With the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony only hours away, excitement builds across the UK.
The final day of anticipation kicked off at 8.12am with All the Bells, an event conceived by Turner prize-winning artist Martin Creed. Bells, large and small were rung around the country to mark the countdown to tonight’s opening ceremony. During an interview, the Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt rang a handbell somewhat over-enthusiastically prompting it to break up, sending debris flying towards nearby spectators.
Meanwhile, the director of the opening ceremony Oscar-winner Danny Boyle declared: “It’s been a long road and we’re almost there.”
The results of seven years of planning and rehearsals will come to fruition when Boyle’s £27m Isles of Wonder spectacular begins at 9pm and the Games get under way.
Read more: What can we expect to see in the opening ceremony?
The Olympic torch, which the mystery lighter of the Olympic flame will use to symbolically launch the Games, has been making its way through London on the final day of its 8,000 mile journey around Britain.
One of the torchbearers was UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, the first secretary general to do so. Speaking to Jon Snow, Mr Ban said carrying the torch was a privilege: “I was very honoured to participate in the Olympic torch. I participated with a strong belief and conviction and sincere hope that my participation and this flame of peace will contribute to world peace, harmony, unity.”
This isn’t just global pap you know London Mayor Boris Johnson
Earlier, the torch had been carried on board the royal barge Gloriana, which was manned by a 16 oarsmen, two of whom had competed in the last Olympics held in the UK in 1948. Among the other rowers on Gloriana were gold medal-winning rowers from past Games, including James Cracknell, Jonny Searle and Martin Cross.
More than 50 boats took part in the flotilla, each chosen to reflect London’s waterborne heritage.
The last torchbearer of the day was Amber Charles, 22, from Newham, east London, who delivered London’s Olympic bid to members of the International Olympic Committee in 2004. She carried the flame to Tower Bridge before it was taken to City Hall, where it will remain out of public view until the opening ceremony begins.
Elsewhere
Spectators who arrived at Lords expecting to see Olympic archery were turned away by officials as it emerged some of them had been sold fake tickets.
Locog officials said that the event was never intended to be open to the public: “Tickets have not been advertised or sold by Locog for the archery ranking event which starts today at Lord’s cricket ground. We have always made it clear that the preliminary rounds are not open for spectators.
Meanwhile the Mayor of London Boris Johnson promised, despite scepticism from US presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, the city was prepared for its moment in the international sporting spotlight: “As excitement builds to a crescendo ahead of what promises to be a glorious opening ceremony, London is poised and ready for a fantastic Games.”
Speaking to Channel 4 News Presenter Krishnan Guru Murthy, Mr Johnson said he hoped people would be “proud and moved” by the event. “This isn’t just global pap you know, ” he said.
“We’re not just doing a show that could be on any in-flight thing about Britain, this is for us too, and I think people will enjoy it. I hope they will.”