Times Square New Year's Eve ball gets new crystals
Times Square's famous New Year's Eve Ball gets a facelift for 2013.
Two hundred and eighty-eight new Waterford crystals were installed on the sphere, representing this year's theme of peace.
Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance explains.
SOUNDBITE: Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance, saying (English):
"The ball has 2,668 Waterford crystals. And every year about 10 percent of them get replaced with a new theme. This year's theme is 'Let There Be Peace'. And so they've carved that and also they carved a dove onto the piece of crystal which is the symbol of peace."
One of the triangles is engraved with Dick Clark's name, paying homage to the longtime New Year's Eve telecast host.
SOUNDBITE: Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance, saying (English):
"He spent 40 years in Times Square when the celebration was small and crazy and now it's huge and wild."
Clark's widow, Kari was on hand to help attach the new crystals.
SOUNDBITE: Kari Clark, Dick Clark's widow, saying (English):
"It's very special. Of course, it would be to him too. He was such a sentimental guy that things like that would really mean a lot to him."
This year's broadcast, expected to reach more than one billion people across the globe, will be hosted by American TV and radio personality Allison Hagendorf.
Two hundred and eighty-eight new Waterford crystals were installed on the sphere, representing this year's theme of peace.
Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance explains.
SOUNDBITE: Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance, saying (English):
"The ball has 2,668 Waterford crystals. And every year about 10 percent of them get replaced with a new theme. This year's theme is 'Let There Be Peace'. And so they've carved that and also they carved a dove onto the piece of crystal which is the symbol of peace."
One of the triangles is engraved with Dick Clark's name, paying homage to the longtime New Year's Eve telecast host.
SOUNDBITE: Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance, saying (English):
"He spent 40 years in Times Square when the celebration was small and crazy and now it's huge and wild."
Clark's widow, Kari was on hand to help attach the new crystals.
SOUNDBITE: Kari Clark, Dick Clark's widow, saying (English):
"It's very special. Of course, it would be to him too. He was such a sentimental guy that things like that would really mean a lot to him."
This year's broadcast, expected to reach more than one billion people across the globe, will be hosted by American TV and radio personality Allison Hagendorf.