Boris jets to Athens on gold plane to pick up Olympic torch

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Boris Johnson jetted into Athens on a gold British Airways plane today in preparation for picking up the Olympic Flame and bringing it back to the UK.

The London Mayor flew on The Firefly, whose unique look took workers nine days and 250 litres of paint to create, according to the Mirror.

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The Olympic Flame will be handed over to the London team during an event at the Panathenaic Stadium, which will also see Olympic Committee team members Sebastian Coe and Princess Anne, as well as London 2012 ambassador David Beckham in attendance.

David will join Boris on the flight back to London on The Firefly, and on Friday the London team will fly with the torch to RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall where a special ceremony welcoming the flame will be held, before the start its 70-day journey around Britain.

The 8,000-mile relay will bring the flame to the Olympic Stadium for the opening of the Games on 27 July.

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Meanwhile, as Boris was in Greece, he couldn't resist sneaking in a few pics for the holiday photo album at the Acropolis.

According to the Daily Mail, he said:"Bringing the Olympic flame back from its ancient home in Greece is a hugely symbolic moment which will ignite people's hopes and aspirations for what will be a summer like no other.

"As well as providing a fantastic spectacle of sport the London Games are giving us a once in a lifetime chance to make London an even better place to live, work and do business in."

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