Olympic Rings Unveiled at St. Pancras; Christchurch's Outlook for Rugby World Cup

Rings Revealed at Games Gateway

Games-goers’ first glimpse of London 2012 will be the giant Olympic rings just installed at St. Pancras Station.

LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe and London mayor Boris Johnson unveiled Thursday night a 20 meter-wide version of the interlocking rings now suspended in the station’s main hallway.

The aluminum pieces were secretly smuggled into the building over the past week and assembled only at night. A giant black cloth hid the installation from view until Thursday’s big reveal, broadcast live on BBC.

The rings will hang in front of the station’s clock until competition’s end.

St. Pancras provides the "Javelin" bullet-train service that spectators will ride out to Olympic Park in nearby Stratford, a trip that takes just six minutes.

Keeping with recent Games tradition, rings will decorate other landmarks in the host city as well, including Tower Bridge, the London Eye and possibly even the Houses of Parliament.

Despite Quake, Prime Minister Wants Cup in Christchurch

The prime minister of New Zealand is holding out hope Christchurch can stage its share of this year’s Rugby World Cup.

"There's a series of different boxes that will need to be ticked before we can say yes or no," John Key was quoted Wednesday by the New Zealand Press Association.

"My strong preference is to hold the Cup in Christchurch if we can because I think it sends a very strong international message that Christchurch is going through a rebuilding phase, and equally, if we don't, sadly the message is it's not."

The operators of Stadium Christchurch will receive reports March 15 assessing the status of the venue in the wake of a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Feb. 22, killing at least 161 and leaving about 200 more missing.

Reports from New Zealand media indicate bubbles up to halfa meter high could render Christchurch’s pitch unplayable for at least five-and-a-half months. Play kicks off in less than seven.

According to Key, ensuring the stadium is ready for elite rugby presents a make-or-break challenge to organizers.

"If it doesn't pass that standard then obviously the cup has to be moved," he said.

"If it does then we can work through the other logistical issues."

Among those issues is the accommodation shortage sure to result from last week’s quake. News reports indicateseveral hotels in the city center were among the hardest-hit buildings.

Keyrevealed inquiries into cruise ships to house visiting fans look promising and that organizers would perhaps be willing to absorb the extra cost in order to keep the Cup in Christchurch.

The city is due to host five pool matches and two quarterfinals during the two-month competition. Play begins Sept. 9 and runs through Oct. 23.

FIFA President Eyes Easy Reelection

Sepp Blatter says he expects to stand unchallenged for a fourth term as FIFA president at elections to be held at FIFA Congress in June.

Speaking after Thursday’s FIFA Executive Committee meeting, Blatter described himself as a "very happy man".

"There was not one single approach as long as I am informed for candidates for the future. It is the end of March, the deadline," he said.

Blatter revealed that he had received a formal nomination for his own candidature from the Somalian Football Federation Thursday morning.

"At least there is one association that is happy," quipped FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke.

Also at the Ex-Co meeting, Canada was rubberstamped as host of the 2015 Women’s World Cup following the withdrawal of Zimbabwe from the bid race.

Homepage photo by Neil O'Shea.

Written by Matthew Grayson and James Corbett.