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Countdown begins to London Olympics
Countdown clock unveiled to kick-off 500-day countdown to start of London 2012 Olympics
A giant clock has been unveiled in Trafalgar Square, London counting down to the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Rowers Pete Reed and Andy Hodge and sailors Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson revealed the clock, which counts down to the evening of July 27, 2012 in days, hours, minutes and seconds.
The steel Clock measures 6.5 metres high, five metres long and weighs around four tonnes. Its design reflects the look of the Games, with beams inspired by London and its connection with the Prime Meridian in Greenwich, the home of time.
LOCOG chair Seb Coe said: “The launch of the OMEGA Countdown Clock is an important milestone for any Olympic Games and is something of a tradition within the Olympic Movement.
“It will be a daily and hourly reminder to everyone who visits Trafalgar Square that the countdown to the start of London 2012 has well and truly begun and that the greatest show on earth is soon coming to our country.
“Athletes’ careers are based on timing and I hope that this milestone moment excites and inspires them to compete at the highest level in 2012. Athletes hoping to compete in the Olympic Games are in the final stretch of their preparation and the next 500 days will be crucial to them as their dream of competing in a Games comes closer to reality.”
Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “The countdown begins right now in the very heart of the capital as we gear up to stage the best Games in living memory and the excitement spreads outwards from Trafalgar Square to every corner of our great city.
“In 500 days time the atmosphere will be electric as the Olympic Cauldron bursts into flames signalling the beginning of the world's greatest sporting event and London 2012's glorious legacy unfolds.”
