London opens 2012 Olympic Stadium

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Published time: May 06, 2012 03:54
Edited time: May 06, 2012 16:59

London : A general view of the stadium during the British Universities and Colleges Sport Athletics Championships (BUCS), a part of the London Prepares series of test events, at the Olympic Stadium in the Olympic Park in in London on May 5, 2012. (AFP Photo / Adrian Dennis)

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The opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Stadium took place in London on Saturday 2012 hours before the start of one of the world’s most anticipated events.

Some 40,000 people gathered in East London despite the rain and chilly weather as the stadium opened its gates to the public and athletes for the first time.

Nine-year-old Niamh Clarke-Willis and Lord Sebastian Coe, the head of the London Olympics Organizing Committee, pushed a button which launched balloons into the sky, kicking off a seven-day test of the Olympic Park. The 80,000-seat stadium will host more than 140,000 spectators over the coming days.

"It's a fantastic feeling. The seven years have just flown by. Tonight is only the start of the story,” Lord Coe said. "We want thousands of young people to be inspired to take up sport. We hope that for a few of them it will be the start of their journey."

London : Chairman of LOCOG Sebastian Coe (2nd R) prepares to press a button alongside nine-year-old Niamh Clarke-Willis (L), Paralympian Danielle Brown (2nd L), presenters Gaby Logan (3rd L) and Vernon Kay (R) as they officially opening the Olympic Stadium in the Olympic Park in London on May 5, 2012. (AFP Photo / Adrian Dennis)

The lights go on at the official opening of the London Olympics stadium, inside the Olympic park, London May 5, 2012. (Reuters / Paul Hackett)

Alan Kennedy goes through his skip during the Men's triple jump during the British Universities and Colleges Sport Athletics Championships (BUCS), a part of the London Prepares series of test events, at the Olympic Stadium in the Olympic Park in in London on May 5, 2012. (AFP Photo / Adrian Dennis)

Reuters / Paul Hackett

Comments (8)

SMJ 08.05.2012 11:26

John UK & Coolguy- Don't be so stupid, they are floodlights! The 'all seeing eye' is not a symbol of the Freemasons & Illuminati - the only reason people think that is because it's on the US dollar placed there by Benjamin Franklin - a famed Freemason. However the eye is meant to represent the all seeing providence of wisdom, libery and peace and has absolutely nothing to do with the Freemasons nor Illuminati, never has done. And Richtar - Try reading a history book or just Google 'William of Orange' and find out what the Orange stands for I do beleive it's protestantism. Bunch of gullible morons.

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Maple Leaf 07.05.2012 00:44

The Olympics are becoming such a disgusting waste of the people's money. Staging such events always bring massive debt and financial disaster.

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John (UK) 06.05.2012 22:28

Yeah! Those floodlights are suppose to represent the 'All seeing eye', a major logo for jewish zionistic death merchants which are the only living scurge on the planet. I'm sure they will have some success with their staged event come the Olympics, I just feel so sorry for the ignorant that are gonna suffer.

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