Pictures: Olympic rings towed down the Thames
- Published
![Olympic rings float past the Shard skyscraper with Waterloo Bridge in the background.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/mcs/media/images/58768000/jpg/_58768680_rings1.jpg)
Giant Olympic rings have been launched on to the River Thames to mark 150 days until the start of the London Games.
![The rings in front of the famous Tower Bridge, with HMS Belfast to the right.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/412/mcs/media/images/58768000/jpg/_58768682_rings2.jpg)
The rings are 11 metres high and 25 metres wide. They are coloured on one side and have white LED lights on the other.
![The Olympic rings in front of the Tower of London.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/mcs/media/images/58771000/jpg/_58771846_rings3.jpg)
They are travelling on a barge passing key landmarks including the Tower of London.
![Olympic rings in front of Tower Bridge.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/mcs/media/images/58771000/jpg/_58771849_rings4.jpg)
The Olympic rings cost more than £930,000.
![Olympic rings in front of Tower Bridge.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/mcs/media/images/58771000/jpg/_58771851_rings5.jpg)
They were a surprising sight on the river.
![Tower Bridge raised to allow the Olympic rings through.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/mcs/media/images/58771000/jpg/_58771853_rings6.jpg)
Tower Bridge had to be raised to allow the giant rings through.
![Olympic rings in front of Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/mcs/media/images/58771000/jpg/_58771855_rings7.jpg)
The Rings on the River will now go into storage until the start of the Olympics, when they will again appear on the Thames.