British athletes have formally been welcomed into the Olympic Village in a colourful ceremony.
British competitors given cermony in Olympic Village
British athletes have formally been welcomed into the Olympic Village in a colourful ceremony three days before the start of the Games proper.
Competitors from a variety of sports were present at Team GB's induction ceremony, during which the Union Flag was raised and the national anthem played.
Such ceremonies have been going on for a week for visiting squads but it was no surprise that the host nation attracted by far the biggest crowd.
Among those looking on were former Olympic stars such as Dame Kelly Holmes, Tessa Sanderson and Duncan Goodhew, while Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, secretary of state for Culture, Media and Sport Jeremy Hunt and shadow Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell represented the world of politics.
Team GB Chef de Mission Andy Hunt, who represented the British Olympic Association at the ceremony, was left enthused by another event which marks the countdown to the opening cermeony.
"It's always a special time when the home team arrives in the village and although we've been rolling in for two weeks this was that magical moment when your flag goes up and you celebrate," he said.
Atmosphere
"The atmosphere has been building and building literally by the hour and although we're quite away from things here, when you leave the village you really feel that. It's amazing.
"I think the country is getting really excited by these Games and getting right behind this team. Hopefully they'll see the flag raised a massive amount of times."
Dame Kelly Holmes, who did not comment on speculation she may have been chosen to light the cauldron at Friday's opening ceremony, believes the show was a nice moment for the members of Team GB.
"This is a really nice moment for the athletes. The village can be a bit of a bubble and this is the release from all that focus. It is amazing," she said.
"Let's face it, we are passionate about sport and what we do brilliantly is pomp and ceremony. You'd have to expect we're going to blow them away with the opening and closing ceremony.
"Everyone is going to be blown away by the details."
