London 2012: One year countdown begins

Festivities to mark the 12-month point will include a ceremony at Trafalgar Square at 1800 GMT, where the designs of the Olympic medals will be unveiled.

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge and London Mayor Boris Johnson will use the event to call on the world’s athletes to come to the London Games.

The ceremony will also offer a preview of how some of London’s Olympic venues and iconic buildings will look during the Games.

Boris Johnson said he will use the occasion to invite the world to visit the capital.

With a year to go we are ready to welcome the world Boris Johnson, Mayor of London

“Our venues are nearly all complete and our preparations to ensure all our visitors can experience the Games wherever they are in the capital are well advanced.

“With a year to go we can safely say we are ready to welcome the world,” he said.

Teenage British diver Tom Daley will take the first dive at the official opening of the newly-completed Aquatics Centre.

“Only a few years ago, this was a distant dream. It’s a complete privilege,” he said.

London 2012 chairman Lord Coe praised those involved in the construction of the Olympic venues:

“With construction now complete on the Aquatics Centre, we are another step closer to the spectacular Olympic Park which will be host to world class sport in 2012.”

The Olympic Stadium, Velodrome, Handball Arena, Basketball Arena and the International Broadcast Centre were all completed earlier this year.

Just ‘another day’s training’

But Olympic rowing champion Zac Purchase said that for the athletes, the year-to-go milestone was “just another day’s training”.

“The only day that will matter is when we are in the final,” he said.

“But I am really excited to get to look at what the London medals are like and to see what we are trying to get our fingers on next year.”

Team GB is hoping to build on their efforts in Beijing, where athletes took a haul of 19 golds, their best performance since the London Games of 1908.

With many sports fans left disappointed after missing out on tickets for sporting events, organisers are hoping that next year’s torch relay will help drive the Olympic excitement.

Concerns over disruptions

But critics have raised concerns about disruptions during the Games and say missed targets should not be overlooked.

There are some areas that need attention- particularly transport and emergency services. Jennette Arnold, London Assembly chairwoman

London Assembly chairwoman Jennette Arnold said: “Yes, there are some areas that need some attention over the coming months – particularly around transport, the preparedness of the emergency services and getting Londoners into Games-time jobs – but we have no doubt London will put on an amazing show for the world.”

A Chamber of Commerce survey of more than 160 firms showed almost half of London’s businesses believe more needs to be done to prepare them for any transport disruptions.

Transport for London (TfL) said more than 200 firms had signed up for advice sessions on how to prepare for potential disruptions.