Countdown to Olympics starts

THE Olympic clock stopped just a day after it was launched and let’s hope this is not a bad omen for the main event next year.

The clock was put in place to mark 500 days before the 2012 Olympics start next July.

It had been unveiled by Lord Coe, London 2012 chief and the mayor of London Boris Johnson.

Omega, who are the official Olympic timekeeper, admitted the clock had stopped.

The clock froze seven hours, 56 seconds after it was started.

Thankfully, the clock was re-started after six hours.

Also, the application process for tickets for London 2012 Olympic Games has started.

Those interested must put their application in by April 26 of this year.

The organisers have 6.6m tickets to sell for 645 sessions across 26 sports.

It is being considered as a “chance in a lifetime” because this is the first time the country has hosted the Olympics since 1948.

The most sought after tickets will be for Sunday, August 5 at the Olympic Stadium.

On that day you will be able to see the final of the men’s 100m.

When England last held the Olympics – the event was called The Austerity Games as it was only three years after World War two and rationing was still in place.

The Olympics were also held in London in 1908.