July 6th: The Day London Won the 2012 Olympic Bid

Stealing the Olympic bid from the favourites-to-win French by 54 votes to 50, the London 2012 team achieved their dream of hosting the world's most exciting and stimulating competition in England's capital city. On July 6th 2005 at 1249 BST, the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Jacques Rogge announced that London had won the bid, and the Olympics would come to Britain for the first time since 1948.

The London 2012 Olympic Stadium

     The bid was held in Singapore, where five cities entered into the tense but exhilarating decision, each delivering a 45 minute presentation to the IOC displaying why they were the best option for the event. Moscow, Madrid and New York were eliminated in the first round, and by 1230 BST it was clear London and Paris were head-to-tete. However 1249 BST came around eventually, after a whole nineteen minutes of tortured anticipation, and thankfully Rogge stated that: 'We knew the two bids were very, very close. Well done, London. It will be a superb games and it will strengthen the Olympics.' 
    Lord Coe, the head of the London 2012 team, was said to have given an extremely impressive presentation - let's face it, he probably just relayed Hugh Grant's speech as Prime Minister in Love Actually ('a country of Shakespeare, Churchill, The Beatles, of Sean Connery, Harry Potter')! Either way, London won and the games has meant huge things for the year 2012, and even huger things for the city itself. The former Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was 'a momentous day' for Britain, and the team received a special commendation from the Queen.
    The London 2012 Olympic Games are set to start in twenty days time on July 27th, and come to a close August 12th. Are you going to the Olympics? Do you think it will help London as a city, or will be struggle to cope with the chaos of the whole world migrating over here? Can we top the Beijing opening ceremony with a countryside themed performance?