LONDON: London moved into the final month of preparations for its Olympic Games on Wednesday with a new landmark to greet visitors.
London Mayor Boris Johnson and Seb Coe, chairman of organisers watched as a giant set of interlocking Olympic Rings were eased into place on Tower Bridge across the River Thames.
The rings, 25 metres wide and 11.5 metres tall, are a centrepiece of the “2012 look” that visitors from around the world will experience as they flood into the capital for the Games starting on July 27 and ending on Aug. 12.
“Tower Bridge is recognised the world over and, adorned with the famous Olympic Rings, is the perfect choice to showcase what London has to offer this summer,” declared Johnson.
“With just a month to go, we are making our final preparations and want to ensure each and every person in the capital gets a flavour of the celebrations and feels part of the Games.”
The Tower Bridge rings, which cost some 260,000 pounds (405,500 dollars) to produce, have been paid for out of a 32 million pound ‘Look and Celebration’ budget with events scheduled across the capital.
Not everyone will be allowed to attend the party, however.
Britain has already refused a visa for the head of Syria’s national Olympic Committee, General Mowaffak Joumaa, to travel to London. He is seen as a close to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, which has drawn strong criticism from Britain over its alleged human rights abuses.
Sports Minister Hugh Robertson told BBC radio that he expected more exclusions in the days and weeks to come.
“If people apply for visas that have connections with regimes that are guilty of human rights abuses they will not be allowed in… nobody connected with the human rights abuses taking place in Syria at the moment should be part of our Games.”
The torch relay is currently in the northeast of England, 40 days in to its journey around Britain before ending up at the new Olympic Stadium in east London for an opening ceremony attended by Queen Elizabeth and other heads of state.
Olympic song
Muse’s ‘Survival’ will be the main official song for the London Games, the British rockers announced.
Lead singer Matt Bellamy wrote the track ‘with the Olympics in mind. It’s about total conviction and pure determination to win,’ the group said on its website.
The tune will be played throughout the July 27-Aug. 12 Games, including when athletes enter the stadium, in the lead-up to medal ceremonies and and also as the theme for international television coverage.
Survival is one of five official songs being composed for the Olympics. The other artists involved are Elton John and Pnau, Delphic, Chemical Brothers and Dizzee Rascal. (Agencies)