Famous Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci carried the Olympic torch to the North Greenwich Arena in London on Saturday (July 21), ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games. The former gymnast, who won won nine Olympic gold medals in the 1976 and 1980 Games, was part of the relay that carried the torch on the first day of its London leg, which included 143 people in the first day.

Comaneci handed the torch to John Amaechi on the roof of North Greenwich Arena, which will host the gymnastics and basketball competitions during the Olympics. Comaneci and former basketball player Amaechi performed a 'torch kiss' – passing the flame from one torch to the other.

The Olympic torch arrived in London on Friday evening and was kept in the Tower of London, near the Olympic medals and the Crown jewelery.

The London Olympics will start on July 27.

editor@romania-insider.com

(photo source: London Olympics official website)