The first set of giant Olympic Rings in London have been unveiled at St Pancras International station, kicking off the transformation of the capital into the Host City of the London 2012 Games.

The Rings were revealed by Seb Coe, chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG), mayor of London Boris Johnson, London 2012 Olympic mascot Wenlock.

Children from Christ Church Primary School in the London Borough of Camden were also on hand at a special event in the station.

Built in Hertfordshire by a team of 25 people over four weeks, the aluminium Rings measure 20 metres wide by nine metres high and weigh 2,300 kilograms.

They were transported in 39 separate parts to St Pancras International, where they were secretly assembled and installed over seven nights.

Olympics 2012

The Olympic Rings are one of the world’s most recognisable logos. 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.

Seb Coe 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.

“To Londoners and visitors alike, they will excite and inspire them about being in a Host City and demonstrate that we are ready to welcome the world in 2012.”

During the Games, St Pancras International will be one of the key access points to the Olympic Park: the high-speed Javelin service will take 25,000 visitors per hour to and from the Games in a seven-minute journey to Stratford International.

WSDE Sport Destination Expo

The Olympic Games is the crown jewel of the $600 billion sport tourism industry – celebrated each year by WSDE Sport Destination Expo.

The event is only global exhibition and business forum dedicated to showcasing the sport tourism market - the most rapidly growing sector in travel and tourism.

National, Regional or City Tourist Boards with a Sport Tourism portfolio and hotels and resorts offering sporting facilities are expected to attend.

Now in its 2nd year, WSDE 2011 will take place in Bangkok, Thailand - Asia’s Sport Tourism Gateway - from September 27th–29th 2011.