The London night sky was transformed this evening like never before as the BT Tower, one of the capital's most iconic landmarks, was spectacularly lit up with a firework display to celebrate 1,000 days to go to the London 2012 Olympic Games.

And for the first time, a screen at the top of the Tower will display the number of days to the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Games.

Millions watched the event live on the National Lottery Draw.

Show with special guest Dame Kelly Holmes, a BT ambassador. And thousands more across London witnessed this unique moment in time.

Sebastian Coe, Chairman, The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) commented, "With 1,000 days to go the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, millions of people are already joining in. We've celebrated this special moment in time in an extraordinary way tonight, lighting up the London sky - and I hope it's a taste of things to come in 2012 when the whole country will celebrate the Games coming to London.

"We are delighted that our sponsors are playing such a big role in exciting and inspiring the nation, whether through grassroots sports activation programmes or events like the BT Tower illumination this evening. It's great to have a world-class company, like BT, on board."

Suzi Williams, Director, BT Group Marketing and Brand said:
"This is a fantastic moment for BT, for London and for the whole nation. We are well and truly on the road to London 2012, and BT is thrilled to be able to bring the nation together like this. In our role as communications services partner, we want to inspire and engage people like never before - what better way to do this than returning the BT Tower to its original role as an information tower."

For footage of the BT Tower event, please contact the LOCOG press office on 07827 240938 (Julie Burley) or 07753 811353 (Joanna Manning-Cooper) or email Julie.burley@london2012.com 

Notes for Editors

For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 100 or visit the website at www.london2012.com. Find out the latest from London 2012 HQ on our blog http://blog.london2012.com or follow us on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/london2012team

For any information on the BT Tower, including statistics about the new information band, please contact the BT press office on its 24-hour number: 020 7356 5369. From outside the UK dial + 44 20 7356 5369. All news releases can be accessed on their web site: http://www.bt.com/newscentre

As it heads towards its £2bn budget for staging the Olympic and Paralympic Games, LOCOG has six domestic Tier One Partners - adidas, BP, British Airways, BT, EDF and Lloyds TSB. There are now six domestic Tier Two Supporters - Adecco, Cadbury, Cisco, Deloitte, Thomas Cook and UPS. There are eleven domestic Tier Three Suppliers and Providers - Airwave, Atkins, Boston Consulting Group, Crystal CG, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, Holiday Inn, McCann Worldgroup, The Nielsen Company, Populous, Ticketmaster and Trident.

The Worldwide Olympic Partners signed up for London 2012 are Coca-Cola, Acer, Atos Origin, GE, McDonald's, Omega, Panasonic, Samsung and Visa.

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