TRIPLE Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie will be starting off the Olympic Torch Relay.

Ainslie, who stays in Weymouth when training for this year’s Olympics, will start the 70-day torch relay at the Land’s End landmark signpost at 7.08am on Saturday, May 19.

He grew up in Cornwall and won gold at the Beijing, Athens and Sydney Olympic Games.

Ainslie, pictured, said: “I am extremely honoured to be the first Torchbearer at the start of the Olympic Torch Relay. It will be an amazing experience to be able to carry the Olympic Flame in the area that I grew up in.

“I also want to congratulate the thousands of other inspirational people who will carry the Torch this summer and bring the excitement of the Games to streets throughout the UK.”

The flame will arrive in Weymouth on Thursday, July 12. It will travel through Chickerell and Wyke Regis before it will go to the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy and will be transported by boat to Weymouth Beach.

On Friday, July 13, the flame will leave Portland Bill.