Mayor Naheed Nenshi and British Consul-General Tony Kay raised the flag of the United Kingdom in front of Calgary’s Historic City Hall, hours before the official start of the 2012, London Olympics.

Officials say the flag raising is a sign of friendship and solidarity and will represent the kinship shared between Olympic cities.

Kay says he wishes he was back home, but says if he can’t be, there is no better place to be than Calgary.

He adds he has full confidence the London Olympics will proceed without a hitch.