I am speechless and excited right now. I still think it would be fantastic for London, but it’s also brilliant for the rest of the UK. The bid team did a brilliant job. Seb Coe has made himself a hero for a second time. Roll on 2012.

But this is going to encourage a lot of whinging, I know it is. Yes, people are going to whinge, we’re British, and we love whinging. Yes, some people may not think this is a worthwhile thing. But I disagree. It’s a great thing.

Elsewhere: Anna celebrates too

and in pictures … elsewhere: Awarded to the city of …

On this day…

2005: 12:46
2005: Preliminary Vote
2005: What Have You Done Today?
2005: The G8 Summitt
2004: The Day F1 Came To London
2004: Formula One Comes To Regent Street
2002: Beer

My god. We’re hosting the 2012 Olympics.

On this day…

2005: A Few Moments Of Reflection
2005: Preliminary Vote
2005: What Have You Done Today?
2005: The G8 Summitt
2004: The Day F1 Came To London
2004: Formula One Comes To Regent Street
2002: Beer

In all the excitement I had missed the fact there was a preliminary vote and we weren’t certain of making it this far:

There are a few gasps in the press room as Madrid exits the vote, as some Spaniards at the back had earlier given some noisy support during its bid presentation. We now have the London-Paris finale that the whispers in the past few hours had indicated [source].

Aggghh … the tension.

On this day…

2005: A Few Moments Of Reflection
2005: 12:46
2005: What Have You Done Today?
2005: The G8 Summitt
2004: The Day F1 Came To London
2004: Formula One Comes To Regent Street
2002: Beer

I have two countdowns on the go right now. Today is the day for one of those countdowns to reach 00:00:00. Rachel Stevens and Melanie C will be performing live in Trafalgar Square later today (see here) as we wait to find out the result of the race to host the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Watch the London2012 videos and keep your fingers crossed for us. I’ll be updating later.

On this day…

2005: A Few Moments Of Reflection
2005: 12:46
2005: Preliminary Vote
2005: The G8 Summitt
2004: The Day F1 Came To London
2004: Formula One Comes To Regent Street
2002: Beer