The Olympic Rings are one of the world's most recognisable logos and the five rings – coloured blue, yellow, black, green and red – represent the five continents and are interlaced to show the meeting of the world's athletes during the Olympic Games.

The Rings were launched onto the River Thames positioned on a huge barge in order to allow them to float along.

The route sees the Rings travel from Battersea Bridge to the Thames Barrier, passing some of London's most iconic landmarks, including Canary Wharf, the Globe Theatre and Tower Bridge, which opened to enable the rings to pass through.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who arrived to watch Rings pass under Tower Bridge, also used the opportunity to announce a programme of free cultural events that will take place in London during this summer's Games.

He explained that there will be free events in every London Borough, which will include a floating opera inspired by The Owl and the Pussycat to be staged on the city's canals.


"2012 is one of the most thrilling years in our city's history and as we welcome the world, we have an unprecedented opportunity to showcase and strengthen London's outstanding culture and creativity, which are a hugely important part of our economy," said Johnson (pictured).

"From museums to theatre, and music to design, we have a reputation that is second to none and London's finest artists and organisations are producing an exceptional range of brand new cultural events that will add to the excitement of hosting the Games.

"We're creating the biggest festival of outdoor arts ever to be seen in the capital, as well as fantastic new work that will throw new light on some of our city's lesser-known landmarks and hidden gems.

"This is a very innovative way of showing off the Rings and, with 150 days to go, we are on time and on budget."

Ruth Mackenzie, the director of the Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival explained that people across the capital are in store for a unique summer when the Olympics and Paralympics come to town.


"London and the UK's creative industries are world-beating and the London 2012 Festival will show them off to the world," she said.

"With millions of free tickets and opportunities to take part, Londoners and tourists will truly have a summer like no other, thanks to the partnership between the Mayor's office and London 2012 Festival."

The rings, which are coloured on one side and have white LED lights on the other, are to go into storage after today until the start of the Olympics, when they will again appear on the River Thames.

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