Lighting the Olympic Cauldron has always been an honor reserved for famous athletes, former athletes and/or athletes with significant achievements and milestones. On some occasions, the tradition has even been completed by people who may not possess the fore mentioned qualifications but do in fact symbolize Olympic ideals.

While the London Olympics 2012 is just hours away from kicking off, the one question on everybody's mind is who will light this year's Olympic flame.

With the 70-day British leg of the torch relay drawing close to its end as the last of the 8,000 torchbearers approach the opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, the decision on who gets to light the flame has surprisingly remained a closely-guarded secret.

As many people that have been rumored to be front-runners for the incredible honor, whoever is chosen by the British Olympic Association will follow greats from previous Games such as Muhammad Ali and Wayne Gretzkey.

"It gives life to the Games. It's the fire which supposedly came from the Greek gods of the past. There have been a lot of famous, and not so famous people who have lit the flame," says BBC commentator Barry Davies.

"I think it should be one person who is an inspiration. It's a good thing that we have so many good candidates, but you are not going to please everyone with the choice," he added.

Click "start" to check out five people most likely to light the Olympic Cauldron at the London Olympics 2012.

Lagarde and Carstens
Lagarde and Carstens Creative Common
Dame Kelly Holmes
Dame Kelly Holmes took home gold in both the 800m and 1500m at the Athens Olympics in 2004.Despite an injury-plagued career, she also won bronze in 2000, and was made a Dame in the 2005 Queen's New Year Honours' List."Daley Thompson and Steve Redgrave are arguing about who should light the Olympic flame. Easy solution: Kelly Holmes. Job done." -@Mr603 Wikipedia
Sir Steven Redgrave
Sir Steven Redgrave won five Olympic rowing gold medals between 1984 and 2000. Twice carried the British flag at the opening of the Games in 1992 and 1996."Sir Steve Redgrave has to light Olympic flame, 5 successive gold medals is unbelievable." - @BigDogBudd/Twitter Wikipedia
Prince William
While it would go against convention for a member of the Royal Family to light the flame, Prince William is an ambassador for the British Olympic Association, and is expected to attend several Olympic events including the eventing competition at Greenwich Park where his cousin Zara Phillips will be going for gold."I wonder who will be the one to light the Olympic flame? I'm thinking Prince William or Harry would be great for the UK ." - Sian Phillips/Twitter Reuters
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