Olympic Rings Frenzy Comes To Surrey

With just over a week until the Olympic Games Cycling Road Race competition takes place in Box Hill, Surrey, a large set of Olympic Rings has been launched in the county. The Rings are set to provide a spectacular backdrop to the Road Race competition and Surrey’s London 2012 celebrations. The Rings have been installed on the side of the National Trust’s Box Hill. Made of aluminum they are approximately 15m wide by 7m high and will be an exciting feature in the county for the duration of the Olympic Games.  

The five rings are colored blue, yellow, black, green and red – representing the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games. The Olympic Rings are one of the world’s most recognizable logos.

The Road Race competition will begin on July28th and 29^th, and spectators at Box Hill are set to get a fantastic view of the events. Labeled the most grueling stretch of the course - the men’s race will loop Box Hill nine times and the women’s twice.
Seb Coe, LOCOG Chair, said:

“The Olympic Rings are an iconic symbol, inspiring athletes and uniting people around the world. To athletes they represent the culmination of thousands of hours of training and reaching the highest level in sport. These Rings will excite and inspire local people and visitors to Box Hill,” said Helyn Clack, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and the 2012 Game.  “This proves the Games aren’t just about London, she said.

Surrey’s giant Olympic Rings will become one of the most memorable icons of the Games with television cameras sending pictures of it around the world. It will encourage people to visit our beautiful county not just now, but for years to come.”

Andy Wright, National Trust Countryside Manager for the Surrey Hills, added: ‘We’re so proud to showcase this special place to the world. For us the Rings are a symbol of what an amazing place Box Hill is, what an amazing journey it has been on over the past few years and what a fantastic legacy the Olympics will leave here, particularly for wildlife.’  Surrey is also hosting the Olympic Road Cycling Time Trial event on 1 August.   Giant sets of Olympic Rings are being installed at iconic sites across the United Kingdom to excite and inspire people ahead of the Games and to demonstrate that we are ready to welcome the world.