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London wins Olympic bid

6 July 2005
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When at 12.49 BST the IOC President Jacques Rogge made the anouncement:

"And the host for the 2012 Olympics is...LONDON!"

Trafalgar Square went mental.

People screamed, jumped, shouted, hugged, and cried. I was standing in the middle of the square on the steps, trying to take decent pictures. All I managed to capture of this moment of excitement is this:

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The top of Nelson's Column, of the man himself watching over the celebrating crowd. He must have had the best view of all!

Then it started raining. It rained bits of paper all over the square, turning the place into a sea of red-yellow-blue-green and black.

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Most Londoners, like myself, never really believed in the city winning the bid, simply because Paris was the long-time favourite and Londoners know best how unreliable the transport system is.

However, in that moment I felt proud to be a Londoner and amongst winners. When I get home tonight I might rescue that 'Backing the bid' badge from the darkness of my desk drawer.

Well done London!!!

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