Tonight:
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The countdown to London 2012 has started in earnest — exactly three years from today, 80 world leaders and 80,000 highly fortunate spectators will squeeze into the Olympic Stadium to see a lone torchbearer light the cauldron.
The flame will roar into the Stratford night sky at 8.12pm (that's 20.12 on the 24-hour clock) and what follows is certain to be the most compelling, thrilling and uplifting fortnight in modern London history.
Millions will watch the opening ceremony on giant screens in parks and town squares across the country — and an estimated two billion television viewers around the world will tune in. Over the following two weeks world records will be broken and dreams will come true.
Standing alongside International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge as the torch is lit will be our athletics hero, double Olympic champion Sebastian Coe.
Today, the London 2012 chairman said the occasion would be “almost beyond comprehension”. Lord Coe believes the excitement he felt attending the Sydney Olympics will be exceeded in London because of the thrill of being the host.
He said: “I was broadcasting at the opening of the Sydney Olympics with a dispassionate eye and that was amazing. But that feeling will be almost 100 times amplified for London. It's not just in the Olympic stadium, you've got 20 to 30 live sites in the UK and a good chunk of them in London. This place will be buzzing.”
Olympic chiefs have begun planning for the opening ceremony which will feature a procession of about 10,500 athletes around the running track.
Lord Coe said: “You will have 80,000 people in the stadium biting their nails waiting for this extraordinary event to kick off. There will be 205 nations and their athletes, 80 heads of state and 22,000 journalists based in London, and people around the world watching us,” said Lord Coe.
He urged Londoners to get involved, by registering on the 2012 website to become one of 70,000 volunteers. Volunteers played a vital role when the capital staged the 1948 Olympics, and Lord Coe wants to keep that tradition in 2012.
He praised the organising committee for raising more than £500 million in sponsorship during a recession. But he acknowledged that some of the big challenges were still ahead. The committee will double in size each year until it has 3,000 staff by 2012.
Lord Coe said: “We recognise we are only halfway up the mountain, but with three years to go we know the navigable paths.”
Reader views (4)
Billions of pounds spent in order to boost the egos of Coe and a few other "has been" athletes - and our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will be paying for it. I for one won't be watching it. Thankfully I will be out of the country. I fail to see why people who can "run round a track", "jump over things" or compete in any other of the physical events are worthy of medals. It is our soldiers we should be honouring - and spending some of this money on.
- R.F., Yorks, UK, 28/07/2009 13:16
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People might watch but also wonder why this event has cost so much of their own money for a 2 day jolly for some posh athletes?
- Mark, Watford, 27/07/2009 17:39
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Good grief Steve,liven up a bit! One can only wonder why if you have no interest in the Games you bothered to read this article. Two friends of mine went on the tour of the Olympic Site yesterday as Competition winners and were greatly impressed, not least by the courtesy and friendliness of the volunteer helpers who had given up their Sunday.
- Catherine Scott, London England, 27/07/2009 17:33
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I won't be watching it,that's for sure.Absolutely no interest in these games.
- Steve, London, 27/07/2009 13:49
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