Unveiling The Albert, the official Olympic football

The Albert

The official football for the London 2012 Olympic Games has been launched.

The Albert was unveiled at the City of Coventry Stadium, which will be hosting 12 matches during the Olympics, including the opening game and the women's bronze medal play-off.

The name of the ball originates from the cockney rhyming slang for football - the Albert Hall. The Albert was the winning entry, selected ahead of 12,000 others, in a competition to name the ball. 43-year-old Robert Ashcroft, who came up with the winning name, was in attendance at the launch event alongside Manchester United footballer Tom Cleverley.

Cleverley said of the adidas designed ball, "The Albert certainly has a unique name and striking identity. It is like no other ball I've seen before and it is going to really stand out on the pitch. The ball looks youthful and that is what London 2012 is meant to be about. The Olympic Games is going to be a huge event for Great Britain and if selected I would be delighted to represent Team GB."

The ball has a recommended retail price of £85.