Olympic torch to visit Dublin???

The 2012 London Olympics chairman Seb Coe has said that he is still waiting for the green light for the Olympic torch to visit Dublin in the build-up to the games.

The international Olympic Committee (IOC) have ruled that the torch must travel immediately to the host country after being kindled in Olympia, Greece but they  have been sympathetic to the Republic of Ireland's aspirations to host the flame when the torch visits Northern Ireland for four days next June.

Denis Oswald, who heads the IOC's London inspection team, last year acknowledged the 'special circumstances' of such a visit. The Olympic Council of Ireland also claim to be confident the relay will stop off in Dublin, with influential Irish IOC member Patrick Hickey lobbying hard for support. Hickey hopes the torch will be brought to Dublin after a symbolic border crossing at Newry to mark the peace process.

TORCH RELAY IN NORTHERN IRELAND
June 3rd 2012 - Portush
June 4th - Derry
June 5th - Newry
June 6th - Belfast

Several areas in Dublin are included in the projected torch route including the Garden of Remembrance and Croke Park.

"It's being discussed at the moment, and as you can imagine there are a lot of inter-Governmental conversations taking place," said Coe. "I am not going to pre-judge anything but I think most people that are involved in the process think it will be the right thing to do, including me."

London 2012 have already announced 74 stops on the relay on the 70-day 8,000 mile relay, which will culminate at the Olympic Stadium on Friday July 27th.