Daniel Ritterband, the Mayor's Director of Communications on the unveiling of Colour: city decorations in Newham.

Daniel Ritterband, Director of Communications on the unveiling of Colour: city decorations in Newham.

This morning I was in Newham for the unveiling of Colour, the Mayor’s City Decorations programme to help London look its best during the Games.

Despite the rain, the new flags, banners and bunting lining The Grove and Broadway added a welcome touch of colour to one of Stratford's busiest roads.

The decorations caused quite a stir among Newham's residents, who walked past bright flags and bespoke Newham banners just outside Stratford's library and St John's church.

Thanks to a £50k grant from the Mayor, these city decorations will be popping up all over London this summer in time to give the city a fresh, new look for the Olympics.

Following the spectacular Diamond Jubilee celebrations, the eyes of the world are upon London, and the city really needs to shine. Indeed, research shows the ‘look and feel ‘of the Olympics is one of the top three memories that visitors take away with them from a host city.

A palpable buzz over London's Olympic look was already in evidence with several members of the international press on site hoping to get a first glimpse of the city dressing.

Colour is just one part of the amazing things that Londoners can experience this summer, as part of the free events programme from the Mayor. An exciting example is Wonder, which will see incredible installations popping up during Games-times, including giant shot-puts and javelins, and a number of top secret interactive attractions.

It really will be a summer like no other, and as the numbers who turned out to watch last weekend’s Jubilee Pageant shows, whatever the weather, London knows how to party.

Find out more about London’s new look at Mayor of London presents: Colour

Daniel Ritterband is the Mayor’s Director of Marketing and 2012 Communications