LONDRES (AP) — La antorcha olímpica comenzó el jueves una especie de vuelta de bienvenida a Londres, al pasar por buena parte de los lugares más famosos de esta ciudad, inusitadamente soleada, en el penúltimo día de su recorrido por Gran Bretaña.

Portada por atletas, trabajadores de obras caritativas y celebridades, la llama olímpica despertó el entusiasmo de miles de londinenses, al cruzar el canal de Regent en Camden, pasar por la remodelada estación neogótica de trenes en Saint Pancras y recorrer las calles sinuosas de la ciudad antigua.

Para muchos londinenses, ésta fue la primera oportunidad de echarle un vistazo a la antorcha dorada que ha pasado los últimos 68 días recorriendo el país, desde el Lago Ness en Escocia hasta Land's End, en el extremo occidental.

El viernes, la llama completará su viaje, al encender el pebetero del Estadio Olímpico en la ceremonia que marcará la apertura oficial de los Juegos de Londres 2012.

El relevo del jueves, que comenzó bajo un sol brillante tras meses de clima lluvioso, pareció levantar el ánimo de Londres. En el vecindario de Camden, ubicado en el norte de la urbe, muchas familias con niños pequeños se despertaron temprano para ver el paso de la llama, mientras comenzaba la serie de relevos en el inmueble Roundhouse de la era victoriana, alrededor de las 6:50 de la mañana.

Entusiastas, los asistentes desafiaron los esfuerzos de los guardias de seguridad para mantenerlos detrás de las vallas. Todos deseaban ver a Clive Woodward, el ex astro inglés del rugby, quien fue el primer portador de la jornada.

Luego, la antorcha cruzó el Támesis, en manos de la campeona paraolímpica Ade Adiptain, cuyo cabello, trenzado en rastas, era movido por el viento, mientras la deportista avanzaba en su silla de ruedas por el puente Millennium.

Los londinenses, que han pasado buena parte de las últimas semanas preocupados por la lluvia, las medidas de seguridad y las huelgas, parecieron relajarse cuando la flama olímpica llegó a la ciudad. En el barrio sureño de Lambeth, grupos numerosos agitaron banderas y gritaron a coro, "queremos la antorcha".

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