The Olympics

Around 10,500 athletes representing 204 nations and territories are competing in 302 events covering 26 sports at what is officially known as The Games of the XXX Olympiad.

Bid

London won the right to stage the 2012 Olympics after competing against strong bids from New York, Madrid, Paris, and Moscow. London also hosted the games in 1908 and 1948, making this year’s event the third time the games have been held in London since the modern Olympics began in 1896. The motto of this year’s Olympic Games is “Inspire a Generation”.

Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony begins with thousands of athletes marching into the Olympic Stadium behind their national flags. A spectacular show follows the culminates in the arrival of the Olympic Torch and the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron. The lighting of this flame marks the official start of the London Olympics, and for the next 16 days the world’s top athletes will be competing with all their might for one of over 4,000 Olympic medals on offer.

Closing Ceremony

After all the events have been held, and all the medals have been awarded, the Closing Ceremony will take place on August 12. At the end of this ceremony the flame in the Olympic Cauldron will finally be extinguished, and the games will be over.

Paralympic Games

Not long after the London Olympics are over, the 2012 Summer Paralympic Games will begin. The Opening Ceremony will be held on August 29 and the competition will continue for the next eleven days, until the Closing Ceremony on September 9. Around 4,200 athletes, each with some form of physical or intellectual disability, will be competing in 503 events covering 21 sports. Around 150 countries are sending athletes to compete in the London Paralympics, and over 1,000,000 seating tickets are expected to be sold.

Olympic Village

The Olympic Village is located in the Olympic Park  within walking distance of the venues - enhancing the experience of athletes and officials who are staying there during the Games. The Olympic Village has residential apartments for around 17,000 athletes and officials during the Games, along with shops, restaurants, medical, media, and leisure facilities, and large areas of open space.

There are 11 residential plots, each made up of five to seven blocks built aound communal squares and courtyards, with water features accentuation the closeness of the River Lea.

Each apartment provides comfortable accommodation and state-of-the-art communications facilities, including internet access and wireless networking.

The Village also includes a 'Village Plaza' where athletes can meet with friends and family. The plan retains London's tradition of building homes around communal squares and courtyards, with water features accentuating the closeness of the River Lea.