London Olympic Organizers Mark Six Years to Start of 2012 Games

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) – London Olympic organizers celebrated the six-year countdown to the start of the 2012 games on Thursday.

The committee marked the July 27 date with a show of fireworks, confetti and streamers in downtown Liverpool in northern England.

Thursday coincided with the end of a 21-day roadshow, which travelled over 5,311 kilometres to visit 65 locations across Britain to raise awareness of the event.

British sports minister Richard Caborn said the purpose of the roadshow was to demonstrate “that benefits from the Games will be long-lasting” and leave “a legacy of better health and increased participation in sport.”

Earlier in the day, the tour stopped in Manchester. Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United, led a tour of the club’s Old Trafford stadium.