Giant Olympic Rings Launched in Edinburgh

Giant Olympic Rings Launched in Edinburgh as City Prepares to Welcome the Olympic Flame

The second set of giant Olympic Rings in Scotland have been launched on The Mound in Edinburgh. The Rings further show how Scotland is ready to welcome the world to the UK next month.

(PRWEB) June 13, 2012

The second set of giant Olympic Rings in Scotland have been launched on The Mound in Edinburgh. The Rings further show how Scotland is ready to welcome the world to the UK next month.

Images will be available to download from 6pm

The Rings measure 18 metres by 8 metres and are made of aluminium and are coloured blue, yellow, black, green and red - representing the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games. They have a silver reverse and weigh approximately 3,100kg.

The Rings spectacular has been installed in time for Edinburgh’s celebrations when the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay – presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung - visits the city today and tomorrow.

The Rings will officially be launched at a special event taking place at the National Gallery. In attendance will be Allan Wells MBE, a former Scottish athlete and 100 metres champion at the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games, who will be interviewed before running with the Torch tomorrow.

The event will be hosted by BBC Scotland presenter Cat Cubie and will have guest appearances from The Right Honourable Michael Moore MP Secretary of State for Scotland, Shona Robison MSP, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, The Right Honourable Donald Wilson Lord Provost of Edinburgh and LOCOG CEO Paul Deighton.

Entertainment will be provided by local Inspire Mark projects, as well as traditional Clarsach and Bagpipe music.

The Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore said: ‘From the moment the Olympic Torch arrived in Scotland the reception it has received has been fantastic. In every village, town and city we have seen people lining the streets and really embracing the Olympic spirit and it keeps growing day by day.

‘Now it is Edinburgh’s turn to be at the heart of the celebrations and today has really shown the city at its best. These Olympic Rings look brilliant on The Mound and are a bold reminder that the Olympic Games are going to be a great event for the whole of the UK.’

Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport Shona Robison said: ‘I am delighted that we are able to bring the symbol of the Olympic Games to our capital. As we have seen from the Torch celebrations around Scotland, our communities have welcomed the Olympic Flame, honoured our inspirational Torchbearers and celebrated a fantastic festival of sport and culture. With only 42 days until our first Olympic Football match at Hampden kicks off, this is a great opportunity to put Scotland on the world stage by celebrating sporting success, and presenting Scotland as a destination for tourism, culture and major events as we prepare to host the Commonwealth Games in 2014.’

The Rt. Hon. Donald Wilson, Lord Lieutenant and Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, said: ‘The Olympic Rings have already created quite a stir in Edinburgh since they first started going up and it's entirely fitting that they are being officially launched on the day the Olympic Flame reaches Scotland's Capital. It's a great honour for the City to host this universal symbol of achievement set against such a stunning, historic backdrop.’

Paul Deighton, LOCOG CEO, said: 'The Olympic Rings are an iconic symbol, inspiring athletes and uniting people around the world. To athletes they represent the culmination of thousands of hours of training and reaching the highest level in sport. These rings will excite and inspire residents and visitors to Edinburgh.’

Giant sets of Olympic Rings are being installed at iconic sites across the United Kingdom to excite and inspire people ahead of the Games and to demonstrate that we are ready to welcome the world.

Notes to editors:

For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office

The Official London 2012 Join In app is a free mobile guide to help you plan, enjoy and share your Games experience. From the Olympic Torch Relay to the Olympics and Paralympics, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, plus all the cultural, city and community celebrations happening across the UK, the Official London 2012 Join In App is your essential companion.

London 2012 Olympic Football Tournament in Scotland
The London 2012 Olympic Games will run for 16 days between July 27 and August 12, however the Olympic Football Tournament begins on July 25, two days before the official Games opening ceremony.

Hampden Park in Glasgow will be the setting for the following eight Olympic Football matches:

Wednesday 25 July – Women’s Olympic Tournament
USA Vs France (5pm)
Colombia Vs Korea DPR (7.45pm)

Thursday 26 July – Men’s Olympic Tournament
Spain Vs Japan (12 noon)
Honduras Vs Morocco (2.45pm)

Saturday 28 July - Women’s Olympic Tournament
USA Vs Colombia (5pm)
France Vs Korea DPR (7.45pm)

Wednesday 1 August - Men’s Olympic Tournament
Egypt Vs Belarus (2.30pm)

Friday 3 August -Women’s Olympic Tournament
Quarter Final (12 noon)

‘Pay your age’ prices for young people are available for those aged 16 and under with prices starting at £20 for adults and £16 tickets for seniors aged 60 and over. Tickets for the Olympic Football Tournament and further details can be found at: http://www.tickets.london2012.com

Olympic Torch Relay
Edinburgh is welcoming the Olympic Flame on June 13 and 14, 2012. The Olympic Flame will be carried along the route by inspirational Torchbearers and Edinburgh’s citizens are being encouraged to turn out to cheer them on in what will be an historic day for the city.

To enable everyone in Edinburgh to share in the excitement, details of all the streets along which the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay will travel and proposed start times can be viewed in full athttp://www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay.

Evening Celebration in Edinburgh
Coca-Cola is helping the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and host Local Authorities, including the City of Edinburgh Council, to bring music and celebration to every corner of the UK with 66 nights of celebrations during the Olympic Torch Relay. Brit Award winning Scot Emeli Sandé will lead the celebrations at the live, free-ticketed event at Edinburgh Castle on June 13.

London 2012 Festival
There will also be a range of exciting entertainment on offer as part of Edinburgh's London 2012 Cultural Programme and the London 2012 Festival. The programme will feature a variety of events encompassing dance, music, theatre and visual art.

For more information visit http://www.london2012.com/festival.

London 2012 Games partners:
The Worldwide Olympic Partners who support the London 2012 Olympic Games and the National Olympic Committees around the world are Coca-Cola, Acer, Atos, Dow, GE, McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Procter and Gamble, Samsung and Visa.

LOCOG has seven domestic Tier One Partners - adidas, BMW, BP, British Airways, BT, EDF and Lloyds TSB. There are seven domestic Tier Two Supporters – Adecco, ArcelorMittal, Cadbury, Cisco, Deloitte, Thomas Cook and UPS. There are now twenty-eight domestic Tier Three Suppliers and Providers – Aggreko, Airwave, Atkins, Boston Consulting Group, CBS Outdoor, Crystal CG, Eurostar, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, G4S, GSK, Gymnova, Heathrow Airport, Heineken UK, Holiday Inn, John Lewis, McCann Worldgroup, Mondo, NATURE VALLEY, Next, Nielsen, Populous, Rapiscan Systems, Rio Tinto, Technogym, Thames Water, Ticketmaster, Trebor and Westfield.

There is one domestic Tier One Paralympic Games-only Partner, Sainsbury’s and two domestic Tier Three Paralympic Games-only Suppliers, Otto Bock and Panasonic. The London 2012 Paralympic Games also acknowledges the support of the National Lottery.

News Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/6/prweb9602091.htm