Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has wished Londoners a happy 2008 and urged them to use public transport when they celebrate New Year’s Eve this evening.
The Mayor and Visit London are again
sponsoring a fireworks display by award-winning London based
experiential marketing agency Jack Morton Worldwide and internationally
renowned pyrotechnician Christophe Berthonneau.
The display will be broadcast live on BBC One from 11:15pm and will also be available online at www.london.gov.uk/newyearseve.
BBC
Radio 1 will be providing a pre-recorded soundtrack featuring exclusive
mixes by DJs Rob da Bank and Gilles Peterson, which will be played as
crowd gathers until the midnight countdown.
With 2008 being the
year of the handover to London as Olympic and Paralympic host city the
New Year’s Eve projections onto the Shell Building in the build up to
the midnight countdown will feature striking photographic images
inspired by the greatest sporting event in the world.
The Mayor said: “The fireworks display will kick off 2008 in spectacular style. It is an important and exciting Olympic year for both Beijing and London. Beijing is hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games before handing over to London, which will be hosting a series of events throughout the year in celebration of the Games, including the Olympic Torch Relay in April and the launch of the Cultural Olympiad in the autumn.”
“Hundreds of thousands of people will be in
central London on New Year’s Eve and they should plan ahead to get the
best out of the night’s festivities. Whatever you do, and wherever you
are bringing in the New Year, have a safe and enjoyable night and my
best wishes for 2008.”
FREE TRANSPORT
On
New Year’s Eve services on London Underground, the Docklands Light
Railway and Croydon Tramlink will run all night, in addition to normal
24-hour London Bus services.
The Mayor of London and Transport
for London will be providing free travel between 11.45pm on New Year’s
Eve and 4.30am on New Year’s Day.
The Mayor is also funding some
national rail services in areas where there are fewer Tube connections.
There will be some changes to normal services, so Londoners and
visitors to the capital are advised to check before traveling.
Travel information will be available on the Transport for London website at www.tfl.gov.uk.
More information about London’s New Year celebrations can be found at www.london.gov.uk/newyearseve
