West Ham United have marked 500 days to go until the official opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games.
Lord Coe and four Olympians - including world heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis - have launched the official countdown clock in Trafalgar Square. It will count down every hour, minute and second until the Olympic flame is lit inside the Olympic Stadium on the evening of 27 July 2012.
For Hammers fans everywhere, the Games - both Olympic and Paralympic - will be extra special, given that the club has been recommended as preferred bidder to take over the legacy of the Stadium in a proud partnership with Newham Council.
Manager Avram Grant revealed he cannot wait for the action to start, having seen at first hand the excitement of the 2008 Games. "The first Olympics I saw was in China because until then I was always busy with teams in August. I was there in Beijing and it was unbelievable to see it," he said.
"I saw all the sports I could see and it was amazing to athletes in their major competition. They were at their best. I saw judo, cycling, everything and it was great."
His words were echoed by Scott Parker, who admitted he would relish the chance to take his three young sons to some of the sports on view in summer 2012. "The Olympics excites me," he said. "I would love to watch the 100m and the spectacle that it is. It only seems like yesterday that we got the Games but it is just round the corner now.
"You see the stadium going up and all the infrastructure happening. Everywhere you turn you see it all on the advertising boards. It will be brilliant for the club and for everyone involved."