London 2012 Olympics - Ready to go!!

The finishing touches are being done to London's Olympic venues as the Games get underway.Although football and archery kick off before Friday night's Opening Ceremony, most sports don't start until the weekend. 
 
And Olympics workers have been ensuring that all the venues are up to scratch ahead of the events taking place.

Pretty in pink: Gymnasts at a practice session at the North Greenwich Arena ahead of the start of the Olympics

Hair-raising: Great Britain's Louis Smith - sporting a new haircut - tests out the horizontal bar at the North Greenwich Arena

Keep up, lads: This dazzling photograph was take of Smith as he went through his moves on the pommel horse

Amid sweltering heat in the capital - with temperatures touching 31 degrees in places - the army of helpers have been busy ensuring everything is ready.

It means London will..
have a dazzling selection of venues at which to attend or view from TV as interest rockets in the Games.

Some traditional venues such as Wimbledon and Wembley have been given a makeover in Olympic colours and logos.

And fans will soon have their first peek at the new sites such as the Aquatics Centre, the Velodrome and, of course, the Olympics Stadium.

Blooming marvellous: Flowers are dotted in the grass surrounding the giant Olympic Stadium

This looks different: Heather Watson of Team GB is out through her paces as the new-look Wimbledon

In the spotlight: It was nice and bright in the badminton venue at Wembley Arena

Meanwhile, Olympics organisers have revealed how they intend to enhance the spectator experience at London 2012 with music and other visual presentations.

Athletes in several sports will enter their respective arenas to music and special lighting while guides to events and inspirational clips will be shown on big screens.

Spectators will have access to 'in-ear' commentary at a number of sports and some of Britain's most established bands could turn up unannounced to play at venues.

London 2012 organising committee LOCOG insist none of their plans to educate or entertain viewers will compromise the integrity of the sports they are watching.

Debbie Jevans, LOCOG director of sport, said: 'What is paramount is the integrity of the sport and the atmosphere that naturally surrounds it. What we are doing is being mindful of it. In no way are we just going to drown out the atmosphere being built up.'

What a view: With Canary Wharf on the horizon, competitors equestrian competitors train at Greenwich Park

Sneak preview: Queens House can be viewed through the scaffolding of the Olympic Equestrian Stadium

Venues will be given musical themes: Elton John at the archery at Lord's, for example, and Dizzee Rascal at the basketball at North Greenwich Arena.

Head of sports presentation James O'Brien said: 'Some sports, such as beach volleyball and basketball, will feature music more prominently than others, such as equestrian and archery.

'We are in no way trying to push it to the front of people's attention but we are using it as a tool to excite the crowds and drive the athletes on to greater performances. We have put together a library of 2012 tracks. Each sporting venue has been given its own personality in the theme.'

The sports which will see athletes introduced to music and spotlights are: badminton, rhythmic gymnastics, basketball, handball (finals), boxing and fencing.

O'Brien said: 'Most of them we looked at in test events. We have also spoken to the international federations and worked with them, and in all cases it is not something we have forced on them - it is something we have worked together and collaborated on and they agreed it will add to the atmosphere and enhance the athletes' experience in 2012.'

Wet and wild: In this photo taken with a fisheye lens, swimmers practice in the pool at the Aquatics Centre

Busy in here: This photo illustrates how many competitors are gearing up for the Games at one time

LOCOG have prepared what they call 'mood VTs' and 'A-Z VTs' to show on big screens, to excite the viewer about the event and to explain its nuances to the uninitiated. There are more than 200 of the A-Z VTs and all have also been made available to broadcasters.

Jevans said: 'What we want to do on this journey is ensure that when we are here in 2012 we use the way that we present sport to connect people with the sport itself, and even though I think it is fair to say that the UK is a nation of sports fans, many of the sports we have in the Olympic Games many of the people will never have seen before.'

Fans will be able to purchase earpieces, at a cost of £10 each, to listen to commentary at gymnastics, athletics, rowing, mountain biking, judo, canoe slalom, BMX, fencing, table tennis, rhythmic gymnastics, badminton and wrestling. The earpiece will work at all venues.

The Pet Shop Boys, Rita Ora and Sub Focus are among some of the musical acts - among a host of other planned entertainment - set to make surprise appearances at the Games.

O'Brien said: 'We're not announcing where, of the 650-odd sports sessions our live acts will be taking place - it is all part of the fun and part of the surprise.

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