BA puts huge painting of Jessica Ennis on Heathrow flight path
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As of 14 June, millions of passengers flying into Heathrow will be greeted with a giant painting on the flight path, featuring British World Champion heptathlete Jessica Ennis alongside the words: "Welcome to our Turf".
The image was created by British Airways to welcome home Team GB and ParalympicsGB supporters and, according to BA's website, "remind athletes from overseas that only one country has home advantage".
The huge painting measures 53 by 75 metres and is bigger than 15 tennis courts and 193 London buses.
It is portrayed with Olympic hopeful Ennis with the Twitter hashtag HomeAdvantage to "generate buzz and capture excitement".
The image is located in Thornbury Playing Fields in Hounslow, about three miles from Heathrow.
Over 600 litres of red, white and blue weatherproof paint was used, taking two days for painters to complete the artwork on grass.
According to a BA statement, Jessica Ennis said: "I'm thrilled to be the first face that people will see arriving into the UK for the London 2012 Games.
"I hope it brings excitement to homecoming Brits, and reminds international athletes that we're ready and prepared! We have the most dedicated fans in the world, who will get behind us every step of the way to give us a home advantage."
Former American Olympic rower Kate Johnson, said: "As an athlete at the Athens Games in 2004, one of my strongest memories was seeing the city for the first time as we flew in, because that's when the reality kicked in. It's an exciting and anxious moment for athletes, and I expect they will be amused and a perhaps a little unsettled to see such a bold message as they arrive to the UK."
British Airways sponsorship manager, Luisa Fernandez, added: "Whether you're a Brit coming home, or an athlete arriving in for the London 2012 Games, this celebratory message reminds us all of the power of the home crowd and how important it is to get behind Team GB and ParalympicsGB."
What you think of the enormous artwork? Leave your thoughts below...
London Olympics 2012: Guess the venue
- Where will the beach volleyball be held?<p> The Prime Minister will have a prime view of the Beach Volleyball competition, which will take place in a specially created temporary arena, complete with sand. But where is it? </p>
- Horse Guard's Parade<p> Beach Volleyball will take place at Horse Guards Parade, the usual home of the Trooping of the Colour which happens every year on the Queen's official birthday. Wonder if she'll be watching the Volleyball?</p> <p> </p> <div> </div>
- Where will the Marathon swimming and triathlon take place?<p> The London 2012 Triathlon will take place here, as will the Marathon Swimming. It's a park within easy reach of the West End, and it has been open to the public since 1637, but any ideas which park it is?</p>
- Hyde Park<p> The Marathon Swimming and Triathlon events will take place at Hyde Park, the largest of the Royal London parks.</p>
- Where will all the media congregate?<p> Around 20,000 broadcasters, photographers and journalists are expected to be working from here, at the 24-hour media hub from which the Games will be shared with an estimated four billion people worldwide. But where will they all fit?</p>
- International Broadcast Centre<p> The International Broadcast Centre is situated in the north-west of the Olympic Park, which is located to the east of the city, adjacent to the Stratford City development. After the Games, the park will be known as Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. </p>
- Where can you watch the canoe slalem?<p> Opened in 2011, the venue for the canoe slalem can be found in Hertfordshire, and is the only London 2012 venue which the public can use before the Olympic Games begin. What's it called?</p>
- Lee Valley<p> Lee Valley White Water Centre, on the edge of the 1,000 acre River Lee Country Park, will host the Canoe Slalom competition. Two new canoe slalom course have been built, and a 10,000 square metre lake feeds a system of pumps that provide the 300 metre course with 15 cubic metres of water per second.</p>
- Where will the wheelchair basketball be on?<p> Originally built for the Millennium celebrations, this well-known London landmark will host Artistic Gymnastics, Basketball, Trampoline and, during the Paralympic Games, Wheelchair Basketball. It sits on the point of the Greenwich peninsula, right on the Meridian Line. But what is it?</p>
- The O2<p> The O2 Arena, also known as the North Greenwich Arena or the Millennium Dome, will host a number of events during the London 2012 Olympics, including Wheelchair Basketball during the Paralympics.</p>
- Which venue will be used for the shooting and archery?<p> This distinctive building will be the venue for Shooting, Paralympic Shooting, and Paralympic Archery during the London 2012 Games. It's located on the edge of Woolwich Common in south east London, close to the World Heritage Site of Greenwich Park. But where is it?</p> <p> </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Courier New'; color: #4c4c4c"> </p>
- The Royal Artillery Barracks<p> The Royal Artillery Barracks will host the Shooting, Paralympic Shooting and Paralympic Archery events. Four temporary indoor ranges will be built for Pistol and Rifle Shooting, with outdoor shotgun ranges for Trap and Skeet events. </p> <p> </p> <div> </div>
- Where will the fencing, judo and boxing take place?<p> This well-known exhibition centre - one of Europe's largest - will host a total of 143 sessions in five arenas across a wide range of sports, including boxing, fencing and judo. But what's it called?</p> <p> </p> <div> </div>
- The ExCel<p> The ExCel Exhibition Centre in London's Docklands.</p>
- Where will the swimming competitions take place?<p> This will be the venue for Swimming, Paralympic Swimming, Diving, Synchronised Swimming and the swimming element of the Modern Pentathlon. The building can be found in the south-east corner of the Olympic Park, but what's it called?</p>
- The Aquatics Centre<p> The Aquatics Centre will play host to 192 different events, and boasts a 50m competition pool, a 25m warm-up pool and a 'dry' warm-up area for divers. The Water Polo competition will be held next to it in the temporary Water Polo Arena. After the Games, the Aquatics Centre will be transformed into a facility for both the local community and elite swimmers. </p>
- Which venue is hosting the cycling?<p> This building, in the North of the Olympic Park, will host Track Cycling and Paralympic track Cycling. It's the most sustainable venue in the Olympic Park in terms of design and construction. But what's its name? </p>
- The Velodrome<p> After the Games, a new mountain bike course and road-cycle circuit will be added to create a VeloPark for the local community, sports clubs and elite athletes. There will also be a cafe, bike hire and cycle workshop facilities on site. </p>
- Easy one! Where are all the athletics on?<p> This venue will have a capacity of 80,000 during the Games, and will host the Athletics and Paralympic Athletics events, as well as the Opening and Closing ceremonies. But what is it?</p>
- Athletics and Paralympic Athletics<p> The Olympic stadium. It is located in the south of the Olympic Park, and is the most sustainable stadium ever built.</p>
- Which venue for which games? Bet you don't know them all...
