GERMANY: OLYMPICS - 100-metre race at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate marks 100 days until start of the London Olympics

Record ID: 330649

  • Title: GERMANY: OLYMPICS - 100-metre race at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate marks 100 days until start of the London Olympics
  • Date: 19th April 2012
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF RUNNERS HOLDING OLYMPIC FLAG
  • Embargoed: 4th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany, Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA53KH8WN8A6AR5YNV6GOOYMH54
  • Story Text: 100 days ahead of the summer Olympic games in London, British embassies around the world organised mock 100-metre runs involving Olympic athletes.
    In Berlin, crowds gathered for an event at the city's landmark Brandenburg Gate involving two Olympic athletes, a local politician and a member of the British embassy staff.
    After the race was started by British Ambassador Simon McDonald, it was German paralympian Heinrich Popow, a gold-medal hopeful for this year's Paralympics, won the race followed by the national hockey player Martin Hayer.
    British Ambassador McDonald said he felt it was important to mark the final countdown to the Games.
    "The Olympic Games are the most famous sporting event in the world. So I don't think they need much publicity, but it's just a reminder. It's only one hundred days. You've got to mark your calendar, mark your schedule and make sure that you see all the events you want", he told Reuters TV.
    Race-winner Popow won a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. He said he is starting to feel the pressure and is looking forward to the official competition:
    "For me it's another pat on the neck. So young man you should make an effort. There's not long left. You should perform. It's an honour for me to have been invited by the British embassy, to represent the event as one of the athletes. So I'm taking part in the race. The anticipation is great. I'm experiencing it here and then there's more and more anticipation", he said.
    The 2012 London Olympic Games will start on July 27 and will run until August 12. The Paralympic Games begin just a few weeks later on August 29, running until September 9.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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