Olympics hit 100 days to go

Today, 18 April 2012, marks the magic 100 days to go until the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

One hundred is a significant number. Think of the last 100m of a 2,000m race. Think of how it feels - usually something along the lines of pain or hurt come to mind. Think of how those rowers who are selected or aiming for selection for the London Olympic Games are feeling going into these last 100 days. These rowers will continue to prove themselves every day in training. They will either need to prove that they should be selected, or to prove that they will be at their very best 100 days from now.

During these last 100 days these rowers will be aiming to perfect the rowing motion ready for the first day of racing at the Eton Dorney Olympic Rowing Regatta Course on 28 July 2012.

When racing starts on 28 July 2012, 550 rowers will be ready to go. They will be divided into 202 boats to compete in one of the 14 Olympic boat classes.

Each country follows its own path in how they choose their Olympic squad. Two countries, New Zealand and Australia, have already selected the majority of their athletes for Olympic boats and have publicly announced these crews. Some countries, like the United States, will not firm up the entire team until only a month before the London Olympics. A number of countries, like Great Britain, will make an announcement in early June when the selectors have seen how athletes race at the first two stages of the 2012 Samsung World Rowing Cup series.

To celebrate 100 days to go London observed and launched this landmark by revealing a number of initiatives. The motto of the Games was thus announced as: "Inspire a generation". At Kew Gardens, west of London, Olympic rings made of 20,000 plants are now in place and 260 guardsmen stood in the formation of "100" to mark the occasion.

The Olympic Athletes’ Hub has been officially launched by the International Olympic Committee. Over 1,000 Olympic athletes have joined the Hub which uses Twitter to aim at connecting athletes with fans. For rowing so far there are 27 results including Great Britain’s Alex Partridge and Matthew Pinsent and New Zealand’s Mahe Drysdale as well as World Rowing. Check them out here.

Official London 2012 website

Official Olympic website

As a service to our readers, Around the Rings will provide verbatim texts of selected press releases issued by Olympic-related organizations, federations, businesses and sponsors.

These press releases appear as sent to Around the Rings and are not edited for spelling, grammar or punctuation.

20 Years at #1: