News story

100 days to London 2012

Games aim to ‘inspire a generation’

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

A set of giant Olympic rings made from flowers were unveiled at Kew Gardens this morning to mark 100 days until the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Olympic chiefs also revealed the motto for the Games will be “inspire a generation” and announced that the Red Arrows will perform a flypast over the London 2012 Live Sites in Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh and London as a curtain raiser to the Opening Ceremony on 27 July.

Live sites will be set up in 22 towns and cities across the UK to allow communities to come together and cheer on the athletes this summer. Five of the sites will today hold celebration events to mark 100 days to go.

“The London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics are within touching distance now and there’s something incredibly exciting about that,” Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said. “The country is getting ready to welcome the world this summer, and it’s set to be an amazing celebration that we will never forget.”

Seb Coe, chair of the London Organising Committee of the Games (LOCOG), said: “There is a groundswell of support and excitement, not just in the UK, but internationally as the final countdown to the London 2012 Olympic Games begins.

“Whether it’s the competing athletes or people getting ready to join their communities in supporting Torchbearers on the streets of the UK, the whole world is getting ready for London. Expectations are high, and we won’t disappoint.”

Two new twitter accounts have been launched by the Government today to help you stay up-to-date with all the latest cross-Government news and information on the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games:

  • @2012govuk is the official channel for Government news on the Torch Relay and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games
  • @2012govpress is a the official channel for Government press and media resources in the run up to and during the Torch Relay and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Further information

Published 18 April 2012