London Olympics 2012 Opening Ceremony

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali and former England football captain David Beckham appear increasingly likely to play a role in the Olympics opening ceremony, after flying into London four days before it takes place.

The pair will present an award at a reception on Tuesday night to mark the beginning of Beyond Sport, a conference devoted to the social impact of sport around the world.

Amid increasing speculation that the climax of the opening ceremony will feature a series of big names collaborating to light the cauldron, Ali and Beckham are expected to have a role of some kind.

Ali famously lit the Olympic flame at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and Beckham, although left out of Stuart Pearce's Team GB football squad, has been promised significant roles at the Games by London 2012 chairman Lord Coe.

The question of who should light the cauldron has become a subject of furious debate, with Sir Steve Redgrave and Daley Thompson among the frontrunners. Given the emphasis on youth in London's bid, it is also expected that a younger athlete will play a role.

Team GB chef de mission Andy Hunt, who has some input into the decision, said at the weekend that it would be a "wow moment" and that a "mutually acceptable solution" had been found between the British Olympic Association and organisers Locog, whose ceremonies team have the biggest say.

Olympic triple jump gold medallist Jonathan Edwards, who sits on Locog's board, said on Monday that Coe should light the flame.

But Coe has already dismissed himself from the running and absented himself from the decision making process, although he has said he would favour his friend Thompson.

Beckham said that Ali was "one of the most inspirational sportsmen of all time".

Lonnie Ali added: "My husband's whole life has been an embodiment of the struggle for survival, change and justice, and he has used the power of sport to change lives and attitudes around the world."

BOA president Princess Anne and Coe welcomed IOC members to the capital on Monday with a performance at the Royal Opera House.

London mayor Boris Johnson also appeared, reciting an ode to the Games in ancient Greek, along with Plácido Domingo, singer Paloma Faith and dance troupe Zoo Nation – who performed in front of a backdrop of images from the 1908 and 1948 Games.

Princess Anne said: "We have dedicated the London Games from the outset to the athletes and hope to provide the best possible conditions for you and your teams in the week

Olympics Did you Know ?

As the lighting of the Olympic cauldron and the Olympics opening ceremony on 27 July in London will mark the beginning of the Summer Olympics 2012,

London 2012 bring some interesting facts brings eight amazing facts you did not know about Olympic Games.

 

1. Olympic Games are thought to have originated from Ancient Greece when several competitions were held among various kingdoms.

However, the actual origin of Olympics is still a mystery. The most popular legend has it that Heracles, a hero of Greek and Roman mythology, first called the ancient Greek games Olympic and started the custom of holding them over a period of four years, known as Olympiad. Heracles, a son of the God Zeus, was one of the most famous heroes of ancient Greece, the strongest man in the world and a symbol of power, courage and superhuman strength.

2. Olympic Games in ancient Greece acted as peace buffers as it was during the games that participating cities would put their feuds and disputes or wars on hold until the games were over.

3. The ancient Olympic Games were first held in Olympia beginning in the eighth century BC (BC 776) until fourth century AD (394 AD) to honour the God Zeus.

4. Remains of ancient stadium and other sports architecture erected for the Olympic Games today form a part of the archaeological site of Olympia, in a valley in the Peloponnesus. The site was in World Heritage List in 1989.

5. The first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896 with 14 participating countries, followed by 24 countries in the second Olympiad in Paris in 1900. Summer and Winter Olympic Games have been held separately since 1992, every two years, to promote summer and winter sports respectively.

6.  No Olympics took place  in 1916, during World War I, and in 1940 and 1944, during World War II, but the subsequent Olympiads have been numbered. The 2012 Summer Olympics in London is the 30th Olympiad of modern Olympics.

7. Olympics begin with lighting of the Olympic Flame at Olympia from where the flame, carried on Olympic Torch, is taken across the participating countries to the host country. The Olympics Flame is ignited by the reflection of sunlight through a parabolic mirror.

8. The tradition of relaying Olympic torchbearers to open the games was not a part of ancient Olympics in Greece. The Greek rather lit the fire for religious beliefs. The first modern Olympics Flame was lit in 1928 in Amsterdam.

Olympic Torch Closing in on London Stratford Olympics Stadium.

The Olympic Torch Relay will travel 

through Newham on 21 July.

The torch will arrive in style on the Woolwich Ferry at 10.40am then onto Pier Parade in North Woolwich.

Torchbearers will carry the Torch to the Mayor's Newham Show in Central Park, East Ham, before travelling to Westfield Stratford City and along Stratford High Street before heading towards the Bow flyover.

A highlight in the Olympic Flame's route through our borough will be the Mayor's Newham Show in Central Park at 11.15am, when the Olympic Torch will be welcomed onto the main stage by a 180 strong choir made up of young musicians from every Newham school. The performance will reflect the Olympic ideals of celebration, friendship and national pride, and will be followed by a variety of live acts, showcasing the very best of Newham talent.

In addition to activity at the Mayor's Newham Show, other key
places to view the Olympic Torch in Newham on 21 July will be:

• The Mosaic (outside the Post Office) on Green Street, E7
• Meridian Square (outside Stratford station)
• Great Eastern Road, E15
• Theatre Square (outside Theatre Royal Stratford East)
• Great Eastern Road, E15
• The Grove (outside Stratford Library), E15