AIPS President Merlo in Olympic Torch Relay

AIPS President Gianni Merlo participated in his fourth Olympic Torch Relay in the historic English spa town of Royal Tunbridge Wells this week.

 

Merlo, who ran with the Olympic Flame in Los Angeles, Lillehammer and Torino  Torino, Lillehammer, ran 600 m before he passed the torch to British Sports Writer of the Year, Patrick Collins of the Daily Mail.

 

AIPS President Gianni Merlo passes the Olympic Flame to Daily Mail journalist Patrick Collins in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Photo/Roslyn Morris

Veteran journalist for La Gazzetta dello Sport, AIPS President since 2005, Merlo will cover his 20th Olympic Games in London.

 

The Olympic Flame was lit from the sun’s rays in a traditional ceremony at the Temple of Hera in Olympia, Greece. The Olympic Flame arrived in the UK on May 18 for its 70-day journey to the Opening Ceremony on July 27.

 

Merlo was one of 8,000 “truly inspirational” people honoured to carry the sacred Olympic Flame.