LONDON 2012: Olympic medals locked up safely in the Tower of London

By Sportsbeat staff

LONDON 2012 have taken delivery of more than eight tonnes of precious Olympic metal - and they've stored them in the capital's most secure, if not so secret, location.

MOMENT: London 2012 chairman Seb Coe at the ceremonial handover of Olympic and Paralympic medals. They will be stored at the Tower of London until their respective presentations (Getty Images)

Nearly 5,000 medals that will be used in the forthcoming Olympics and Paralympics arrived at the Tower of London, where they will be housed alongside the priceless Crown Jewels.

They were greeted by a fanfare by the trumpeters and guarded by The Tower’s famous Yeoman Warders and will remain locked away in the famous vaults of the ninth century landmark until needed for the 805 victory ceremonies that will take place in 30 venues.

"For centuries the Tower of London has protected some of this country's greatest treasures so there can be no better sanctuary for the 2012 medals - the most precious possession any athlete could hope to possess - than at this world famous iconic landmark," said London mayor Boris Johnson.

© Sportsbeat 2012