One year countdown to London 2012

The countdown to London 2012 entered its final year today with the opening of a new Aquatics centre that will play host to athletes next year. International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge will formally invite the world's athletes to the Games at an evening event in Trafalgar Square that will give a taste of the excitement to come.

The design of the medals, an eagerly awaited secret, is also being unveiled today for the first time.

James Parker is the Catholic Executive Co-ordinator for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.

He spoke to Lydia O’Kane about how church groups are getting involved in the event saying that “the Christian community has offered the largest percentage of the quarter of a million people who have applied to be official volunteers at the games.”

He also added that the mood in the UK at this point is high with a real sense that it is happy to be hosting these games. Listen