 - Volleyball

  Michal Kubiak of Poland tries to spike the ball but it is blocked by Bulgaria during men's Volleyball on Day 4 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Earls Court.

Poland's suffered a defeat that could cost them dearly as they were beaten by Bulgaria.

Andrea Anastasi's side had been installed as gold medal favourites by some after winning the World League but Bulgaria played them at their own game, hitting them off the court with a simple down-the-middle approach to win 22-25 27-29 25-13 23-25.

Bulgaria are now top of Group A, and they will be favourites to extend their unbeaten record against Australia.

Meanwhile, the United States once again staked their claim as they eased to a second successive win, beating Germany in straight sets.

Alan Knipe's defending champions were written off in the build-up to London 2012, with many believing their much-changed side could not match the achievements of the one that tasted success at Beijing 2008.

But they have a 100 per cent record from their two pool games so far, having beaten Serbia on Sunday and Vital Heynen's side today.

The true tests of their chances are still to come - they have to play arch-rivals Brazil - but their start has been an impressive one.

In the day's other games, Serbia recorded their first win of the tournament as they saw off Tunisia 3-1 and Italy are off and running in Pool A after seeing off a dangerous Argentina side 3-1.

Great Britain lost to Australia, while in the final game of the evening Brazil beat Russia.

London Olympics: Preview: Magnussen among those going for gold

James Magnussen will get a chance to make up for the disappointment of missing out on a relay medal by winning gold in the men’s 100m Freestyle at the Aquatics Centre on Day 5 of London 2012.

Magnussen was a member of the Australia quartet that was strongly fancied to win the 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay final on Sunday night, but the they finished in fourth place.

It was France who claimed relay gold at the weekend as Yannick Agnel flew past American Ryan Lochte on the final leg and 21-year-old world champion Magnussen will again have to try and get the better of Agnel.

Agnel will be eyeing a third gold medal of the Games after winning the 200m Freestyle on Monday night and American Nathan Adrian is also a threat, while Daniel Gyurta looks like the man to beat in the 200m Breaststroke final as he bids for his first Olympic gold medal.

China’s Jiao Liuyang will be aiming to go one better than her silver medal at Beijing 2008 when she lines up in the final of the women’s 200m Butterfly.

The USA’s Kathleen Hersey will have something to say about that and Japan’s Natsumi Hoshi is also expected to contest a place on the podium, while USA are the favourites to claim gold in the women's 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay.

After near misses in Cycling, Diving and Equestrian, Helen Glover and Heather Stanning have the opportunity to deliver Great Britain their first gold medal of the Games in the Rowing women’s Pair.

The home favourites are the crew to beat after recording three World Cup victories in 2012 and winning their heat in an Olympic best time.

Britain carry gold medal aspirations into the final of the men's eight too, although Germany are the crew to aim for having not lost a race in four years.

Bradley Wiggins hopes to carry his Tour de France-winning form into the men’s Cycling Time Trial and in the women’s version of the Time Trial, fellow Team GB rider Lizzie Armitstead will aim to win a medal after her impressive ride to claim silver in the Road Race on Sunday.

The final of the men’s Individual All-Around Artistic Gymnastics competition sees Japan’s Kohei Uchimura aim to add the Olympic title to the three consecutive gold medals he has won in the event at the World Championships.

More gold medals are also up for grabs in the Canoe Slalom, Diving, Fencing, Judo, Shooting, Table Tennis and Weightlifting, while the men’s Super Heavy Weight Boxing competition starts and there is the last round of group games in men’s Football.

Another point of interest comes in the Hockey, where Australia forward and five-time world World Player of the Year Jamie Dwyer embarks on his bid to become his country's all-time leading scorer against Spain - this after taking his tally to 179 goals with his hat-trick against South Africa.

Day 4 Review: History in the pool - Michael Phelps

Spectators at the Aquatics Centre witnessed drama and history on Day 4 as Michael Phelps became the all-time most decorated Olympic athlete, while Ye Shiwen claimed a second title.

 Michael Phelps takes silver in the 200m Butterfly

Michael Phelps of USA competes in the men's 200m Butterfly final on Day 4 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre.lps of USA competes in the men's 200m Butterfly final on Day 4 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre.

Phelps moved alongside Larisa Latynina on 18 medals following the 200m Butterfly, although any sense of achievement may have been bittersweet given he was beaten at the touch by South African Chad le Clos and had to settle for silver.

The 27-year-old then anchored the United States 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay team to gold as he moved on to 19 medals - with Phelps now the owner of 15 gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

The Baltimore swimmer still has three races to come and is expected to finish his Olympic career with 22 medals.

The Bob Bowman-trained athlete paid tribute to his three relay team-mates, and said: 'I thanked those guys (in the huddle) for helping get to this moment.

I thanked those guys (in the huddle) for helping get to this moment.

Michael Phelps

'I told those guys I wanted a big lead in the last leg and they gave it to me.

'I just wanted to hold on, I just wanted to thank them for allowing me to have this moment.'

Phelps had the Butterfly won until the final metres but he got his finish wrong - his usual perfect spotting of the wall replaced with a glide that would have had Bowman tearing his hair out.

Phelps was disappointed but was philosophical, saying: 'Obviously I would have liked to have had a better outcome in the 200m fly.

'Chad swum a great race, I have got to know him over the last year, he is a hard worker, a fast racer and a tough competitor.

'I would have liked to have won my last race, but it wasn't a terrible time. It was decent.'

Le Clos was hugely emotional, crying on the podium, seemingly stunned by the magnitude of his achievement which saw the South African beat his idol by 0.05 seconds in 1:52.96.

He said: 'This is a dream of mine, I have always said Michael Phelps was my hero.

'I wanted to be in the final for my main event, I achieved that goal and my coach said you have done all you have to do.

'But I just remember sitting in the call room thinking that Michael Phelps has never lost this race for 10 years in international meets.

'I remember turning in the last 50 and just looking at him underwater and realising this is my hero, it's crazy.

'I can't describe how I felt. In the last 25 metres, I can't explain what came over me.'

'I'll have to try and defend my title in four years time, but to beat Michael Phelps is something I have wanted my whole life, it is exactly what I have been dreaming off since I was 12.'

Meanwhile, Ye followed up her victory in the 400m Individual Medley, with the 16-year-old adding the shorter Medley title.

Tonight she turned third after 150m before producing a blistering freestyle leg to win in a new Olympic record of 2:07.5.

Australian world champion James Magnussen was quickest into the 100m Freestyle final.