London 2012 began its final year countdown Wednesday with swimmers making a splash in the newly-opened Olympic pool and IOC president Jacques Rogge putting preparations on a par with great Games of the past. British medal hope Tom Daley was due to make the first dive later in the evening, before Rogge formally invites the world and its athletes to come and join the party next July. “With a year to go, we are inviting the athletes, spectators and visitors from around the world to come to the UK next summer,” declared London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe. “It's ‘London Calling'.” International Olympic Committee head Rogge, speaking at the Aquatics Center beneath the undulating wave-shaped roof whose underside resembles the vast belly of a whale, was suitably impressed. “I came into the Aquatics Center and I had a visual shock. I have seen so many venues in my life, and this is unique,” he declared after watching synchronized swimmers and local teenagers test the water for the first time. “The Olympic Stadium, the Velodrome, the Aquatics Center...a great job done by London,” added Rogge. “You can't compare venues that are built in different times and different countries for different populations. But I would say in terms of operational readiness, London is on a par with Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008. And these were two fantastic Games so this bodes well for London.” Coe, who kicked off the day by having his footprints cast in clay at St Pancras Station, said entering the final stretch was a “pretty big moment for us”. London won the bid for the Games in 2005, and will be the first city to host the Olympics for a third time after previously doing so in 1948 and 1908. The completion of the Aquatics Center allowed organizers to congratulate themselves on delivering the Olympic Park's permanent venues with 12 months to go, on time and on budget. “To have all... permanent venues complete with a year still to go to the Games is a great achievement, and a firm sign that we are well on track to deliver a truly spectacular show in 2012,” said London Mayor Boris Johnson. Johnson also unveiled the Olympic medals.
