Thousands form giant Olympic rings in Hamburg

HAMBURG, Germany (AP) Thousands of people have gathered in a Hamburg park to form giant Olympic rings, weeks before the city's residents vote on whether its bid for the 2024 Games should go ahead.

People who turned up to the northern port city's Stadtpark on Sunday without clothes in the right color were given ponchos in blue, black, red, yellow or green, news agency dpa reported.

Opponents of the Games laid the word ''NO'' next to the giant Olympic logo, but backers formed the letter W to turn the word into ''NOW.''

Hamburg was chosen ahead of Berlin by Germany's national Olympic committee as its candidate city. The bid needs approval in a Nov. 29 city referendum.

Paris, Rome, Los Angeles and Budapest also are bidding for the 2024 Games.