The British High Commission in The Gambia Wednesday held a reception at its Embassy Compound in Fajara to mark 100 days to go until this year’s summer Olympic Games in London 2012.

The reception hosted by David Molley, the British High Commissioner to The Gambia was attended by members of the Gambia National Olympic Committee, the Olympic Sporting Disciplines, the deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Sports Council and the diplomatic community for the countdown to the event that will begin on the 27th July 2012. Also present at the reception were Gambian athletes that will be participating in the 2012 Games.

The gathering also saw athletes from the Gambia Swimming and Aquatic Sports Association compete in a 100 meter swimming race at the British High Commission pool. The British High Commission in the Gambia is one of the 100 British embassies around the world holding events on Wednesday to mark the day. The 30th edition of the Games in the English Capital will mark the first time that a single city will host the global Games in three separate occasions.

David Molley told the gathering that 100 days from now, the ears of the world will turn to the United Kingdom as the bell rings out across the United Kingdom to mark the first day of the London Olympic Games. “The Olympic anthem will be played, the flag will be raised and finally after its 70 days journey around our islands, the Olympic torch will light the cauldron and the Games of the 30th Olympiad will officially begin,” he said.

According to Molley, the marathon journey to the London Games began almost seven years ago in Singapore when Britain won the bid to become the first city ever to host the Games for the third time. He added that in truth, the race will not be won until long after the closing ceremony when the final legacy becomes apparent.

He added: “A once neglected industrialised area of our capital has now been transformed in to an urban park for the 21st century, creating a new ecology of wildlife, plants and woodlands.”

Kumba Konateh-Nam, the deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Youths and Sports, deputising for his Minister, Alieu K Jammeh, said: “There is no doubt in my mind that London being a great city will host another memorable Olympics as it has both the credentials and experience in paying host to this world sporting event”.

DPS Konateh averred that the Olympics is a special celebration for all humanity adding that it will remind them that they are all one people regardless of where they reside on earth. She stressed that every individual on the planet deserves a world at peace, free of the threat of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction.