Olympic Games:The Olympic Torch relay was confirmed to take place in Dublin next year prior to the London Olympic Games
The IOC made their decision this morning during an Executive Board meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland
The IOC approved London's proposal for the torch relay to visit Dublin on June 6th in a symbolic gesture of peace and political goodwill.
After human rights protests marred the international torch relay before the 2008 Beijing Games, the IOC ruled that future relays should take place only within the host countries.
However, the IOC executive board agreed to make an exception for the London flame to leave the U.K. and travel from Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny today welcomed the announcement by the London 2012 Organising Committee Chair, Lord Sebastian Coe
"The announcment that the Olympic Torch Relay is to come to Dublin is fantastic news and will put Ireland centre-stage in the immediate run-in to the games.
This brings even closer to home the spirit of the Olympic Games which is being hosted by our near neighbours in London next year,” said Mr Kenny.
