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London 2012: Olympic Park runners finish race | London 2012: Olympic Park runners finish race |
(40 minutes later) | |
By Christine Jeavans BBC 2012 | By Christine Jeavans BBC 2012 |
Five thousand runners have taken part in a race at London's Olympic Park, becoming the first people to cross the new stadium's finish line. | Five thousand runners have taken part in a race at London's Olympic Park, becoming the first people to cross the new stadium's finish line. |
Members of the public, athletes and celebrities completed the five-mile run around the park. | Members of the public, athletes and celebrities completed the five-mile run around the park. |
Tommy Davis, 26, from Loughborough, was the first across the line beating the Olympic five-mile record. | |
He completed the race in 25 minutes and 11 seconds, beating the record set by Emil Voigt in London in 1908. | |
"It's such a great opportunity to have been able to take part," he said. | "It's such a great opportunity to have been able to take part," he said. |
"The park looks fantastic and I'll feel great watching the games knowing I've crossed the first line." | "The park looks fantastic and I'll feel great watching the games knowing I've crossed the first line." |
People were picked at random from almost 43,000 entrants from around the UK who joined the National Lottery event. | People were picked at random from almost 43,000 entrants from around the UK who joined the National Lottery event. |
They started at the Orbit Tower and passed many of the Games venues before finishing in the Olympic Stadium, cheered on by friends and family. | They started at the Orbit Tower and passed many of the Games venues before finishing in the Olympic Stadium, cheered on by friends and family. |
Finishers were spurred on in the final 300m by the sound of the theme from classic athletics film, Chariots of Fire. | |
Princess Beatrice officially started the event at 14:00 BST, before taking part in the race and distributing finishers' medals. | Princess Beatrice officially started the event at 14:00 BST, before taking part in the race and distributing finishers' medals. |
"I am thrilled to be able to play my part in such an historic occasion and it is fantastic to see the incredible transformation that the Olympic Park has undergone," she said. | "I am thrilled to be able to play my part in such an historic occasion and it is fantastic to see the incredible transformation that the Olympic Park has undergone," she said. |
Olympian Roger Black and Paralympian Danny Crates were among the members of the sporting world taking part. | Olympian Roger Black and Paralympian Danny Crates were among the members of the sporting world taking part. |
The runners set off in waves from a point near the spiralling red Orbit Tower, and passed the Athletes' Village, Velodrome, Basketball Arena and other venues. | The runners set off in waves from a point near the spiralling red Orbit Tower, and passed the Athletes' Village, Velodrome, Basketball Arena and other venues. |
The final leg went through the official athletes' entrance to the stadium. | The final leg went through the official athletes' entrance to the stadium. |
The 12,000 or so supporters at the event became the first public crowd allowed in to the venue. | |
'Fantastic motivation' | 'Fantastic motivation' |
One of the successful 5,000 entrants was Jane Moore, whose husband, Ben - a keen runner and triathlete - failed to get in. | One of the successful 5,000 entrants was Jane Moore, whose husband, Ben - a keen runner and triathlete - failed to get in. |
"He had told me to enter and then I got in and he didn't - he was quite cross," she told the BBC before the race. | "He had told me to enter and then I got in and he didn't - he was quite cross," she told the BBC before the race. |
"I just thought 'I've got to do it now.' It's the furthest I've ever run but it's fantastic motivation having the end goal of the stadium, I keep imagining running down that tunnel." | "I just thought 'I've got to do it now.' It's the furthest I've ever run but it's fantastic motivation having the end goal of the stadium, I keep imagining running down that tunnel." |
The 43-year-old from West Malling, Kent, was due to be cheered on by her mother who, as a child, attended the opening ceremony of the 1948 Olympics. | The 43-year-old from West Malling, Kent, was due to be cheered on by her mother who, as a child, attended the opening ceremony of the 1948 Olympics. |
"She wanted to get Olympic tickets but didn't so this is great for her," said Ms Moore. | "She wanted to get Olympic tickets but didn't so this is great for her," said Ms Moore. |
Sarah Langborne and her sister-in-law, Penny Langborne, travelled up from the Isle of Wight on Friday for the event. | Sarah Langborne and her sister-in-law, Penny Langborne, travelled up from the Isle of Wight on Friday for the event. |
"I loved coming into the tunnel when they were playing Chariots of Fire, it brought a lump to my throat," said Sarah. | "I loved coming into the tunnel when they were playing Chariots of Fire, it brought a lump to my throat," said Sarah. |
Penny said they both had tickets for Olympic boxing and football but didn't get any to the athletics. | Penny said they both had tickets for Olympic boxing and football but didn't get any to the athletics. |
"This is the next best thing," she added. "The atmosphere in the stadium was amazing." | "This is the next best thing," she added. "The atmosphere in the stadium was amazing." |
'Emotional' | 'Emotional' |
Teacher Rob Green, 42, said he had lost six stones in weight training for the event, dropping from 18 stone to 12. | Teacher Rob Green, 42, said he had lost six stones in weight training for the event, dropping from 18 stone to 12. |
"I heard Seb [Coe] talking about the race on the radio and thought it would be something to aim for. I hadn't run a step before but I've been building up slowly," he said. | "I heard Seb [Coe] talking about the race on the radio and thought it would be something to aim for. I hadn't run a step before but I've been building up slowly," he said. |
He added that he was nervous about his first race but "so excited for the privilege to run in the stadium before all the athletes". | He added that he was nervous about his first race but "so excited for the privilege to run in the stadium before all the athletes". |
"It's the only time I will get to beat Mo Farah and Usain Bolt." | "It's the only time I will get to beat Mo Farah and Usain Bolt." |
Each entrant was allowed two supporters' passes. All visitors had to pass through airport style security on their way into the Olympic Park. | Each entrant was allowed two supporters' passes. All visitors had to pass through airport style security on their way into the Olympic Park. |
Sunday will see the first fee-paying crowd at the Olympic Stadium when the Gold Challenge charity event takes place. | Sunday will see the first fee-paying crowd at the Olympic Stadium when the Gold Challenge charity event takes place. |
The National Lottery is contributing up to £2.2bn towards the funding of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. | The National Lottery is contributing up to £2.2bn towards the funding of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. |
Are you taking part in the race? Will you be cheering on a friend or relative in the stadium? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you taking part in the race? Will you be cheering on a friend or relative in the stadium? Send us your comments using the form below. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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