Nine-year-old schoolgirl Niamh Clarke-Willis makes history as she presses the button to officially open the Olympic stadium along with London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe. They were joined on stage by TV presenters Gabby Logan and Vernon Kay.
Finger on the buzzer —
Nine-year-old schoolgirl Niamh Clarke-Willis makes history as she presses the button to officially open the Olympic stadium along with London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe. They were joined on stage by TV presenters Gabby Logan and Vernon Kay.
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Paralympic gold medalist archer Danielle Brown also took part in the ceremony. The opening weekend included the British Universities and Colleges Sports Outdoor Championships, the first athletics meeting at the 80,000-seater stadium.
Olympic show —
Paralympic gold medalist archer Danielle Brown also took part in the ceremony. The opening weekend included the British Universities and Colleges Sports Outdoor Championships, the first athletics meeting at the 80,000-seater stadium.
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Brown fired arrows into a spinning target, covered with the names of 100 children in the crowd -- and Clarke-Willis was the lucky winner.
On target for July 2012 —
Brown fired arrows into a spinning target, covered with the names of 100 children in the crowd -- and Clarke-Willis was the lucky winner.
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Logan looks on as her husband Kenny, a former rugby union international, competes in a celebrity tug-of-war. About 40,000 spectators watched entertainers including impressionist Jon Culshaw, actor Hugh Bonneville, former Spice Girl Melanie C, rapper Chipmunk and comedian Jack Whitehall.
Fun and games —
Logan looks on as her husband Kenny, a former rugby union international, competes in a celebrity tug-of-war. About 40,000 spectators watched entertainers including impressionist Jon Culshaw, actor Hugh Bonneville, former Spice Girl Melanie C, rapper Chipmunk and comedian Jack Whitehall.
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Wet weather didn't stop thousands of visitors turning up. The venue was built using 10,000 tons of steel, considerably less than other Olympic stadiums organizers say, and with an emphasis on sustainability. Construction began in May 2008 and was completed in March 2011.
A dramatic opening —
Wet weather didn't stop thousands of visitors turning up. The venue was built using 10,000 tons of steel, considerably less than other Olympic stadiums organizers say, and with an emphasis on sustainability. Construction began in May 2008 and was completed in March 2011.
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James Ellington, left, celebrates winning the men's 100 meters final during the weekend's BUCS VISA Athletics Championships, one of the Olympic test events.
Put to the test —
James Ellington, left, celebrates winning the men's 100 meters final during the weekend's BUCS VISA Athletics Championships, one of the Olympic test events.
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Katy Sealy throws in the javelin event. The track and field competition was watched by a reported crowd of around 6,000 during the day before numbers swelled for the evening show.
Aiming high —
Katy Sealy throws in the javelin event. The track and field competition was watched by a reported crowd of around 6,000 during the day before numbers swelled for the evening show.
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It was the first time many visitors had walked around the Olympic grounds, including the new aquatics center. They appeared cautiously optimistic about the site, with one family telling CNN the seats were comfortable but there was a lack of rubbish bins.
Ground swell —
It was the first time many visitors had walked around the Olympic grounds, including the new aquatics center. They appeared cautiously optimistic about the site, with one family telling CNN the seats were comfortable but there was a lack of rubbish bins.
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A sculpture by Turner Prize-winning artist Anish Kapoor looms over the Olympic Park. The 115-meter ArcelorMittal Orbit includes two viewing platforms for spectators to view the site.
A fine art —
A sculpture by Turner Prize-winning artist Anish Kapoor looms over the Olympic Park. The 115-meter ArcelorMittal Orbit includes two viewing platforms for spectators to view the site.
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Visitors had to queue for events as they passed through airport-style checks. Security was high at the event, with police helicopters fyling overhead and armed officers patrolling the grounds.
Security out in force —
Visitors had to queue for events as they passed through airport-style checks. Security was high at the event, with police helicopters fyling overhead and armed officers patrolling the grounds.
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