In what is believed to be an Olympic first, British Arctic explorer Tom Avery is taking the London Olympic Games Bid flag to the North Pole.

Avery, who is an official ambassador for London 2012, is leading a four-strong expedition that will leave London on Friday to begin final preparations in Canada before attempting to reach the North Pole in a record 38 days.

Avery?s expedition, sponsored by Barclay Capital, will cover some of the harshest terrain on earth, with temperatures as low as -50 degrees centigrade and under the constant danger of falling through the ice or attack by polar bears.

The team will cover the 483-mile journey using wooden sledges pulled by teams of Canadian Eskimo husky dogs, taking the Olympic rings to the North Pole for the first time.

The Olympic Torch carried by London 2012 Chairman and Olympian Sebastian Coe during the Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay in London will also be part of the North Pole expedition.

Avery, a Londoner, said: ?The North Pole team is actively supporting London?s Olympic bid and the Olympic spirit will inspire us on our journey.?

?The privilege of hosting the world?s greatest event in London would inspire a new generation to make sport and outdoor pursuits an important part of their lives,? said Avery who has already conquered the South Pole.

?Bringing the Olympic Games to London will also boost the nation?s health and produce British champions of the future.?

?We must grab this opportunity with both hands,? said Avery.Sebastian Coe, Chairman of London 2012, said: ?It will be fantastic to see a London 2012 flag flying at the North Pole, and it will be fantastic to bring the world?s most exciting event to London and the UK.?

?Let?s turn this dream into a reality and make it happen.? The expedition team are hoping to solve one of one of the great mysteries of polar exploration. They hope to recreate the 1909 journey of Commander Robert Peary, a British explorer who claimed to have reached the North Pole on foot in just 38 days.

Controversy has surrounded the claim ever since. The quickest verified journey to the Pole is 42 days. The team will start their trip on 14 March 2005, hoping to arrive at the Pole on 20 April.