13 August 2004: Flags heralding London’s bid to become the host city for the 2012 Olympics will now fly along the Mall and at a selection of London’s instantly recognisable locations.

The raising of the brightly coloured London 2012 flags will coincide with the opening of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, bringing the Olympic celebration close to home, and heightening awareness of London’s bid to bring the Games to Britain in 2012.

‘We are delighted to be able to fly the London 2012 flags in the most famous locations across this great city’ said Sebastian Coe, Chairman of London 2012. ‘The stunning location of these flags reminds us what a fantastic place London is and how many famous landmarks we have.’

The multi-coloured London 2012 flags will line The Mall, Horse Guard’s Parade and Parliament Square Green. These are the areas that will host the beach volleyball competition and form part of the marathon and cycling routes in London’s plans for a 2012 London Olympic Games.

‘I am proud to see our flags flying in so many special locations. Only a few weeks ago 80,000 people were in the Mall to see the Olympic Torch, and this demonstrates our passion for sport and how we would all like to see London host the Games in 2012.’ added Coe.

Over the next 11 months London 2012 wants the whole of the UK to show its support for the Olympic Bid. The aim is to see the distinctive 2012 ribbon flags all over the city and country to demonstrate to the International Olympic Committee that Britain is serious about winning the bid.

The flags display London 2012’s new Candidate City logo featuring the Olympic rings and the words ‘Back the Bid’. The flags are a massive 18 foot by 9ft and are unmissable and were raised today in the Mall by London 2012 ambassador Nell McAndrew.

Today’s event forms part of a planned rollout of street dressing, advertising and promotions designed to further raise the visibility of the bid during the Athens Olympics and into the New Year, culminating at the time of the evaluation commission visit next spring and the vote in Singapore in July 2005. Other material available in London 2012’s street and brand dressing range for use in London and around the country includes street banners, flags, perimeter signage, fence fabric and building wraps.

In addition to today’s activity around the Mall, more brand dressing will be visible across the London boroughs of the City of Westminster, Greenwich, Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest.

In Newham, the outside of Stratford station will be decorated with giant London 2012 logos and ribbons.

For further information contact the London 2012 Press Office on 020 7093 5100 or Fran Edwards on 07786 437 249