Spectacle marks start of Olympic work

5:00pm Thursday 1st September 2005

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Aerial acrobats abseiling from Nelson's Column, giant banners and London's Olympic anthem today marked the start of the preparation for the 2012 Games.

At noon London mayor Ken Livingstone hosted what organisers called a "short spectacle" in Trafalgar Square to celebrate the city's victory in the race to host the Olympics.

About 2,000 people watched the first ever official abseil from the top of Nelson's Column. Acrobats descended in formation from the landmark, unveiling a 300ft silk banner of the London 2012 logo.

Singer Heather Small, backed by a gospel choir, performed the bid anthem Proud.

As she sung, a giant silk drape was pulled back across the square towards the column. It slowly revealed the words "London prepares".

The event began with the video clip of Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, awarding the Games to London.

"We said we would start work straight after the decision, and these were not empty words," said London 2012 chair Lord Sebastian Coe.

"In the first six days after the decision, 17,000 people registered an interest in volunteering for the Games, with the total tally standing at nearly 60,000 people today.

"Eight days after the decision, the Olympic Bill was introduced to Parliament.

"Twenty days after the decision, the first lottery scratchcards were launched to fund the Games."

The IOC has already acknowledged London's progress, Lord Coe added.

Last week the mayor gave the legal go-ahead for companies to start a £70 million project to bury overhead power lines in seven miles of tunnels below the site of the Olympic Park.

Mr Livingstone said: "The passion and commitment we put into the bid is now carrying through to delivering what will be the greatest Olympics ever."

Today's party launched Everyone's London, a series of more than 100 public events held in September to encourage residents to take pride in their city.

It will be complemented promotions by West End theatres and the Tube.

The month will end when Oxford Street closes for traffic for the first time for a day-long street festival.