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>> at shell, we believe the world needs a broader mix of energies. that's why we're supplying cleaner-burning natural gas to generate electricity. and it's also why, with our partner in brazil, shell is producing ethanol, a biofuel made from renewable sugar cane. >> a minute, mom! world's broaden the energy mix. let's go. >> and now, "bbc world news." >> this is a special edition of "bbc world news america." reporting from our studios overlooking the olympic park. all hail the torch from the thousands who lined up to greet it. the olympic flame is firing up the country.

>> the excitement is growing so much. >> getting into the spirit of the competition. as the violence continues to rage in the syrian city of aleppo, the u.s. state department warns of another massacre in the making. the political scandal gripping china takes another turn as the wife of bo xilai is charged with murder. welcome to a special edition. we're coming to you live from our studio overlooking the olympic park in london. it is less than 24 hours before the opening ceremonies get under way and what a show clinton has

put on already. tens of thousands lined the route to watch the olympic torch wind its way it through the city. robert hall starts our coverage. >> it has burned along country lanes and city streets, then carried over sea and by air. the olympic flame received -- received a royal welcome. >> thank you for your support. >> the day it started, 12 hours earlier, prepared to lead the charge into a central london. >> the engagement has been fantastic. the reception has been unbelievable. the crowds have been much bigger than what i expected. >> among the convoy team, this was known as super pac thursday.

-- as super the thursday. -- super thursday. jennifer saunders brought "ab fab" glamour. out west, this night struck a familiar pose. >> it is very moving. cathedral, the crowd swirling on the steps. across the millennium bridge. paramedic tracy russell, nominated by the australian woman whose life she helped to save in 2005. >> it has given each individual

and individual moment of glory. >> the torchbearer is the first woman to be awarded the military cross for her work as a medic in afghanistan. with an appointment to meet the prime minister and his wife at downing street. after 10 weeks on the road, the convoys work is done. this journey really began three years ago. the planners did not really know but they could move 300 people with the flame into every corner of the u.k., nor whether they could engage with the communities along the raid. they did have worried -- along the route. they need not have worried.

>> great scenes around london. thank you for joining me. the best view of london behind us. we have news already of our favorite olympian. >> they have been rehearsing every night this week. i am already robbing my hands -- rubbing my hands. he is the reigning 200 meter champion. he had been beaten in the jamaican trials. the golden ticket for the olympics is to see the gold medal winner in the 100 meters final. he says he is about 95% fit. he has been speaking to our sports editor. >> there has been a lot to talk about your fitness. are you 100%?

>> i want to say yes, but i think i am 95%. i am in great shape. i am ready to go. >> what has been the problem? >> my back. maybe i was basing it too far. i was trying not to pressure my back. that was the main problem. my hands. -- my hands -- my handspring was always causing a problem. >> you said in the press conference that you had been through a lot. what did you mean? >> there are so many things that

i have to keep focus on. it is hard to keep having these problems over and over again. if you are not mentally strong, it is tough. >> the olympics have not started the ceremony had, that we have already had controversy. >> and gary and discus thrower won a silver medal in 2004. -- when gary and discus thrower when a silver medal in 2004. it is an issue that has dominated the headlines. this is somebody that nobody wants to see. we just have to trust that the athletes are clean. i was speaking to one of the

best players of all time and he said he had spoken to the international olympic committee and they said they could never really match the athlete who were really good at cheating because their masking gauges are so far ahead. they are testing more people than ever. under every single medal winner will be tested. all you can do as a reporter and a spectator is trust that the athletes are clean when you were cheering them on. >> let's hope we do not see too many of them being sent,. sport is not the only olympic story of the day. politics has worked its way in as well. it is u.s. politics we're talking about. mitt romney has landed himself in a bit of diplomatic trouble. he is in london for the opening ceremonies. he is credited with rescuing the 2002 winter games, it is this comment questioning

london's readiness which has raised eyebrows. >> it is hard to know just how well it will turn out. there were a few things that were disconcerting. stories about the private security firm not having enough people, the suppose it strikes of the custom officials. clucks that answer got a quick retort from london's merkel -- >> that answer got a quick retort from london's mayor. >> there is a guy called mitt romney who wants to note whether london is ready. blogger i am ready. are we ready? -- whether i am ready. are be ready? yes, we are. >> are north american editor gave as his take from central london just a short time ago. >> he is going to be here raising money for his campaign. most of the trip is showing

pictures that he is meeting with people from senior government. when he emerged from that famous store, all of the american journalist wanted to know if had he offended his host. mr. romney said he had made mistakes. any errors would be overshadowed by the heroism of the athletes. he is probably got away with it, but the message has been obscured. it is not what he wanted. >> mitt romney has not won

himself a very many friends in london today. we will have more olympic coverage later on in the program. in the syrian city of aleppo, government forces are amassing for a major assault. the opposition is meeting to discuss what might happen if president assad were to fall. our middle east editor reports. >> aleppo has been slipping out of the government's control for months. now it is a battleground. these are brought bullfighter celebrating the capture of a police station. -- these are rebel fighters celebrating the capture of a police station. the bodies are "assad's dogs," he says. syrian state tv english news has

been showing government troops mopping up defeated rebel fighters. like pictures of the rebels from syria on the web, these cannot be verified. the regime has the firepower, but the rebels said that the momentum adverse in state sack -- assassinated the president top security team last week. russia is still watching the regime's back. the foreign ministers said the rebels were carrying out terrorist attacks and ignoring russian diplomatic proposals that could stop the fighting. the civil war in syria has moved into a new phase. rebel fighters are better organized, doing much more than marching out new armor. there are still more militias.

ministerprime predicted that bashar al-assad's inner circle were preparing to step down. that could be wishful thinking. his fight to keep power is being watched nervously from the other side of syria's borders. syria is a pivotal country in the middle east. it is connected to its neighbors by a network of political and religious fault lines. that increases the chances of violence spilling across frontiers did make bad firebreaks. -- that make bad firebreaks. the rebel army is making more video of soldiers defected to join the fight. diplomacy cannot keep up and it needs to to stop syria sparks spreading in the most combustible region. >> the original fault having an

impact on events inside syria -- the regional fault of having an impact on events inside syria. to emphasize his point, he said believe me, it will be enough. his comments helped to send share prices soaring in europe and the united states. cuba's president has given a defiant speech marking the 59th anniversary of the storming which launched the cuban revolution. he said cuba was ready to discuss its human rights record if the u.s. record was also up for debate. a bomb explosion at a busy market in northwest pakistan killed at least seven people and wounded more than 20. the blast took place in the tribal region near the afghan border. the area has seen some of the

worst fighting between pakistan and security forces and to call upon the did taliban militant forces in recent years. the wife of bo xilai has been charged with murdering a british businessman. it is the latest development in the political scandal that has gripped the country and rocked the communist party leadership. if convicted, gu kailai could face the death penalty. >> the murder of a british businessman triggered china's biggest political scandal in years. the authorities say neil heywood was poisoned. the wife of a top politician has now been charged with his murder. according to the chinese authorities, gu kailai and a family employee killed the businessman at this hotel. reports say there were arguments over financial dealings.

she worried that he was a threat to her son's safety. earlier this year, her husband bo xilai was brought down by the scandal. he was one of china's most powerful politicians and had been tipped for a promotion. his flamboyant and controversial style made him friends and enemies in equal measure. in the coming weeks, china's leaders are expected to gather at the seaside resort to. their discussions will focus on what to do with bo xilai. the murder of neil heywood goes to the very heart of power in china. a ford is want to end this scandal and prevent it over shattering the leadership transition. -- authorities want to end this

scandal and prevented overshadowing the leadership transition. >> what an incredible view we have. still to come on tonight's program, we'll have more of our special coverage. that continues with my own tour of one of the most iconic spots. and, though, fighting has continued for a third day between rebels fighting. thousands of civilians are trying to flee the violence. >> they bring whatever they can carry. people streaming down from the towns and villages in the hills transporting their lives with them in bundles. they're looking for safety in this town about 40 kilometers north of the provincial capital goma. for a while, they think they have found it.

but then, heavy gunfire. it is close by, and for some, that is enough to send them fleeing for their lives. the military hardware is not far behind. these are army tanks, not the rebels. many simply wait to see will happen. these are people used to this side of soldiers. they are attuned to their mood. suddenly, something changes. suddenly, there is panic. we had some heavy firing and then suddenly, all of these tanks heading south away from the front lines. they said they had just fallen into an ambush of the road. in goma, life goes on despite the looming threats. many believe that taken the capital is the rebels ultimate

aim. the united nations have a sizable force here. the mandate is to protect the civilian population. in response, the peacekeepers have gone further. in the end, it may well be who will do the most to protect the city. >> to giving those olympic sports and try. tonight, it is my turn. before i came to london, i caught up with an olympic fencer. he was born in britain, but he is now competing for team usa. he took on the task of teaching me a move or two. he put his trouser us on one leg

at a time. he is one of the best fencers in the world. has this future olympian finally met his match? >> how are you doing? >> thank you for having me here. i apologize in advance. ok, so i had to learn a little before going blade to blade with a 22-year-old. >> start with the back foot. that is called an advance. >> the frontage but those first. >> your weight is on the front leg. >> he has been competing since he was 10 years old. now he hopes to win gold in front of a hometown crowd. >> your family will be turning up in london?

>> yes. my whole family will be there. it is going to be good. >> miles has an image to celebrate. >> i was born and raised in london. >> dedication is not in short supply. he is training eight hours a day. working on a fencing move that he invented. very nice. after a bit of nervous spectating, the time had come up for my own shot at olympic glory. >> how does it feel? >> with the mask on and my feet in place, i was ready for battle. this sport is an awful lot harder than it looks.

the lucky few will be competing in the olympics, there are tens of thousands more who have descended on london to watch the event unfolds. they lined the streets in droves to catch a glimpse of the torch. i find the u.k. pried on full display -- pride on full display. there are just hours to go now. it has taken seven years of preparation, but london is finally ready. we will take a tour of the city to see how britain is responding to olympic fever. it is a short bus ride to find the olympic torch. be honest, i expected to find a bit of a nightmare. here we are, moving for the center of the city, and things

are much going -- going much faster than normal. i wish it could always be like this. ♪ it helps that the city is full of cheerful olympic volunteers. i heard that you know the answers to everything. >> we do. >> what is the hardest question you have had? >> i do not think any of the questions have been tricky. >> good afternoon, london! >> we have come down to south london to watch the torch going past. you have people from all over the world. you also have londoner's of all different ethnic origins to celebrate this moment of national pride.

>> [unintelligible] >> it is marvelous. ♪ >> actually, that is what strikes me most on visiting london on the eve of the olympics. there is an unusual display of patriotism. brits are not like americans. we do not kill comfortable wearing the flag on our sleeves. -- feel comfortable wearing the flags on our sleeves. it is hard to describe just how excited this city feels about the olympics ceremony.

it will be starting in about 24 hours time. you can find much more about all the athletes and the events on our website. you can follow me on twitter as well. tune in tomorrow for the opening ceremonies. i will see you then. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu, newman's own foundation, union bank, and shell. >> at union bank, our relationship managers work hard to understand the industry you

operate in, working to nurture new ventures and helping provide capital for key strategic decisions. we offer expertise and tailored solutions in a wide range of industries. what can we do for you? >> "bbc world news" was presented by kcet, los angeles.