The carmaker said construction of the new plant - which will have the capacity to make 150, 000 vehicles a year - would begin in June.

BBC: GM gets China approval for Cadillac plant

But the new furnace means production capacity at Port Talbot will double to make it capable of making more than four million tonnes of steel a year.

BBC: Tata Steel's ?185m Blast Furnace No 4 starts up

Mr Rogge said that like the messengers in ancient times who shared news of the Olympic truce - the laying down of arms for the Games - "the torchbearers who carry this flame to London will spread the message of sport's capacity to promote peace and to make our world a better place".

BBC: London 2012: Olympic Games flame lit in Greece