Plans to put Tower Bridge at the heart of 2012 celebrations have been revealed to include the temporary installation of giant Olympic Rings and the Paralympic Agitos during the Games period.

The news comes following a deal announced recently by the Mayor of London between City Hall, City of London Corporation and London 2012 Sustainability partners, EDF and GE to install a state-of-the-art energy-efficient lighting system on Tower Bridge. As well as helping to cut carbon and reduce energy costs, the project will enhance this global icon's architectural features at night. It will provide a permanent lighting legacy for one of London's most loved icons, but also enable Tower Bridge – which is owned by the City’s Bridge House Estates - to play a unique and starring role when the curtain rises next year on the city’s once-in-a-lifetime Olympic and Paralympic celebrations.

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Details contained in planning documents submitted today show proposals for Tower Bridge to feature Olympic rings and Paralympic Agitos during the 45 days of the Games, in a similar way to those already installed at St Pancras station. The new flexible lighting system would able enable beautiful evening lighting displays during Games time, for example, the use of gold, silver and bronze lighting effects to mark sporting medal successes.

The project is now seeking to obtain the necessary planning consents and work could start by September and be completed by spring 2012, in time for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is also hoped the new look will be ready in time for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "I want London to sparkle with special moments during the Olympic and Paralympic Games and thanks to this funding deal, Tower Bridge is set to play a starring role in these once-in-a-lifetime celebrations. The Games are also a unique opportunity for London to secure its position for another generation as the best big city in the world and these plans will secure a fantastic legacy for one of the capital’s best loved landmarks."

(CD/KMcA)