‘Ron Weasley’ Carries Olympic Torch

Rupert Grint added a bit of Hogwarts’ magic to day 68 of the Olympic relay on Wednesday the 25th. The Harry Potter star carried the torch to the sound of cheers from hundreds of well-wishers.

Ruper Grint, who played Harry Potter’s loyal and loveable friend Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films started his leg of the relay at Middlesex University, reports CBSNEWS. He was mobbed as he finished his run.

The 23-year old actor says that he had no idea what to expect, since running was “kind of a new thing” for him, but he was helped by the fact that most of his section was down hill.

Grint was just one of 8,000 people to carry the flame this year on it’s path to the Olympic games. Others who have carried this proud symbol have been actor Patrick Stewart, musician will.i.am, tennis stars Andy Murray and Venus Williams, comedian Eddie Izzard, actor James McAvoy and singers John Legend and Melanie Chisholm.

Carrying the torch is a true honor. This torch that so many have carried was designed by east Londoners Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby. They won the honor through a competitive tender run by the London 2012 Organising Committee and the Design Council. The unique design of this torch includes 8,000 perforated circles which represent the inspirational stories of the 8,000 torchbearers to carry the torch this year.

The relay will end on Friday as the last torchbearer lights the cauldron in the Olympic stadium to mark the official start of the London games.