(ATR) British prime minister David Cameron turned on the lights for London’s Olympic Stadium Monday.
The ceremony took place at 6:15pm local time and was attended by around 1,000 people, a small crowd for the stadium that will seat 80,000 come Games time.
Cameron said: "It's a real honor to turn on the Olympic floodlights for the first time."
He added: "Today we're shining a light on this stadium and the brilliant work that's been done on the Olympic Park so far.
"In 2012 a light will shine on all of our country as billions look on. I want the world to see that Britain is a confident, forward-looking country - a great place to live, work, invest and do business. I want to see huge spin-off benefits as people come and see our culture, heritage, great cities, countryside and our dynamism - and decide they want to come back again."
London mayor Boris Johnson called it "a historic evening".
"In 2012, the world's spotlight will be shining on London as we host one of the greatest sporting spectaculars the capital has ever seen. It is a thrill to see that epitomized by these impressive floodlights, which help beam the Games into living rooms across the globe in high definition."
LOCOG chair Sebastian Coe, Olympic Delivery Authority chairman John Armitt and an audience made up of members of the Olympic Park workforce, local community and schoolchildren, were present to watch the Stadium light up.
Construction of the stadium is set to be completed next summer.
A total of 14 towers loom 230 feet over the field of play, holding 532 bulbs.
Forman and Field, a gourmet food store, has a webcam on its building just 100 meters from the stadium, with a live feed of the venue's construction progress.
To watch the "Fish Eye View", click here.
Written by Ed Hula III.
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