During the lead up to the Olympics and Paralympics, Birmingham Airport, the seventh busiest airport in Britain, will welcome thousands of fans attending the Games as it is less than a two hour train journey from London.

The giant Olympic icons, which are white in colour, will now be one of the first things people see as they enter the country via Birmingham as two sets of rings have been placed on either side of the airport's new air traffic control tower where they are visible to both visitors flying in and to people driving on the main road between Coventry and Birmingham.

The rings, which stand at 28 metres high, overlook the airfield and are internally lit so they can be seen at night.

Each individual ring is 2.13m in diameter, while each set of the five rings is 3.15m by 6.82m in size.

They have been privately funded by Birmingham Airport and come following the unveiling of giant Olympic Rings in other key transport locations, including St Pancras International in London and on the entrance to Channel Tunnel in France.

"The Olympic Games are for the entire country, not just London," said Birmingham Airport chief executive Paul Kehoe.

"Every visitor, passengers and passer-by will see our welcome spectacular and we're really proud to be part of such a historic occasion.

"Both the Jamaican and United States Olympic track and field teams are training in Birmingham prior to the Games and the neighbouring city of Coventry will host several football matches.

"The Midlands region will have a big role to play during the Olympic and Paralympic Games so we want everyone flying into Birmingham for the occasion – whether they're athletes, spectators, officials or member of the world's media – to have a special welcome."


The Rings were launched at a special event which saw legendary American track and field athlete Edwin Moses, the double 400 metres hurdles Olympic champion, in attendance.

Britain's Lee Pearson, the nine-time Paralympic champion in Para-equestrian, was also present, while entertainment came from a string quartet from London 2012 Festival participant, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, as well as London 2012 Cultural Olympiad project Dance Sansaar, a local Punjabi folk arts group.

The launch event was hosted by radio presenter Joanne Malin.

"Seeing the Games celebrated in such an iconic way will be a great inspiration to the athletes training in the region," said Moses.

"Knowing that people from across the UK are excited about the summer of sport ahead is great.

"I'm looking forward to seeing the whole country celebrating the athletes' success in their own ways later this year."

London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe also gave his endorsement as the latest set of giant Olympic Rings were revealed.

"The Olympic Rings are an iconic symbol, inspiring athletes and uniting people around the world," he said.

"To athletes they represent the culmination of thousands of hours of training and reaching the highest level in sport.

"To visitors travelling to the UK they will excite and inspire them about the Olympic Games taking place in London, and demonstrate that we are ready to welcome the world in 2012."

Birmingham Airport have also unveiled London 2012 branding in and around the airport including displays of pictograms representing the Olympic and Paralympic sports, and the London 2012 Games motto "Inspire a Generation".

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